Learn about West Africa and the Malinke people and their music.
Sing a folk song of the Malinke people of West Africa.
Play three different rhythm patterns to accompany a Malinke folk song.
Materials
World map or Africa map
Djembe drums, kenkeni drum, and cowbell
Optional instruments: congas, floor tom, and bass drum.
Optional drum-making activity: five-gallon buckets, mailing tape, dowels, water jugs
Instructions
Play "Bala Kulandyan." ASK What instruments do you hear? (drums, percussion, xylophone)
How would you describe this music? (drum ensemble, exciting; repetitive, music from Africa)
We are going to learn about the music of West Africa. Find West Africa on the map, then read the (PDF) article together: "Mallinke Music of West Africa."
Here is a pronunciation guide for the song. Echo-speak each phrase slowly and in rhythm. (You may choose to write the lyrics for visual learners.)
Malinke: Bala kulandyan! Den na fissa! Pronunciation: bah-lah koo-lahn-dyahn den nah fee-sah. (Translation: Long-legged bird of the sea! A child is better than anything!)
Keme ta iye n'so den da!. keh-meh tah ee-yeh enso den dah (Take a hundred things and give me a child!)
I ba keme ke den delen sonko di. ee bah keh-meh keh den del-len soan-koh dee (I give a hundred to receive a child.)
Keme ta iye n'so den na! keh-meh tah ee-yeh enso den nah (Take a hundred and give me a child!)
Once comfortable with the pronunciation, echo-sing the melody.
This song features call-and-response, in which two groups alternate singing. Divide into two groups and practice singing the alternating parts.
Djembe rhythmic accompaniment: Set up chairs in a circle and place as many djembes or conga drums as you have in front of the first group of chairs. There are three main sounds, or strokes, the djembe plays: open, tom, and slap. Practice each stroke separately. For all patterns, the basic hand pattern alternates right-left-right-left. Then, practice this pattern by playing Open-Open-Tom-Tom-Slap-Slap. When successful, introduce the djembe pattern on the Student Page (PDF).
Open: fingers touching, hand is parallel with forearm; drum is struck in the center with a slight bounce; produces low tone
Tom: like the open stroke, but hit at the edge of the drum; hit quickly, as if the drum head is hot; produces slightly higher tone than open
Slap: fingers slightly spread; hit edge where fingers and palm meet; palm rests at edge after hitting but fingers bounce from the tension of the head; produce a clear, bell-like ring
Cowbell and Kenkeni rhythmic accompaniment: Divide into pairs to read the cowbell pattern and the kenkeni pattern on the Student Page. Clap the cowbell pattern and pat the kenkeni pattern. Then, try performing both patterns together.
Listen to the Instructional Audio: Malinke Drumming Rhythms for Beginners. Play each rhythm separately on your instrument, then layer together to create a Malinke Drumming Ensemble!
Perform with vocals and drumming ensembles. Repeat and rotate often to allow everyone a chance to play each part or bring home.
Optional Activity: create your own drums and mallets so that everyone has an instrument to play.
Water cooler jugs: These make great bass drums and require little preparation. Decorate your drum with construction paper, glitter glue, or yarn. Attach a rope to both ends to carry the drum around your neck.
Five-gallon bucket drums or plastic garbage can drums: Place packing tape in strips over the top of the buckets or cans. Place the first layer of strips parallel to one another; then place the next layer perpendicular. Rotate any subsequent layers. Two or more layers work best.
Mallets can be made from 12-inch dowels. Make a knob for the end out of a plastic grocery bag. Place a square piece of cloth around it and secure it with a rubber band.
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