Baka Music & The Technology of Enchantment Part 3 (of 5) - Yeli and Enchanting the Forest

Part Three - Yeli and Enchanting the Forest
Most of the literature on Baka music concentrates on their “spirit dances”. What is actually meant by “spirit” is rarely, if ever, mentioned in the literature. In English the language for such things as “spirit” and “enchantment” have been heavily influenced by 1000 years of Christianity and given negative connotations, so the true meanings of words get lost in translation.
There seems to be an underlying inference that belief in “spirits” is a primitive animistic practice, rather than a rational interpretation of a real phenomenon that is indirectly revered in Western society in art, performance and sport, but which is never spoken about. The Baka call this mé.
Born in the rainforest you learn to “listen to the forest” at a very early age. In the forest you have no need for maps, no need for clocks. Each time of day, each physical space, has its own unique soundscape.
In Part 3 we hear how the Baka women use their song to enchant the forest.
( Part Four at • Baka Music & The Techn... )
( Part One at • Baka Music & The Techn... )
Music:
Field recordings from February 1992 of Baka women.
Yeli 1 on "Heart of the Forest" on Hannibal Records HNCD1378 • Yelli 1
More at baka.gbine.com
Royalties sent to the Baka musicians via globalmusicexchange.org
References:
00:13:12 Feld 1996
03:43:13 Lewis 2009
05:49:03 Lewis 2009
05:54:03 Arom 1991
06:13:24 Lewis 2009
09:36:07 Lewis 2013
09:53:12 Joiris 1993
10:29:15 Furniss 2014
11:23:20 Weig 2018
Arom, Simha. African polphony and polyrhythm. Cambridge University Press, 1991
Feld, Steven. "Waterfalls of Song": an acoustemology of place resounding in Bosavi, Papua New Guinea." Senses of Place (School of American Research Press), 1996: 91-135
Furniss, Susanne. "Diversity in Pygmy Music: a family Portrait" in "Hunter Gatherers of the Congo Basin" by Barry Hewlett, 187-218. New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers, 2014
Joiris, Daou. "Baka Pygmy Hunting Rituals in Southern Cameroon: Walking side by side with the elephant." Civilisations (Institut de Sociologie de l'UniversitéLibre de Bruxelles) 41, no 1-2 (1993)
Lewis, Jerome. "As Well as Words: Congo Pygmy hunting, mimicry and play." in "The Cradle of Language, Volume 2: African Perspectives" by Botha and Knight, 232-252. Oxford University Press, 2009
Lewis, jerome. "A Cross Cultural Perspective on the Significance of Music and Dance to Culture and Society." in Language, Music and the Brain", 45-65. Cambridge MA: MIT Press, 2013
Weig, Doerte. "Resonating with Different Worlds: How Baka Music Practices Generate Sociality, Identities and Connection to Ritual Spirits." In "Making Music, Making Society", edited by Josep Marti and Sara Revilla Gútiez, 191-216. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2018

[@Choopie93]

Super reportage

[@tangabiang5282]

Thank you so much...When I was a child. Living with Pygmees in the forest

[@moedodson4031]

Tres Important. Merci!

[@truth2powermillions400]

Beautiful

[@didiermecheyo4488]

Le chez regorge de plusieurs diversitées aimables

[@kcosley]

Pure music ❤️

[@katyburrows1079]

I love this it’s awesome so interesting and so inspirational ❤️❤️

[@bakabeyond]

Thanks Katy