Changing trend in Bamako drum ensemble

[Afoba]

it's not uncommon these days to see more dunun in bamako - even a dununset like the one oumar diabate was playing in sanankoroba!) is frequently added in bamako nowadays.

have you got festival videos of that?
I've heard several times that they play in bigger groups nowadays, but the idea of using dunduns durings fêtes is new to me.


Greetz, Daniel

[bubudi]

you're right that most festivals will have just one or two dunun played individually, plus the djelidunun. but even that is a change from the old style. the dunun sets will gradually become common in festivals, most likely.

[Michel]

have you got festival videos of that?
I've heard several times that they play in bigger groups nowadays, but the idea of using dunduns durings fêtes is new to me.

In the videosection there is one: street party in Bamako with the national ballet of Mali.

[Afoba]

street party in Bamako with the national ballet of Mali.

Hi Michel,
this is not really what I am talking about. Any fête, festival, party where people from the national ballet are involved won't help me in my understanding of a rhythm and how it is played during fêtes.
I know that videos of "traditional" fêtes (even if styles are mixed) in Mali are even more rare on youtube than comparable videos from Upper Guinea (better: Hamana and Gberedu). Still interested in that kind of festival,
Daniel

[Michel]

People from the National ballet in Mali are all playing on traditional ceremonies, because they have to to survive, it's their job. The National ballet is hardly paying any salary. On these parties they sometimes play in groups like this. I understood you just wanted to see an example of that.
I will keep on looking for traditional festival-video's with larger groups. I can't guarantee there is no member of the ballet involved, though....

[Afoba]

hey Michel d;-)
it's not that big problem, if there's ONE drummer playing at a trad. fête who's also playing in a ballet...
I was looking for an example of what Bubudi and me had talked about: more drums played for a fête than 3 or 4 (not counting dyelis).
Maybe this is hard to find. Thank you anyway (for the last advice and for any future links)!
D

[bubudi]

hi daniel, i have moved this discussion to its own thread because i feel that it was not in the right place with the demba/maraka discussion. hopefully it will get more participation from others here...

I was looking for an example of what Bubudi and me had talked about: more drums played for a fête than 3 or 4 (not counting dyelis).

i think you mean more than 4 drums including djembe & dunun (but not djelidunun), since you were discussing 2 djembes and 1 konkoni as being the 'norm'. nowadays you will almost certainly see more djembes, and as i said earlier, you will often see more dunun now.

when i get more time i will find you some videos showing this change in trend. for now, here's a short one. the djembe soloist is karim tounkara and he's from the ballet, but that is not unusual for a bamako festival.