We started learning a new rhythm last night in my West African drum class. I am excited, as I have been wanting to learn this one for some time-I guess since January or so when we had our Moribayassa recital at out Public Meeting. Jay, Meko and Jonny played djembe with the worship band. Jay seemed to be controlling the volume and tempo, and we all know wht he likes, loud and fast. I remember how impressed I was with DJ, thumpin' his bass, belting out the lyrics.
Anyway, here are some videos that demonstrate it (djembe 1, djembe 2, djembe 1 & 2). We only got as far as the djembe parts; we did not have time to start the dununs.
If you have five minutes, watch, or just listen to the fourth video below. It is by this kooky-cool storytelling, drumming and singing duo called "Alafia." They are funny and informative. Check out that background, where are they? Jay told us a real similar story last night about Fanga.
Feel good!
Showing posts with label African Dance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label African Dance. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Why is the Why?
Drumming at the Croatan last night took a bit of a turn. I am not sure why, but I like it. Major personality flaw-I always wonder about the "why." That is probably the most minor of my major personality flaws; most recently labeled at least.
But the change, class was set up to teach a new rhythm every eight weeks, leading to teaching a repertoire of rhythms. That seems to have melded into a more progressive approach, where we nail down, tighten up rhythms and breaks we already know, while adding new material as we go along. Last night's class was really good. I dig the change.
I am starting to hear the djembe a little better. I am starting to pick up on where the various parts lock in, what responds where.
I am going to this guy's (below) class tonight at Freedom Theatre; I am going with Meko from church. He also takes the djembe class from Jay, but has been taking classes from Menes Yahudah for a time. Meko said there is a lot of focus on technique and also some stuff dealing with the spiritual nature of drumming. Weeee. We will have to see what's too much.
This photo and biography are from the Farafina Kan website. I hope he smiles like that in class.
Menes Yahudah
POB: Baltimore, MD
DOB: 6/26/76
Role: Tech & rehearsal director & lead Djembe soloist
Menes has been drumming since the age of 2 and has always been interested and committed to drumming. Menes is a former lead soloist for Baltimore’s Sankofa Dance Theatre and is currently the Director of Urban Foli and an instructor with Tam Tam Mandingue, USA in Baltimore. Menes has performed nationally and internationally in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. He has spent the greater part of his adult life learning Djembe music and is fluent in other musical languages as well. He currently teaches drum classes in Baltimore, Philadelphia and continues to travel nationally and internationally performing and studying traditional arts.
I know you are all interested in this stuff, or I wouldn't bother writing about it! I jest! I will report on the class soon. I need to make up a song for this dununba part for Kuku that I am trying to learn. I know the parts, I just can't play them right.
Beat your face private!
But the change, class was set up to teach a new rhythm every eight weeks, leading to teaching a repertoire of rhythms. That seems to have melded into a more progressive approach, where we nail down, tighten up rhythms and breaks we already know, while adding new material as we go along. Last night's class was really good. I dig the change.
I am starting to hear the djembe a little better. I am starting to pick up on where the various parts lock in, what responds where.
I am going to this guy's (below) class tonight at Freedom Theatre; I am going with Meko from church. He also takes the djembe class from Jay, but has been taking classes from Menes Yahudah for a time. Meko said there is a lot of focus on technique and also some stuff dealing with the spiritual nature of drumming. Weeee. We will have to see what's too much.
This photo and biography are from the Farafina Kan website. I hope he smiles like that in class.
Menes YahudahPOB: Baltimore, MD
DOB: 6/26/76
Role: Tech & rehearsal director & lead Djembe soloist
Menes has been drumming since the age of 2 and has always been interested and committed to drumming. Menes is a former lead soloist for Baltimore’s Sankofa Dance Theatre and is currently the Director of Urban Foli and an instructor with Tam Tam Mandingue, USA in Baltimore. Menes has performed nationally and internationally in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. He has spent the greater part of his adult life learning Djembe music and is fluent in other musical languages as well. He currently teaches drum classes in Baltimore, Philadelphia and continues to travel nationally and internationally performing and studying traditional arts.
I know you are all interested in this stuff, or I wouldn't bother writing about it! I jest! I will report on the class soon. I need to make up a song for this dununba part for Kuku that I am trying to learn. I know the parts, I just can't play them right.
Beat your face private!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
I Just Can't Live Without My Radio!
Man, is that cool or what. I just have a radio or some headphones on when I work in the garden. These guys actually get drummers and dancers that accompany them to the fields to work! Here is an audio sample courtesy of DrumSkull Drums in Santa Cruz, CA.
This is the front of the album cover. The back of the album is farther down.
The Malinke people who inhabit the savannah woodlands of upper Guinea are intimately connected to the land on which they live. They live as subsistence farmers in a harsh environment, where mere survival requires great strength and hard work. At the heart of their culture is an ancient music that accompanies almost every significant event of village life. This music is a vehicle for joy and sorrow, which is expressed through song and dance. When they head out to the fields, farmers are often accompanied by the village musicians, whose music helps set a tempo for the work. Imagine groups of farmers singing and moving to the rhythm of the music while they work - it is a beautiful sight. In this recording Mansa Camio and his group Sofoli play traditional Malinke music that would normally accompany farmers as they work in the fields.*
This is the front of the album cover. The back of the album is farther down.
The Malinke people who inhabit the savannah woodlands of upper Guinea are intimately connected to the land on which they live. They live as subsistence farmers in a harsh environment, where mere survival requires great strength and hard work. At the heart of their culture is an ancient music that accompanies almost every significant event of village life. This music is a vehicle for joy and sorrow, which is expressed through song and dance. When they head out to the fields, farmers are often accompanied by the village musicians, whose music helps set a tempo for the work. Imagine groups of farmers singing and moving to the rhythm of the music while they work - it is a beautiful sight. In this recording Mansa Camio and his group Sofoli play traditional Malinke music that would normally accompany farmers as they work in the fields.* 
*From the cd description at DrumSkull Drums.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Ashe
ashe /a shay'/ 1. in Yoruba, "the power to make things happen"
2. an expression of affirmation; the belief that power is within you From the African Rhythms website, check it out here.
Part of doing this is trying to figure it out, to figure out what I want this blog to be. I originally thought of doing it to force me to take more pictures, to document my life more. I also envision using it to document my garden and share what I learn and know and hopefully inspire others to start growing some of their own food.
I also want to use it as motivation to research and learn more about West African culture and to share what I learn. My interest in West African culture was sparked when I began taking djembe classes in November of 2008.
The djembe is a goblet-shaped drum from West Africa. In Africa it is played primarily as an accompaniment to dancing. Dancing, therefore drumming is very prevalent in West African culture. There are dances to celebrate baptisms, circumcision and other coming of age rituals, marriages, birth, death, baby naming, fishing, planting, harvesting and many other daily occurrences. I anticipate that most off what I write or research about West African culture will start with the djembe and other aspects of African drumming and dance.
I am no ethnographer or musicologist, nor am I trying to be one. I just want to share some really neat and important stuff that is being shared to with me. I will try to consistently cite sources if I take something I learn from books or articles. I will also try to cite my sources when I learn something shared with me orally.
Be well.
2. an expression of affirmation; the belief that power is within you From the African Rhythms website, check it out here.
Part of doing this is trying to figure it out, to figure out what I want this blog to be. I originally thought of doing it to force me to take more pictures, to document my life more. I also envision using it to document my garden and share what I learn and know and hopefully inspire others to start growing some of their own food.
I also want to use it as motivation to research and learn more about West African culture and to share what I learn. My interest in West African culture was sparked when I began taking djembe classes in November of 2008.
The djembe is a goblet-shaped drum from West Africa. In Africa it is played primarily as an accompaniment to dancing. Dancing, therefore drumming is very prevalent in West African culture. There are dances to celebrate baptisms, circumcision and other coming of age rituals, marriages, birth, death, baby naming, fishing, planting, harvesting and many other daily occurrences. I anticipate that most off what I write or research about West African culture will start with the djembe and other aspects of African drumming and dance.
I am no ethnographer or musicologist, nor am I trying to be one. I just want to share some really neat and important stuff that is being shared to with me. I will try to consistently cite sources if I take something I learn from books or articles. I will also try to cite my sources when I learn something shared with me orally.
Be well.
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