Mande Music
Instruments
The predominant instruments of the Malinke percussion ensemble are the Djembe and the Dunun. There are three sizes of Dunun used: the Sangban (middle-sized drum), the Dunumba (large drum) and the Kenkeni (smallest drum).
Types of Drumming
There are now two to three drumming genres in Guinea and West Africa. The the original or traditional from came from the villages, before colonization and Islam. This is a very community-oriented style who’s purpose is to celebrate or mark some event or happening. It is generally inclusive, though there are some gender-specific and specialty rhythms. This is commonly called “traditional” or the “village tradition.”
The second genre A Guinean named Fodeba Keita pioneered the second tradition in Guinea in the 1940s and 50s. He had traveled to Europe and witness the ballets there. This gave him the idea of setting traditional Mande music and dance to the stage as well thereby creating the “ballet tradition.” When Guinea became independent from France in 1952, the new dictator asked (or perhaps coerced) Fodeba