The Yoruba/Dahomean Collection: Orishas Across the Ocean

The Yoruba/Dahomean Collection: Orishas Across the Ocean

Editorial Reviews
From the Label
The Yoruba/Dahomean Collection: Orishas Across The Ocean is an historical document of monumental importance. The 24 tracks featured on this compilation are a musical snapshot of Haitian Vodou, Cuban Santería, Trinidadian Shango, and Brazilian Candomblé recorded between the late '30s and the mid-'50s. These religions originated with the Yoruba and Dahomean peoples, who were brought from West Africa to the Americas through the slave trade that lasted well into the 19th century. The Cubans, Brazilians, Haitians, and Trinidadians whose voices mingle on this CD are separated by hundreds of miles of water and differing colonial pasts. Despite this they all sing and drum to orishas (gods) from sources in the Yoruba and Dahomey religions of their West African ancestors.

The recordists of the music presented here were Laura Boulton, Melville Herskovits, and Lydia Cabrera. Boulton was one of the most prolific and pioneering recordists; Herskovits and Cabrera were towering figures in the field of Afro-American studies, and their contributions are of the highest scholarly authority. These rare recordings show how the combined powers of drumming, singing, and dancing are vehicles of the spirit in the Yoruba and Dahomean religions, and how these peoples maintained their integrity and essential unity despite the sorrows of the slave existence and several hundred years isolation from their African sources.

Tracks:

Papa Legba Ouve Baye
St. Jak Pa La
An Nou Mache
Ketu Songs For Osain
Bori Songs
Agolona
Opanije (Rhythms For Omolu)
Ketu: Roda De Dada (Song Cycle)
Ketu Songs For Oxala
Song For Elegua
Song For Nana Buruku
Song For Ogun
Song For Dada
Song For Yemaya
Ochun Talade
Song For Yemaya
Song For Yemaya
Song For Chango
Itutu Song (Funerary Rites)
Itutu Song
Yariba-Oshun
Shango Ceremonial Music
Shango Ceremonial Music
Invocation

Customer Reviews:

The Roots of Voodoo and Santeria.......2002-01-08

Another excellent CD from Mickey Hart's "The World" series, this one focuses in upon the Afro-Latin musical and religious traditions. Back in the height of the slave trade, a number of Africans of the Yoruba and Dahomey nations were transported across the Atlantic, where they continued to practice their religious traditions, giving rise to Voodoo, Candomble, Santeria, Obeah, Shango, Hoodoo and countles other religious traditions. This CD, filled with excellent historical recordings, explores the strong relation between the Afro-Latin religions and their musical traditions. Whats more, these same African-based rhythms would eventually give rise to various other forms of music, suc as Salsa, Rumba, Reggae, Rap, Jazz, the Blues, Rock 'n Roll, Gospel and countless others. Naturally, a complete survey of the region would never be able to fit onto a single CD, so this CD instead focuses upon Cuban Santeria, Brazilian Candomble, Haitian Voodoo and Shango of Trinidad. Its fascinating to see how these religions, themselves a meld of African, Native American and European influences, served to bridge cultural and musical gaps between groups. There are a number of invocations to various Orishas and Loas on this CD. I found it very appropriate that the CD started out with an invocation to Legba, the opener of the doorways in Voodoo, who is always invoked before any ceremony. In a way, this CD is a ceremony in and of itself, a spiritua journey through the Afro-Latin world. People unfamilar with these religions may also be interested in hearing the Ketu songs of Candomble, or the Itutu funeral song of Santeria. The one thing, however, I must say is that you must remember this music is sacred music, carrying a deep religious meaning with it. Please remember that when listenin to this music, and give it the respect it deserves.

New technology preserves oral traditions..........1999-01-04

Listening to a record for its historical impact is a whole lot different than listening for entertainment. The Yoruba/Dahomean Collection of music is a joint effort of The Library of Congress' Endangered Music Project and Mickey Hart, renown Deadhead and World Music historian. This edition focuses on music that was transported from West Africa during slavery and took roots in Haiti, Brazil, Cuba and Trinidad. At the time of these recordings (the 1940s), historians noted the similarities in rhythms, subject matter, and melodies. Placed side by side for the first time, it's amazing to see how they all weave together despite developing in different areas. The liner notes are meticulous in describing their origin and how each field recording was done. This religious music & movement evolved into Santeria here in the states, so it's even more intriguing to hear the roots of that culture. This historic document needs to be praised if only to insure that oral traditions like these that have lasted for hundreds of years don't vanish in a blink of an eye with the technology wave engulfing us into the 21st century.

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