String bands are a staple of musical life in Biak, a small but influential island in Cenderawasih Bay off the north coast of Papua. In informal gatherings or yorbo, Biakers gather with guitars (often homemade), ukuleles (uke or juk) and a two string bass (stembas) to sing in sweet harmony - songs vary from gospel to love songs to meditations on family and Biak identity. Yorbo often congeals around big social events like bride price rituals (mas kawin), big government festivals, and yospan dance contests. Here, the group Baitel play a medley of Biak songs old and new, many from the era of Arnold Ap, a Biak cultural icon who popularized the string band format back in the 70s before being killed in a suspected assassination by Indonesian special forces.

Hear and learn more about yorbo, Arnold Ap, and the world of Papuan string band music at the new Aural Archipelago post here: http://www.auralarchipelago.com/aural...