La Drivers Union Por Por Group perform "M.V. Labadi"

Por por (pronounced paaw paaw) is the name of honking, squeeze-bulb horn music which is unique to the La Drivers Union of Ghana, and which is principally performed at union drivers' funerals. Por por music is played with truck horns, tire pumps, and other everyday objects a truck driver uses. The sound is rooted in Ghanaian tradition and a broad range of musical influences from New Orleans jazz to Highlife. The song performed here honors and praises past drivers. The group then breaks into a jam session. The performance was filmed in Accra, Ghana, during ethnomusicologist Steven Feld's 2006 recording session for Por Por: Honk Horn Music of Ghana, which can be found at www.smithsonianglobalsound.org.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• smithsonian
• global
• sound
• folkways
• world
• international
• music
• african

[parslis]

@EscpdFrmPsykward ...but in a good way!

[art2liv4]

Feld's film A Por Por Funeral for Ashirifie, (to be released on DVD later this year) gives a better idea what this band is about. While comparisons to a New Orleans jazz funeral are apt, the music (to my ears) sound more like Gaga (Dominican Republic version of Haitian Rara). I've ordered the Smithsonian Folkways CD, but seeing those mourners lament is something else!

[ludvigaro]

now check out harry hill playing his horns!

[hategh]

wow, i never get to see my granddad but he is him MV Labadi and his group Por Por Group perform, enjoy it people

[EscpdFrmPsykward]

Sounds like a group of clowns being ran over by a steam roller... repeatedly.

[soulriver888]

Africa is amazing. I have been to Ghana 3 times, there's always incredible and creative stuff happening rhythmically.

[Azizip17]

Thanks for posting this video. Thanks also for the informative summary statement. I look forward to learning more about this interesting tradition. To paraphrase what I recall reading somewhere, there is always something new and creative coming from Africa!

[parthoseal]

Excellent video but if you could have a video with just bulb horn horn it woul be better