Ukouku - Ukouku

...The former is mainly sung during festivals, and there are many representative ones, such as "Upopo" (sitting song), and "Rimse" (dancing song), derived from the magical dance "Niwen Horippa" and "Tapkal" for exorcism. In Upopo, people sit in a circle and sing while keeping time by tapping the lid of a bowl placed in the center. It is characterized by a singing style called "ukouku," in which the melody is sung one beat at a time, like a round. In Rimse, people form a circle and dance, repeating a certain pattern of hand and foot movements like Bon Odori. They often sing in unison, and the melody is simpler than that of Upopo.

*Some of the terminology explanations that mention "Ukouku" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…前者では，おもに祭りの中で歌われる〈ウポポ(座り歌)〉と，悪魔払いの呪術的踏舞〈ニウェン･ホリッパ〉や〈タプカル〉に由来する〈リムセ(踊り歌)〉が代表的なもので，その数も多い。ウポポは，円座を組んだ人々が，中央に置かれた行器（ほかい）のふたを軽く叩いて拍子をとりながら歌うもので，旋律を輪唱のように1拍ずつずらして歌い継いでゆく〈ウコウク〉という歌い方に特徴がある。リムセは円陣を組んだ人々が，盆踊のように一定の手さばき，足さばきのパターンを繰り返しながら踊るもので，歌い方は斉唱が多く，ウポポに比べると旋律も単純である。…

※「ウコウク」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報