Anyone know the occasion Sugu is played for?

[Dugafola]

Can contribute a little to this now. I found this thread while trying to figure this out...

I was playing at a circumcision in Bamako and I though we were playing Moriboyassa, but perhaps it was sugu.

It had the same sangban (also as Fura on the the Art of Jenbe disc 2). Bops knows what I'm talking about.

Anyway, Moriboyassa seems to be the same rhythm with a completely different purpose then?

you were most likely playing fura.

and yes, moribayassa is a different rhythm/purpose all together.

[Afoba]

I would say musically the Mamady version of Moribayassa derivates form Soliba/Balakulandyan.
I don't know Fura (would be very interested in), but if Fura is the (now) Bamako version of the most played binary rhythm for circumcisions and female parties in Bamako/Mali, well then - it is Soliba/Balak..
And probably every second Sangban player in Upper Guinea would turn Soliba (or Fura as James told us) about like Mamady's Moribayassa, if you take away the dundunba from a village or town for three years.
well understood: we're only speculating.
I had a little discussion on that with Niels Fleurke from Holland the last days. He says Moribayassa and Balakulandyan are clearly separated for him, but he refers to Baro where Moribayassa is completely different from the well known class version (no relation according to him - I can't say, because I don't know the Baro one).

best wishes,
D

[michi]

sugu (or suku) is a maninka rhythm traditionally played for circumcisions. it has the same structure as the rhythm known in guinea as soli, including the solo phrases. however, soli means circumcision and malians are adamant that they do not call rhythms by names such as 'circumcision', 'marriage', 'birth', 'funeral', etc.

Just wondering wether "Sugu" in Bamana is a word that has a separate meaning, or is it just a label for the rhythm with no other meaning?

Cheers,

Michi.

[bubudi]

james, that rhythm would have been fura (the slower soli rhythm). fairly similar to balakulandian and also not dissimilar to moribayassa. i find that moribayasa is not as swung as fura or balakulandian. the traditional solo patterns also help give fura its character, and they are fairly different to those of moribadiassa.

it's not unusual to hear a medley of fura/sugu/farabanka seemlessly laced together in bamako. it's great stuff!

[michi]

james, that rhythm would have been fura (the slower soli rhythm). fairly similar to balakulandian and also not dissimilar to moribayassa.

That would have to be the same as or very close to what Mamady calls Soli Lent?

Cheers,

Michi.

[bubudi]

james, that rhythm would have been fura (the slower soli rhythm). fairly similar to balakulandian and also not dissimilar to moribayassa.

you could probably say it's a local variant of that.

[music]

numerous explanations I've come across in Mali are that "Soli" is an event when "Suku" is played - an old woman's dance so it is played slow, but later picks up tempo - this tempo in Bamako often changes the rhythm to Ferabanka. (which I've heard means "from Feraban", ka being a possessive, although i could see how it could be translated as kan - meaning "sound of"). Never heard it as being a Maraka rhythm, always heard it is a Maninka rhythm.

[Michel]

It's Faraba where the rhythm is from, where you can take the ferry to cross the artificial lake in Wassoulou. So its Faraba-nka.