Daniel Morgan: Ibibio Odeon shellac recordings

The World Oral Literature Project is pleased to host the recordings given to George Kearley Weeks by Odeon-Electric and deposited here by Daniel Morgan. This is the earliest collection of recordings on our website. It is believed these ten tracks were recorded in south east Nigeria in the 1920s. Details of the full collection can be browsed on DSpace@Cambridge by clicking here.

In addition to the recordings a small booklet contains information about the tracks.

Collection Details:

Collection: Ibibio Odeon shellac recordings
Collector(s): Daniel Morgan
Date(s): 1920s
Language(s): Efik


1. Oyoyo/Iquo Mbo
A 1 x 78rpm shellac record with two recordings in Efik. These are titled 'Oyoyo' and 'Iquo Mbo' The latter is thought to may be a 'canoe song'.
[Archive] [Listen to Oyoyo] [Listen to Iquo Mbo]


2. Ekombi/Unek Usoro
A 1 x 78rpm shellac record with two recordings in Efik. These are titled 'Ekombi' and 'Unek Usoro'. Translations of these titles are unknown.
[Archive] [Listen to Ekombi] [Listen to Unek Usoro]


3. Eyo/Offiong
A 1 x 78rpm shellac record with two recordings in Efik. These are titled 'Eyo' and 'Offiong'. The translations of the titles are unknown.
[Archive] [Listen to Eyo] [Listen to Offiong]


4. Ique Ekpo/Iquo Idiong
A 1 x 78rpm shellac record with two recordings in Efik. These are titled 'Ique Ekpo' and 'Iquo Idiong'. They are both 'society songs'. Ique Ekpo is possibly linked to the devil society and Iquo Idiong possibly linked to the knowledge society.
[Archive] [Listen to Ique Ekpo] [Listen to Iquo Idiong]


5. Iquo Ekong/Iquo Ubom
A 1 x 78rpm shellac record with two recordings in Efik. These are titled 'Iquo Ekong' and 'Iquo Ubom'. These are both 'society songs' in the genre of war songs.
[Archive] [Listen to Iquo Ekong] [Listen to Iquo Ubom]


6. Catalogue of Odeon-Electric recordings
A printed catalogue to accompany the 5 x 78rpm shellac recordings from the Odeon-Electric group, in the Efik language. Includes west African music with transcriptions.
[Archive]