Anyone heard of a rhythm called Fakaba?

[James]

We're playing it at the moment, but I've never heard of it.... anyone else?

[James]

Michi tells me it's "N'Fa Kaba"

[michi]

Yes, that's what Famoudou told us in San Diego. I have notation for it. Will post in the next few days.

Michi.

[Afoba]

hmm d;-)
that's a special one!
Everyone all over the world plays it like the version on MK's Hamanah disc...
but I think it's "original" form is with a downbeat kensedeni (o.oo..o.oo.. on the beat). I saw it that way several times in Hamana and there is an old video (by Paul Engel) showing Famoudou soloing on this rhythm: Kensedeni is like normal dundunba, but he solos as for rhythms of the dya-group (Paul thought it was Famoudou's mistake, I think Famoudou was right, they just mixed the versions "original version" and "ballet version as extension of the rhythm "donaba"/sankaranba" in this situation...
Complex story...
So maybe you try both: normal dundunba-kensedeni and dundunba like phrasing in the solos (for me this is against the melody, but everyone plays it that way since Mamady... ) and kensedeni on the downbeat, solos more with the dya feeling.

Have fun, Daniel

[Afoba]

nfa kaba , kaba di don, aba men kaba di don bara dö dyö ("chant"/speaking along the dd melody)
BS...B.B....B.B..S..(S).....B.S...S...B.S.......S...S.....B...B*
(S)=there's a Sangban stroke but Dundunba "chant", because it's pronounced in a low tone

correct in time:
BS.BB.x.BBSS.x.BS.S.BS.S.S.BB.xx.xc.xx.xc.xx.xc.BS.BB
(for example)


*B=dundunBa; S=Sangban

[michi]

Here is the notation for Famoudou's version:

Call:

Code: Select all

1..2..3..4..
sstsss......


Djembe 1:

Code: Select all

1..2..3..4..
s.ts..s.ts..


Djembe 2:

Code: Select all

1..2..3..4..
..s.ts..s.ts


Kenkeni:

Code: Select all

1..2..3..4..
.bb.bb.bb.bb
..o.oo..o.oo


Sangban (16-pulse cycle):

Code: Select all

1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..
b.bb.bb.bb.bb.bb.bb.bb.b
c.....c.....c.....c..o..

1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..
b.bb.bbb.b.bb.b.bb.b.b..
c.....oo....o.o..o.o.o..


Dundunba (16-pulse cycle):

Code: Select all

1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..
b.bb.bb.bb.bb.bb.bb.bb.b
o...................oo.o
                    ^

1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..
b.b.bb.b.b.bb.b.bb.b.b.b
o...oo.o...oo.o.oo.o.o.o


The dundunba omits the first open after the call and only plays the bell until it enters at the marked point.

Michi.

[Dugafola]

hmm d;-)
that's a special one!
Everyone all over the world plays it like the version on MK's Hamanah disc...
but I think it's "original" form is with a downbeat kensedeni (o.oo..o.oo.. on the beat). I saw it that way several times in Hamana and there is an old video (by Paul Engel) showing Famoudou soloing on this rhythm: Kensedeni is like normal dundunba, but he solos as for rhythms of the dya-group (Paul thought it was Famoudou's mistake, I think Famoudou was right, they just mixed the versions "original version" and "ballet version as extension of the rhythm "donaba"/sankaranba" in this situation...
Complex story...
So maybe you try both: normal dundunba-kensedeni and dundunba like phrasing in the solos (for me this is against the melody, but everyone plays it that way since Mamady... ) and kensedeni on the downbeat, solos more with the dya feeling.

Have fun, Daniel

i have the outtakes of the Sofoli disc "An Bada Sofoli" and there's an n'fa kaba with the downbeat kenkeni that didn't make it onto the disc.