Mamady improvising to Kibalen

[michi]

Mamady improvising to Kibalen at the Mini-Guinea camp in San Diego, November 2009.

Kibalen.mp3

Mamady improvising to Kibalen

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Cheers,

Michi.

[apsobrien]

Michi,

Thank you for sharing this recording - it's fantastic! I've never heard of this dununba. I wonder if it is played everywhere in Guinea, or if it's less widespread. Any idea what the area of origin is?

Best,
Andy

[bops]

I've never heard of that one either. Is it a MK original creation?

[michi]

From my notes, it's a traditional dundunba, not one composed by Mamady. It's also known as "Kibalen Dundun". It means the "dunduba for the young people", meaning people 15-20 years old, possibly up to 25 years. The name, or status, of people (men, really) in that age range is Kibalen. After that, beyond 25-30 years of age, they are known as "Kamaren".

Mamady didn't specifically mention a region. But, seeing it's a dundunba, it would have to come from the heartland of dundunbas around Kouroussa and Kankan (Hamanah region).

Cheers,

Michi.