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Mandinka Singing and Griot Storytelling
Workshops are led by brother and sister Sadio and Adama Cissokho backed by Matar
Ndiongue and Ablaye Badji on djembe and sabar drum. Sadio, Adama and Ablaye were
born into a musically famous Jali (griot) family which have functioned as carriers
of tradition in the Southern region of the country for over 700 years. Before reading
and writing reached West Africa, griots have had the job of preserving and passing
on the regions history and culture through story telling and song, a skill passed
down through generations.
Sadio's introduction will include an insight into West African
griot culture, upbringing and life in modern Senegal. The workshop content can be
focused largely as a traditional singing session learning popular Mandinka songs
and music from the Manding empire or also include Senegalese percussion. However
we would require you to provide djembe drums as we can't travel with enough for all
students whilst we're on tour.
Blending tales explained in English with Mandinka song
and kora accompaniment, Adama Cissokho recollects aincent griot stories from the
Manding empire. Stories like 'Kadiba', the tale of a young lady who refuses to help
out her mother and 'Nani Baa', in which the king sets a challenge for the villager
who can climb the highest mountain will receive his daughter's hand in marriage,
however the handsome man 'Nani Baa' goes to the local witch doctor for a spell to
turn him temporarily into an ugly man to prove himself.