Folklorist, ethnographer and ethnomusicologist Harold Courlander, known for his important early work documenting the "vast unwritten literature, dances, music" of the Haitian peasants, released these field recordings from the mountain villages of Haiti before nearly any other recordings were available. Among this collection are songs to accompany work or dance and invocations of the lwa-yo (or spirits). in typical fashion, many are based around moralizations or colorful proverbs. The intricate ritual drumming and chanting of Haiti is often said to be the best preservation of the African Congo, Dahomey and Ibo musical traditions from the pre-slave era in the world (even in comparison to the musical practices of hese African regions now).

Pilet Pied'm: Ibo Dance Song
M'pas BW? M'pas Mang?: Work Song
Ogoun Balindjo: Invocation
?Zilie W?Do: Invocation
La Famille LI Fai Ca: Ibo Dance Song
Moundongue Oh Y? Y? Y?: Moundongue Dance Song
Zamis Loin Moin: Secular Song
Alexis Nord: Political Song
Ou Pas We'm Innocent: Secular Song
Mainin'm All?: Congo Dance Song
Cot? Yo, Cot? Yo: Mais Dance Song
Crapeau Ting?L?: Play Song
Balanc? Yaya: Play Song
Trois F?: Social Criticism
Spirit Conversation
G?N?Ral Bris?: Quitta Dance Song
Mayousse: Carnival Song
Paulette: Romantic Song