Kala - what a great rhythm

[davidognomo]

[michi]

Wow, awesome, thanks for posting this!

I don't recognize the rhythm. Anyone have info?

From the style, I'd say it's from the Macenta region (similar in style to Baö), or from near there, western Ivory Coast.

Michi.

[davidognomo]

all I know is that it's called kala. Didn't do any research, though.

[sixdigit]

Quoting The Rhythm Reference Project:

Kala is a rhythm played before rites of passage in the Faranah region of Guinea. During the days that precede the ceremonies, the “bilakoro” or “uninitiated” travel around to the villages and announce their coming initiation.

[michi]

Interesting, thanks! So that's really the same purpose as Soko.

Weird. The style is so different, I thought Macenta/Ivory Coast was a good bet. I live and learn

Michi.

[Dugafola]

it's played exactly for the same reasons as soko, but less often than soko. and both of those rhythms are played less and less around faranah in favor of soli.

the dununba pattern is added by MK which is probably why you thought it was from the forest. traditionally, like the rest of the faranah rhythms, there was no dununba part for kala. the sangban part is the same that i've learned from other Masters.

i've also learned different kenkeni parts. the 1st djembe accomp has a couple variations.

for other recorded versions:
koumbagna Conde
Fadouba Oulare
mamady keita
fode camara
wulabakan (my favorite version)

[James]

saweeeet.

What a call

[michi]

it's played exactly for the same reasons as soko, but less often than soko. and both of those rhythms are played less and less around faranah in favor of soli.

the dununba pattern is added by MK which is probably why you thought it was from the forest.

Thanks for all that info Duga!

There is a version on Fadouba's teaching DVD. I've just started looking at that. I'll follow up on your other tips too, thanks!

Michi.

[davidognomo]

in wich MK album is Kala?

Can you guys share the sangban and kenekeni parts?

[michi]

I just went through my iTunes library. I have all of Mamady's recordings, but can't find Kala on any of them. Duga, is it there somewhere under a different name or embedded in something else?

The only other recording I have of Kala is the version on Fadouba's teaching DVD "Fadouba and Family". Here is the notation for that version:

Signal ("T" is a tone flam):

Code: Select all

1..2..3..4..
T.tt.tt.tt..


Djembe 1:

Code: Select all

1..2..3..4..
s.st.ts.ss.b
           ^


Djembe 2:

Code: Select all

1..2..3..4..
t.ss.tt.ss.t
           ^


Djembe 3:

Code: Select all

1..2..3..4..
t.s.btt.s.bt
           ^


Sangban:

Code: Select all

1..2..3..4..
b.b.b.b.b.b.
o.o...o.o...


Kenkeni:

Code: Select all

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


Dundunba:

Code: Select all

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


Be aware that there is quite a bit of swing in the djembe parts. If you learn this purely from notation, you will likely get the wrong feel.

Michi.

[davidognomo]

hey, thanks a lot, Michi

[Dugafola]

I just went through my iTunes library. I have all of Mamady's recordings, but can't find Kala on any of them. Duga, is it there somewhere under a different name or embedded in something else?

it's on mandeng djara, track 4. it's probably named after the song: Manya O....or something like that.

[michi]

Ah, thanks for that!

Michi.

[davidognomo]

double that

[sixdigit]

Kumbangna Conde's Djincourraro Mafoudalla CD has "Kala" in it as well.