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sisay
48 Posts |
 Posted - 10 Sep 2007 : 08:23:51
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I promised to post something about the drum, so here it is.
The earliest European description of a drum in Africa is from the early 17th century where some a Frenchman described a ceremony in Cape Verde. The next account, from late 17th century and also French, described Sabar drums played by "Guiriotz" during a wrestling match. This is how the French word "Griot" originated. The Moroccan historian Ibn Battuta from the 14th Century wrote of Jali existing in Mandeng during 1345, and mention drums. However, according to Ollof oral history, it is much older. But there is nothing that allows us to pinpoint a specific date.
The story goes that two brothers were sent by their mother to get firewood. They fought over a branch and the older brother killed the younger brother. He didn't know what to do, so he carried the corpse back home. His parents drove him away saying "Go and take away this corpse, we don't want it and we don't know what to do with it."
So he lived under the shade of a big tree behind the house. He would call out after the meal and would be brought his share. But sometimes it was very windy and his voice wasn't loud enough, so he banged two sticks together. One day some termites hollowed out one of the sticks. He discovered that stick was louder than the solid stick, so he found a hollow log and began to beat that with his two sticks.
On the seventh day of his exile two crows landed on his head. One then kill the other and began to bury him in the ground. Ao the boy copied what the crows had done with his brother and this is the origin of the burial ceremony. He returned to the house with the drum. Then neighbours aks him to play for them. From that time they forget his accidental crime and only remember his drumming.
It is obvious this story talk about a time so old that people hadn't yet learned to bury a corpse. But this drum had no skin. The origin of Sabar is from the time Mansa Wali Jon, prince of Ngabu, went into exile. He wondered into Saloum where the Serer were. His Jali play Sawruba. From there, Serer imitate Sawruba, then bring it to Sine and Dakar. Before long, everyone was playing it, but the shape and rhythms changed.
We now know that Mansa Wali Jon ruled the area of Saloum in the middle of the 14th century. First Gewel in Dakar to play Sabar was Medun Kumba Njaye.
There are several stories about jembe. Many agree that it came from the mortar and pestle. I heard a story once about a woman who took a mortar after the bottom had been pounded through, and put a skin on it. After this she gave the drum to the elders. This is not the only story I heard about women being first drummers. I also was told this by another Jali but he was not specific about what kind of drum it was. You can compare this to the bible where Maryam play the tambourine. So she was the first drummer according to the three main religions. We also have a parallel between the Wollof story of first drummer (the boy who killed his younger brother over the stick) and the story of Cain and Abel. Both stories it was the older brother who killed younger brother through jealousy, and was exiled as a result, but Cain was condemn by God to wonder the earth endlessly and in the story of the first drum and burial, he serves the community by playing the drum, he redeem himself to the community because after all he didn't kill his brother on purpose.
Another jembe story say that jen (wood) and be (goat) together make jembe, because it is goat skin on the wood.
Another jembe story say that it is Bambara and comes from the words "jebe bara" which means "unity drum".
There are other stories but I think this is already too much!
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 10 Sep 2007 : 20:24:11
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Sisay
Thanks for your enlightening narrations.
I will come back to it |
Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
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mbay
Germany
1007 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2007 : 14:02:41
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like the storeis of cain and abel in Genesis?.
Quran. 5:30?. |
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Alhassan
Sweden
813 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2007 : 15:20:22
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quote:
Originally posted by sisay
I promised to post something about the drum, so here it is.
We now know that Mansa Wali Jon ruled the area of Saloum in the middle of the 14th century. First Gewel in Dakar to play Sabar was Medun Kumba Njaye.
Sisay,
Would you please tell us your reference because I am a Gewel from Cayor but never heard of the said Medun Kumba Njaye. I have even some relatives from Kawon not far from Gandiaye in SeneSaloum but never heard of the guys here.I have been asking my relatives back in Senegal about your findings , but we need your source please. I am not saying that you are wrong, I only ask of your source.
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sisay
48 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2007 : 18:06:32
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Mbaye, yes, that was the comparison I was making. I just find it interesting sometimes our traditional stories are close to the biblical ones. There are even some better examples of this than the stories of the drum.
Alhassan, I will give you my source with pleasure, but first can you also please share your knowledge with us of the story (or stories) you were told about the sabar?
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