Hunter/Musician Ceremony - Mali, West Africa

[gaitagroove]

8:37 roots james brown dance

[felicer]

i love this thanks for posting.

[bilibiliba]

amongst hunters (donso) you will find people who have the same role as jeli's, but are not called so. By the way in the discussion about this instruments being a cousin of the banjo there is some confusion. Jeli's play also a 'ngoni, called the jeli 'ngoni, which is seen as the forefather of the banjo. it looks different, more like a little guitar. The instruments in your movie are called donso 'ngoni, with 6 strings.

[iamearthbornami]

thank you

[bilibiliba]

Great movie. Thanks for that. But I don't think you will find many griots (jeli's) on a ceremony like this.

[RedRoadFilms]

@bilibiliba - Thank you. While these are specifically "Hunter Musicians", I'm pretty sure they are also referred to as Griots. Their function is to sing praise and often humorous dialogue and stories for local hunters in ceremonies such as this which are quite common in Mali. Please see wikipedia definition. I was invited to this ceremony by a well studied ethnomusicalogist, Cullen B. Strawn on behalf of well known Chief Hunter Mucician Yoro Sidibe. Correct me if I'm wrong?

[RedRoadFilms]

You could be right, though. These guys (Hunter Musicians) are called "Donsos" but I thought they were also a type of Griot or Jeli.

[NoisePC]

This is obviously Yoro Sidibe's entourage but I spot Toba Seydou Traore after a while as the lead singer and nkoni player. They often perform together as the former is Toba's teacher. Once a teacher, always a teacher.

[RedRoadFilms]

@NoisePC You are correct, sir. Toba is an amazing performer as well, extremely charismatic, apparently second only to Yoro (yes, his teacher) in pecking order at these events. Thanks for your comment.

[NoisePC]

@RedRoadFilms Thanx for this. Yes Toba is charismatic although the '2nd only to Yoro' i find problematic. As many hunters told me he is not that truthful to the rules of huntership which puts him closer to the most popular donsonkonifola among the Malian people, Sekouba Traore. On the contrary, Mamadou Sangare and Djikoroni Solo are very much respected among the hunters' associations in Bamako and Mali in general.

[paapakobe]

important film - thank you

[RagazzaFit25]

Thank you for sharing

[ThatsABiggon]

THANK YOU FOR POSTING!!!!!

[RedRoadFilms]

Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed it.

[RedRoadFilms]

AND thanks for the rating. I'm assuming that was you although I'm not quite sure how this YouTube stuff all works.

[ThatsABiggon]

@RedRoadFilms, well, it deserved all 5 stars. Also, you may want to add 'ngoni, kora, banjo, harp' to your tags, as these seem to be of interest to the world & may get this vid the views it deserves. I noticed in your comment that you state that "this is truely the roots of Blues & Gospel music". I have been trying to convey this fact everywhere. Glad I'm not alone. I was raised penticostal & even the dancing is very close to what is done today in the African American church. Regards

[RedRoadFilms]

Thanks for the advice about adding tag words. I added Donso Ngoni and Kora but wasn't sure about harp and banjo.

[ThatsABiggon]

@RedRoadFilms, I suggested 'harp' because this instrument is referred to as the "hunters harp" & you'd already added the word 'hunters' as a tag. I suggested 'Banjo' because this is the cousin to the American banjo & it's African ancestors (hoddu, ekonting, n'goni, etc).

[RedRoadFilms]

Got it., thanks. Will do.