Collection of music clips

Here is a collection of samples of music recorded with our battery-operated cassette tape recorder. These give examples of the different types of music that fill the celebrations with emotions and dance.

Balafon music recorded at a gathering at our home:

 

The musicians (click on thumbnails to view full size):

 

Celebration at the completion of the Poro

Every seven years the initiates of the men’s Poro society complete the course of their initiation and there are weeks of celebrations. When the initiates graduated from their seven years of service in the men’s society, they went through the village for weeks playing talking drums, recounting tales and trials, and praising the ancestors, chiefs, and traditions. Women and the full village celebrated their achievement with songs welcoming the new group of village men and leaders.

Here are samples of some of the music and songs:

 

 

 

 

Sometimes a young man, Ouana Silué, would come to our house and play his kora, a traditional harp made from gourd, hide and wood. Listen to a sample of his music:

 

Here is a excerpt of balafon music with singer during a funeral celebration in the village of Nafoun. These celebrations would go all night long with many balafon bands performing:

 

Check back as we will continue to add some additional music clips.