Music of Mali: the messengers ep.2/2

A documentary directed by Bruno Maïga, Djingarey Maiga, Jean-François Schiano.

Synopsis

The gri­ots are not the only cus­to­di­ans of musi­cal tra­di­tion. In cer­tain eth­nies, the griot hold a less impor­tant place and any­body, even Noble, can sing and play an instru­ment he has the least taste and is gifted . This music designed for enter­tain­ment , serves as a dis­trac­tion for Feasts, Chris­ten­ing, cir­cum­ci­sion, and mar­riage cer­e­monies . This is illus­trated by four musi­cal sequences in Was­soulou: a singer and a Kamalen’goni player ( young man’s gui­tar) liven up a feast in which boys and girls of the vil­lage take part. In Bougouni, a singer accom­pa­nies tam-tam play­ers and relates her trav­els in dif­fer­ent coun­tries . At Sikasso, the ancient cap­i­tal of Kene­dougou, bal­a­fons brighten up a local feast. Today, there is no music which can retain the inhab­i­tants of Sikasso when they hear the sound of the balafons.