Love Songs July 7, 1972 - 5A Tierlul

Recording #5A

Place of Recording: Tierlul

Date of Recording: July 7, 1972

Performance:

Informant: Paul Abulla and Agwa Alem

Date of Transcript: July 25, 1972; Transcribed: August 9, 1972

1 000 Love Song.

Description: A song of love. Mentions names of friends. A common song.

Text: Why don’t you tell me if you refuse me? I may get a better one. Repetition.

2 059 Love song.

Description: Mentions names of the people.

3 086 Love Song.

Description: A common song. Sung if boyfriend is very far away. The drummer uses a metal can because the sound of a drum would be too loud.

4 137 Love Song.

5 148 Love Song.

Description: Well known. It can be mentioned in a song if the father has killed an animal to show his strength and bravery.

Text: I’m the daughter of this man who killed a particular animal.

6 177 Love Song.

Text: During the modern times, we fly with jet and not walk on foot.

7 202 Love Song.

Text: When we get independent, or when Anyanya get independent, we will be flying with a jet and not on foot any more. When we get independent everything will be changed.

8 222 Love song. False start.

9 230 Love song.

Text: I’ve got a better one than you. She knows how to dance and her body is shaking very well. Repeats.

Description: Duets as are all the above.

10 331 Love song.

Description: Solo. Like Obero but words are very different. When the chief dies they sing this type of song. Mentions the chief who died and his wife also.

ANUAK Project: FIELD NOTES – July 7, 1972

Retyped: June 7, 2019

1:00 Leave for Tierlul with the intention of finding the chief and if not, doing some taping as it comes along.

1:10 We arrive in the village and sit down under the tree on the close edge of the village and 3 girls immediately come up and ask to sing. The day (2 days) before, they were afraid because of the older women. They set a one-gallon oil (Shell) can in front of one of them and proceed to sing three songs. They then ask to hear themselves and then regain strength to continue to sing more.

These songs are in the nature of love songs. 380 approx.: is a song for a chief, begging the chief. The person asking is very poor and should be given something.

I play back what they sing and this is enough to keep them singing at quite a length.

New love songs come along all of the time. Especially the young girls and boys know them. Oguani is a song writer who has written many of these.

The girl’s names are Owere Omot age 15, Awele Aquai 16, Ariet Omot 15, Ogala Ojulo 29. Exact ages are not known. No counting is done and no records are kept. They like to sing love songs best. They like Amhara songs and what American songs that they have heard. They learned these songs simply by hearing the sung around. An interesting comparison is made by them of someone they like and admire, they will liken them to an American negro.

2:15 A young boy about 11 years old, Nyigwo Nyan. He sings to his own drum accompaniment. Approx. 122 is the same as a song sung by the girls.

2:40 Several boys sing together (not an original Anuak Song. But from a tribe in the Sudan.)

2:50 Kero (girl) about 25 years old. Sings first a song composed two years ago for a party in PingMala. A get together of boys and girls with beer and goats and cow for a feast.

A song for general dancing.

TAPE #2:

3:25 THE SAME GIRL CONTINUES: Kero.

3:40 075 Two boys sing: refugee boys sing a song from Tedo village on the Sudan border. A very old Anuak song, praising the chief at that time, how the chief has worked with his people and his good traits. They are expecting war and are planning to defend the village.

Second song, a third fellow join and the whole group sitting around comes in as well. Two boys are Alam Omot and Oriew Omot. 3 years old song from this border town. The village that has supported the movement of the South Sudan. Paul the informants name can be heard in this song. Boys aged approx. 21, 25, 28.

Third song is for general dancing. Men and ladies (married) and girls before being engaged join in this dance. Will include the beating of drums with the people in a circle dancing.

4:15 Finish the work for the day. A very pleasant afternoon under the tree surrounded by about 25-30 men, boys, women and girls aged 2 to 50. They show no fear, very willing to sing. They very much like to hear their own voices coming back to them on tape.

4:30 Return to Pokwo.