Burkina Faso: Rhythms of the S

Coll: Burkina Faso, Rhythms of the Grasslands Nonesuch 2002
Originally recorded in 1973-75 and released in 1983, these field recordings are by
Kathleen Johnson. The flavor of the country’s three main cultural/tribal regions is
represented here in the instruments and themes of the 11 tracks. As with most field
recordings, there is that combination of authenticity and less-than-ideal sound
quality, both endearing and amateurish. There is nothing splashy or pyrotechnic
here, just fascinating slices of the everyday musical life of Burkina Faso. Reward
yourself: read the booklet.
Faves: 1,2,6,7,11 (Dr D 09-04)
1Med, chants and two instruments, a jirkil (one string lute) and tumbude (palm-struck calabash).
Celebrates Tabasky, one of two main Muslim holidays held during the year. Sheep are sacrificed
to symbolize Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son at the behest of God.
2 Med/fast, a capella, 13 young Samo girls are playing a circle game, singing, clapping and tossing
3 Med/fast, a funeral rite for a Mossi chief. Three types of drums, women ululating, chorus of 75 vox
4 Med, two kwende (Mossi thumb piano which is played only by boys, informal and recreational)
Here they are imitating verbal phrases in the 5 tones of the Mossi language.
5 Med, one man playing two drums at once, a dumanu pressure drum, and an ah-ahn-zo, cylindrical
drum. Soloist Dembele is a griot, or hereditary professional musician, and a weaver as well.
6 Med, praise-chanting for a local chief. Two instruments, a 3-string lute (played gut-bucket fashion)
and a palm-struck gourd similar to that in #1.
7 Med/fast,Wedding ceremony piece. 3 drums with happy singing. Music is being made at the groom’s
family home after the wedding procession has proceeded through town following the first reception.
8 Fast, Samo dance tune. Seven-string harp-lute and singing by the Tumi griot player. A rattle attach-
ed to the top of the neck adds percussive vibrations to each note.
9 Fast, Hausa baptismal dance. Three drums, one small conical with two flexible beaters, and two
pressure drums as in #5, these are held under the arms and squeezed to vary the pitch while beating
10 Med/fast, one-string fiddle & vox relating a folktale about ingratitude and how it spreads.
11Fast, 4 drums, background chanting by the dancers. This is an enthronement ceremony for a big
Chief, a rare and major occasion with attendance in the thousands.