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Communication dans un congrès Année : 2017

Historical testimonies of ritual circulation between Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea in German institutions

Résumé

European museums and archives contain a series of objects, written and sound sources of Central African musical and ritual practices of the beginning of the 20th century. An analysis of collections located in Berlin (Phonogramm-Archiv, Ethnologisches Museum) and Lübeck (Völkerkundesamm¬lung) reveals a long established exchange and sharing of ritual music in the former German Protectorate of Kamerun. The recordings made by Georg August Zenker and Günter Tessmann in 1907-08 contain particularly rare testimonies of mask songs, most of which have been abandoned today under the influence of Christianity. A variety of voice modifying devices such as mirlitons can be found in the recordings. My talk will focus on the distribution of the Ngi ritual and of mirlitons in the borderland between Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, as represented in sound recordings, objects, and written documents. Awareness of the Ngi comes mainly from the Fang people, who also live in Gabon. It has been practiced further North by related Bulu, but is likely also to have been practised by non related people originating in the Eastern forests of Cameroon (Mabi) or by communities along the Atlantic coast (Bakoko). A comparison of these recordings with 21st century practices raises questions regarding theories of origin, transmission and conservation of rituals and ritual music in Central Africa.
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halshs-03978767, version 1 (08-02-2023)

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  • HAL Id : halshs-03978767 , version 1

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Susanne Fürniss. Historical testimonies of ritual circulation between Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea in German institutions. ICTM 44th World-Conference, University of Limerick (Irlande), Jul 2017, Limerick (Ireland),, Ireland. ⟨halshs-03978767⟩
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