These women ARE showing respect for a culture by enjoying the dance and music, having fun and building friendships through it - which is what it's for. They're not claiming to be representing the culture or being 'authentic' (who decides what's authentic, anyway?!).
If a group of West African amateur dancers trying out ballet was posted, everyone would think it was fabulous regardless of how 'authentic' it was. Let these ladies enjoy themselves without putting them down please!
And this may make some people mad but women ARE NOT supposed to be playing Djembe. The FEMALE diety that is associated with the Djembe DOES NOT like women. ASK MASTER DRUMMER ABDOULAYE DIAKITE! IMO that;s straight disrespect of African Culture.
And I don't understand the total disrespect for the true movements of this dance. (1:39) There was nothing there that resembled anything close to a Lamba step.
@Hervinbalfour - I'm a female student of master drummer Abdoulaye Diakite & I believe you're taking what he has taught out of context. I've played djembe alongside him countless times & never has he told me I shouldn't be playing it or that I was disrespecting his culture. If he doesn't find it disrespectful (especially when approached with nothing but respect), then I don't understand why you do.
@leah151 I danced with Abdoulaye for six years in Ceddo Senegalese Dance company and i'm certain that I'm taking nothing out of context. To quote Abdoulaye verbatim "the djembe doesn't like the female because the spirit of the djembe is a female and she doesn't like women."
He may have let you study djembe but I can pretty much guarantee if you go to Mali you won't be touching a djembe in the presence of real master drummer nor would he have let you our any female play in Ceddo for that matter.
@Hervinbalfour - I'm a female student of master drummer Abdoulaye Diakite & I believe you're taking what he has taught out of context. I've played djembe alongside him countless times & never has he told me I shouldn't be playing it or that I was disrespecting his culture. If he doesn't find it disrespectful (especially when approached with nothing but respect), then I don't understand why you do.
@Hervinbalfour - I'm a female student of master drummer Abdoulaye Diakite & I believe you're taking what he has taught out of context. I've played djembe alongside him countless times & never has he told me I shouldn't be playing it or that I was disrespecting his culture. If he doesn't find it disrespectful (especially when approached with nothing but respect), then I don't understand why you do.
Since this was a piece played during the long march to the slave castles, it is a bit of sacrilege that anyone of european descent should be performing this.
This dance had NOTHING I mean absolutely NOTHING to do with a long march to slave castles. Where did you get that from?
I learned this dance from the late Djibi Traore of Mali/Senegal. Jali-Dong is the true name for Lamba. Jali mean Griot and Dong means dance. It is the dance of the griots and their wives.
@Hervinbalfour that's one person's version of the history of the dance. African music and dance belongs to an oral tradition, it doesn't have an 'author' in the way that Western music does. It's impossible to claim any version of a dance or rhythm as the 'true' one as it's an evolving, organic art form with regional variations. Which means it can also evolve in the West, with regional variations from the countries and cultures it visits. I think this keeps the music alive.
I undertand some want to dive into other cultures and appreciate the richness of that culture...but please represent the culture in the highest, respectful way!
Thank you for your comment and it is dually noted. Since this gig several years ago we have stopped playing Lamba during performances and have been studying this rhythm with our teachers. It is a very challenging rhythm to play and as a group we lack the skills to pull it off correct and make our teachers proud.
Thanks for the positive feedback. Constructive criticism is always welcome and appreciated. So if you chose to post a comment please think of something useful to say. "Horrible" doesn't tell me much. Thanks!
Thanks for sharing your joy of dance; but please make a point of knowing & understanding traditional dance as well as the technique before posting it to the public. It would be nice if you took a few classes. If you have, take a few more.
Thank you for the constructive feedback! I would agree that more studying of traditional dancing would improve this dancer drastically. However, my purpose for posting these performances on youtube is for these dancers and performers to learn from them. You gain so much insight from watching yourself and can then begin to self correct. Most of the women in this group have studying drumming more than dancing but we wanted to add a dance element to the drumming.
@GuineaGbe It's not about how 'good' you are, it's about enjoying the spirit of the dance and reaching into another culture - which enriches you and the culture you enjoy.
These women ARE showing respect for a culture by enjoying the dance and music, having fun and building friendships through it - which is what it's for. They're not claiming to be representing the culture or being 'authentic' (who decides what's authentic, anyway?!).
If a group of West African amateur dancers trying out ballet was posted, everyone would think it was fabulous regardless of how 'authentic' it was. Let these ladies enjoy themselves without putting them down please!
janijellybeehen 11 months ago
Comment removed
janijellybeehen 11 months ago
Plenty of women play djembe. I think it's great you guys are enjoying yourselves. That's what it's all about. Keep it up.
mitzimcrae 2 years ago
And this may make some people mad but women ARE NOT supposed to be playing Djembe. The FEMALE diety that is associated with the Djembe DOES NOT like women. ASK MASTER DRUMMER ABDOULAYE DIAKITE! IMO that;s straight disrespect of African Culture.
And I don't understand the total disrespect for the true movements of this dance. (1:39) There was nothing there that resembled anything close to a Lamba step.
Hervinbalfour 2 years ago
@Hervinbalfour - I'm a female student of master drummer Abdoulaye Diakite & I believe you're taking what he has taught out of context. I've played djembe alongside him countless times & never has he told me I shouldn't be playing it or that I was disrespecting his culture. If he doesn't find it disrespectful (especially when approached with nothing but respect), then I don't understand why you do.
leah151 4 months ago
@leah151 I danced with Abdoulaye for six years in Ceddo Senegalese Dance company and i'm certain that I'm taking nothing out of context. To quote Abdoulaye verbatim "the djembe doesn't like the female because the spirit of the djembe is a female and she doesn't like women."
He may have let you study djembe but I can pretty much guarantee if you go to Mali you won't be touching a djembe in the presence of real master drummer nor would he have let you our any female play in Ceddo for that matter.
Hervinbalfour 5 days ago
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@Hervinbalfour - I'm a female student of master drummer Abdoulaye Diakite & I believe you're taking what he has taught out of context. I've played djembe alongside him countless times & never has he told me I shouldn't be playing it or that I was disrespecting his culture. If he doesn't find it disrespectful (especially when approached with nothing but respect), then I don't understand why you do.
leah151 4 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@Hervinbalfour - I'm a female student of master drummer Abdoulaye Diakite & I believe you're taking what he has taught out of context. I've played djembe alongside him countless times & never has he told me I shouldn't be playing it or that I was disrespecting his culture. If he doesn't find it disrespectful (especially when approached with nothing but respect), then I don't understand why you do.
leah151 4 months ago
Since this was a piece played during the long march to the slave castles, it is a bit of sacrilege that anyone of european descent should be performing this.
bikwah 2 years ago
Comment removed
Andrew1034314 2 years ago
This dance had NOTHING I mean absolutely NOTHING to do with a long march to slave castles. Where did you get that from?
I learned this dance from the late Djibi Traore of Mali/Senegal. Jali-Dong is the true name for Lamba. Jali mean Griot and Dong means dance. It is the dance of the griots and their wives.
Hervinbalfour 2 years ago
@Hervinbalfour that's one person's version of the history of the dance. African music and dance belongs to an oral tradition, it doesn't have an 'author' in the way that Western music does. It's impossible to claim any version of a dance or rhythm as the 'true' one as it's an evolving, organic art form with regional variations. Which means it can also evolve in the West, with regional variations from the countries and cultures it visits. I think this keeps the music alive.
janijellybeehen 11 months ago
I undertand some want to dive into other cultures and appreciate the richness of that culture...but please represent the culture in the highest, respectful way!
osunhoney 2 years ago
Thank you for your comment and it is dually noted. Since this gig several years ago we have stopped playing Lamba during performances and have been studying this rhythm with our teachers. It is a very challenging rhythm to play and as a group we lack the skills to pull it off correct and make our teachers proud.
GuineaGbe 2 years ago
Thanks for the positive feedback. Constructive criticism is always welcome and appreciated. So if you chose to post a comment please think of something useful to say. "Horrible" doesn't tell me much. Thanks!
GuineaGbe 3 years ago
hey look they seem to be having lots of fun
42064206 4 years ago
horrible.
sbd4603 4 years ago
they were prwtty good to me
nothingbutdabest22 3 years ago
you suck.
wanderingmenstruals 3 years ago
@wanderingmenstruals haha love you
lidlekitty 1 year ago
Interesting to see how all of us feel the down in a different spot..=) Where is that down anyway?..=)
GuineaGbe 4 years ago
Thanks for sharing your joy of dance; but please make a point of knowing & understanding traditional dance as well as the technique before posting it to the public. It would be nice if you took a few classes. If you have, take a few more.
Have a nice day~
blackempress368 3 years ago
Thank you for the constructive feedback! I would agree that more studying of traditional dancing would improve this dancer drastically. However, my purpose for posting these performances on youtube is for these dancers and performers to learn from them. You gain so much insight from watching yourself and can then begin to self correct. Most of the women in this group have studying drumming more than dancing but we wanted to add a dance element to the drumming.
GuineaGbe 3 years ago
@GuineaGbe It's not about how 'good' you are, it's about enjoying the spirit of the dance and reaching into another culture - which enriches you and the culture you enjoy.
janijellybeehen 11 months ago