Waza: Music Of The Berta From The Blue Nile

The music of the "waza" trumpet groups is considered the most important instrumental music of the Berta, who have been living in the border region of Sudan and Ethiopia since the 19th century. A full ensemble consists of ten to twelve monotone instruments between 50 and 180 centimeters long and the wood blocks, called "bali". The performances usually take place after sunset and are a major event for the inhabitants of a village. Before the pieces begin, a woman sings a song, which is then performed instrumentally. The recordings from 1982/3 are published for the first time on this CD.