The Whole Music Experience

Sibiri Samakè Bamana Hunter Music Dambe Foli System Krush Every traditional culture has its healing plants, magic, and sacred music.   The Donso (hunter) of Mali is no exception.    Finding roots in the ancient Mande Kingdom of West Africa, the Donso once were in service to the Great Mande King Sunjata Keita, who you hear about a lot in the traditional music and history of Mali. The Donso served as soldiers for the king, along with providing spiritual healing and nourishment to their communities. True the traditional songs, sung in their original language, that appear on Dambe Foli possess a trance and ritualistic aura. While the liner notes supply me with information about each of the song-sets, I can barely read the font in which the information appears.   From what I can glean the album contains praise songs (not uncommon with traditional Malian music), protection spells, and ceremonial songs.   The Donso n’goni (not to be conf...

Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba Speak Fula Next Ambiance/Subpop I love griot music of Mali—the kora, n’goni (West African banjo), calabashes, and soaring vocals. You might have already read numerous reviews on The Whole Music Experience featuring Malian music and no doubt, you’ll read more in the future. I was listening to NPR’s “All Things Considered” one evening and heard a segment on the n’goni player and rising music star, Bassekou Kouyate. I stopped whatever I was doing at the time, sat down and listened to the stunning music rising from my portable stereo. The piece that I heard possessed ambient qualities with Malian female vocals surfing over the top of jagged rhythms and traditional instruments. The vocalist, Amy Sacko that captured my attention is Kouyate's wife. But she’s only one of many stars on this album which also features the son of Ali Farka Toure (Vieux Farka Toure), a singer with a golden throat, Kasse Mady Diabate, kora master Toumani Diabate, and ...

Cheick Hamala Diabate Ake Doni Doni (Take it Slow) Grigri Discs I imagine that we Americans need a West African griot and n’goni player advising our government representatives. Malian n’goni player and musical diplomat has exchanged culture and I hope humanitarian ethics with members of the U.S. Congress and “hobnobbed with American string and blues legend Bela Fleck to Corey Harris…” According to the press release, “As the resident griot of DC, Diabate happily take on a very traditional role of in his adopted home where he has lived since 1995. He still earns his living the old fashion way—praising notables and legitimizing leaders and garnering generous rewards for his songs.” However, the songs on Ake Doni Doni also teach politicians, the media and other Washington DC dwellers how to be better parents, better leaders and to heal themselves of a “grab fast” mentality which Diabate addresses in the titular song. Take a listen to Astou Diabate’s fiery vocals on Oude Diall...