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Marabout from Mandé - Abbé Boilat : Esquisses sénégalaises (1853) © Gallica
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In the beginning, that song was an old rhythm and a dance coming from Guinea, according to eldest traditionalist, precisely
from the Faranah area. That rhythm was a part of « Soli » (rhythms played in ritual circoncision celebrations). It was created on balafon, then adapted to ngoni The n'koni is a melodic instrument hailing from the Fulani, used since antiquity by that ethnic group. In the beginning, it was made with a single string and was probably
created by the shepherds using it for entertainment when they followed the transhumance of their flocks... Read more. and kora.
« In the time before circoncision, the bilakoro (un-initiated young men) are going around the villages where their parents live claiming the date of that celebration. Somehow, this dance is
celebrating the end of their childhood. » Keita, Mamady. 2007. Mandeng Djara. Fonti Musicali, FMD 231.
In time, that dance has been adapted in a folksong, often sung with these lines «Kalata Mori», i.e. «Marabout, pick up your
pen»; then, the song had been changed into a praising song celebrating Muslim lineages that were not celebrated by particular epic or old praising songs.
You should notice that « Kala » is not to be confused with « Kala Jula », that celebrates, the mythic father of the
Diabaté jèlílua jèlí (plural, jèlílu) is a bard, loremaster, and praise-singer in the Manding areas whose functions are story-telling, speaking about
lineages, singing and playing music as he want and hear it... Read more. , called Sanghoï « Kala Jula » (The Bowman Hunter).
« Kala » is, nowadays seen by many korafoláluA
korafolá is kora player in mandinka (who is able to make the kora talk) - korafolálu, plural. and traditionalist jèlílua jèlí (plural, jèlílu)
is a bard, loremaster, and praise-singer in the Manding areas whose functions are story-telling, speaking about lineages, singing and playing music as he want and hear it... Read more.
like a « root song » whom many folksongs derivated like « Salimun », «
CheriCheri (Lil Darling) is not, properly talking, a "traditional" or epic song ; but it was rather a popular folksong "in the mood" in Guinea near the
1960s... Read more. », or « NanfoulenThis song is popular and is coming from Guinea ; it is rather recent, dating back from the 2nd world
war.... Read more about. » or again « Kalata Diata » (Diata took up his bow), untitled from the line of the epic of « SundiataSundjata is the most famous song of the Manding tradition. This song is also known under the title of The Anthem of the Bow or Simbo... Read more. ».
Famous performers of «Kala» :
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