Music recorded in Gbangitown and Kakata, Liberia, 2 January 1953 (reel 8, recording 1)

The video and audio footage that Dawson took while in Africa features the variety of sights and sounds he encountered on his journey. Provocative contrasts emerge from the footage when viewed as one stream. Dawson records dancers and musicians (primarily drummers, but also a singing group) in several regions, as well as shots of daily life and work in several villages and cities. The footage also includes glimpses of Dawson’s travel companions and hosts. The recordings he made capture only short examples of what he saw and heard. In one letter home, he recalls a performance that lasted seven hours. "The records I have at home with African music," he marveled, "are child's play when compared with what I heard at Port Loco [Sierra Leone]." (archival materials)