Source of Sound 68 Guitar bands of West Papua
Guitar bands are now the standard ensemble of popular music in West Papua. The members mostly play locally made guitars, bass guitars, ukuleles, and the more traditional hand drums, the tifas. These instruments are often richly decorated with colourful patterns, and they can also be found and made in more remote areas.
The popularity gain of guitar bands throughout West Papua is partly due to Arnold Ap. You can find out more about him in an earlier sound source dated 27 October 2017 https://www.concertzender.nl/programma/de_klankbron_418058/.
Arnold Ap was one of the first to start using multiple Papuan languages for his song lyrics. He also incorporated melodies, sounds and musical instruments from the different Papuan cultures into the music of Mambesak. He also succeeded in making guitar bands acceptable to the rather influential Protestant church. They were even integrated into church services, which led to the emergence of a new form of Papuan gospel music.
Therefore, guitar bands became a part of the West Papuan cultural identity. So much so that nowadays, people describe guitar bands as a traditional form of music.
In the broadcast, you will hear recordings of Arnold Ap’s group Mambesak, one of the few preserved recordings of a guitar band from the time West Papua was still called Dutch New Guinea. An audiotape by Ad Delleman of the partying youth on the gallery of the post house of the Noeboeai kampong in 1961. Just before the area was handed over to the new and rather cruel coloniser Indonesia under American pressure. Furthermore, some examples of West Papua gospel music and a track by the group Eyuser dedicated to Arnold Ap and the struggle for independence of West Papua. With special thanks to the Papua Cultural Heritage Foundation and their audio collection. https://www.papuaerfgoed.org/nl/papua_erfgoed
01 Nonabaku 2’56
Mambesak
MC Mambesak IV, B 6
Lembaga Antropologi Universitas Cenderawasih
02 Yapo mamacica 3’50
Mambesak
MC Mambesak volume I, A7
Lembaga Antropologi Universitas Cenderawasih
03 Emambo Simbo 3’18
Mambesak
MC Mambesak volume 2, B7
04 Iyaya 4’43
Mambesak
MC Mambesak volume 3, A2
Lembaga Antropologi Universitas Cenderawasih
05 Arui 9’19
Mambesak
MC Mambesak volume 3, B3
Lembaga Antropologi Universitas Cenderawasih
06 The Noeboeai guitar band 11’58
The Noeboeai youth
recorded by Ad Delleman, 1961
07 Yesusso Awenume 5’04
Fajar Timur
MC Emekaido
Swadaya Prathivi
08 Ayiitai Makiyoo Meganoo 4’28
Tune Manaa
MC Yesus Niyabokata
09 Doa Ibu 5’51
Eyuser
CD Didedikasikan
eyuser.bandcamp.com
10 Yayun wambeso 4’40
Mambesak
MC Mambesak volume 2, A7
11 Waniambai 3’33
Mambesak
MC Mambesak volume I, A7
Lembaga Antropologi Universitas Cenderawasih
