I linked to a video by Senegalese musician Abou Diouba Deh in my last post about Fatou Laobé without realizing that I've had one of his cassettes for some time, and an excellent one it is.
Like Laobé and the well-known Baaba Maal, Abou Diouba Deh is a member of the Fulani ethnic group. The Fulani, traditionally nomadic, have played an outsize role in West African history. From their homeland in the Fouta Tooro region of northern Senegal and southern Mauretania they have spread as far as the Central African Republic and Sudan. The most prominent Fulani in modern history was Usman Dan Fodio, a religious mystic and political reformer who founded the powerful Sokoto Caliphate in the early 19th Century in what is now Northern Nigeria. Numerous other West African leaders are of Fulani descent.
I've been unable to find out much about Abou Diouba Deh, but his cassette Yoo Bele Ndenndu (Tiïtounde) (Talla Diagne), which I post here, is a great example of the popular "neo-traditional" current in Senegalese music, traditional xalaam and percussion brilliantly complemented by the (uncredited) electric guitar. Enjoy!
Abou Diouba Deh - Gidam
Abou Diouba Deh - Ganndo Mayo
Abou Diouba Deh - Uururbe Daakaa
Abou Diouba Deh - Jaaraama Laaba Juude
Abou Diouba Deh - Beeli Seeno
Abou Diouba Deh - Jasar Wuddu Mbodo
Abou Diouba Deh - Taan Seex Aljumaa Bah
Abou Diouba Deh - Teddungal
Here's that YouTube Video. The cars racing by in the background detract a bit from the folkloric mood, I think:
Sunday, May 10, 2009
A Fulani Voice
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6 comments:
Oh man this tape is DOPE! I loved every song in it.
Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work. I enjoy your blog very much!
~Akua Frema~
Beautiful! I love it! He doesn't have quite the nasal timbre in his voice that I'm used to hearing from Fulani music. Please let us know if you find out where we can purchase his music. Thank you.
What an amazing band. The way "Gidam" builds so slowly and just never stops getting fuller and funkier! The first time the whole band comes in, on those accents, is simply awesome. I foresee losing many hours perusing your archive. Thanks so much for sharing this stuff!
Now seeing a video of Abu I remembered, I've never grateful you this wonderful album, also wanted to say that the unmistakable guitar cannot be other than the of Jimi Mbaye (Purlo).
@Tam tell you that the Yewndé album of Abou Diouba Deh is available in Starzik.
I found a discography.
http://abou-diouba.com/page%20index.html
For those who wish to listen live performing of Abou Djouba for hours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYtKKAP6XYc
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