Bamako String Jam

[DonJupiterMusic]

can't get doper then this.. thats the culture at home...lovely stuff..b

[napturaldiva904]

sounds good

[liseestelle]

i believe the soku's precursor was the egyptian xalam,one string violin...

[wadoma]

True, this instrument was likely brought to Mali originally by Arab salt traders around the 7th century. However, the Egyptian instrument is not called Xalam.

Xalam is the Wolof name for a 5-string lute (called Jeli n'goni in Mali). The Wolof also have an instrument similar to the Soku, called Riti. Like richroberge mentioned, there are many variations of this instrument throughout Mali and Senegal. Ali Farka Toure played one called Njarka.

[premium133]

can you tell me more about that?

[BanjoPariah]

Why is it always assumed that things were brought into Africa as opposed to exported? Every time the origin of an African instrument or tradition is questioned by non-Africans it's always assumed it's from or influenced by outsiders? Are you from this region to know for certain its origin? it's the Great Zimbabwe nonsense perpetuated.

[wadoma]

Hi, thanks for joining the discussion. I see your point, but respectfully disagree. There are many, many instruments that originated in West Africa - the n'goni (precursor to the banjo) being one of them. However, my understanding is that the Soku, Riti, and similar 1-string fiddles were brought from North Africa (isn't that also a part of Africa?). This is just what I have read - I'm not an ethnomusicologist by any stretch. For some interesting reading check out Mande Music by Eric Charry.

[lionzion22]

@wadoma

Some ethnic groups imported themselves from the North of Africa like Fulani and Soninke, pushed further south by the drying Sahara. Also, horses may have been brought to North Africa, from whence African people themselves brought them further south, where stringed instruments were already in place.

[wadoma]

@BanjoPariah - love your videos, BTW. Very nice playing and you get some beautiful sounds from that gourd banjo!

[BanjoPariah]

Hey, thanks. I must say, I love this vid. I had to call my friend & wake her up so she could hear this man sing. She's a great dexterous singer herself & she was even blown away by this guy. I see where we Africans get our "soul" from in the US :) Were u in the vid or were you filming?

[BiliosoII]

People seem to forget that the blood that humans as a species started in Africa. The Africans living there now have bloodlines running much farther back in a single location than anywhere else on earth, so they've had PLENTY of time to come up with their own ideas.

[wadoma]

The instrument in question is called SOKU, which means HORSEHAIR in Bamana. It is made from horsehair. Horses were brought to Mali by Arab traders in the 7th century. They are not indigenous to West Africa. Hence the theory that the instrument was imported. Mali is an ancient crossroads, don't forget. Also, the instrument al-rebab existed in Egypt for thousands of years.

Do have evidence to suggest that the instrument did originate in Mali? If so, I am very interested! Please share.

[danielberkman]

Awesome! Love the Soku! Wish I could see what he was doing, though. It's the only Soku footage on youtube! Whatup with that?

[richroberge]

The same instrument is known by several names depending on the region and language. Some of the names are goonji, goge, gunjey, gonjey. The Kel Tamakesh call it izmad. I found 2 other videos on YouTube under the name "gonjey".

[BanjoPariah]

Search 'Riti' & you'll get a few more hits

[madchops82]

that is nice

[Olozamora]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!