Post by diane9247 on Apr 7, 2015 6:38:46 GMT
Mauritanian Jakwa music.kmz (1.15 KB)
Listen to these fascinating recordings done by Matthew Lavoie for the Voice of America (VOA) and you might be transported to the Sahel of Africa. Specifically, to Mauritania, a sand-blown country on the western coast of Africa north of Senegal. Its capital, Nouakchott, is one of the driest and most economically fragile cities in Africa, but it's the center of Mauritanian music known as Jakwa. The Jakwa style, less intense than some North African styles, was begun in 1976 by blind musician Jheich ould Abba in Atar, Northern Mauritania. Unlike Senegalese and Malian musicians, who are world-renowned and record with European and American musicians, the Mauritanians have little formal, commercial music industry. Their musicians perform at weddings and other ceremonies within the country. The traditional stringed instrument you will hear is a tidnit.
The VOA audio files and one of the Youtube videos were recorded in the field.
Jheich ould Abba, mentioned in the first paragraph, playing the early Jakwa style, with singing and clapping by women. This female accompaniment is central to Jakwa music and this earlier form is almost meditative.
Idoumou, son of Jheich ould Abba, carries on his father's legacy.
Hammadi ould Nana's (<audio file) innovation was in using the electric guitar to play this music. Listening to the VOA audio file, I can imagine him playing with the late Jimi Hendrix. The electric guitar gives the music additional power and adds a contemporary sound that may be more easily accessible to Western ears. Matthew Lavoie, the author of the VOA article, states, "In July of 2000 I invited Hammadi to perform for a few friends. I made this recording on a Sony Professional Walkman using the cheap microphone I had at the time. The sound is not great but this track has got a nice live feel." I have to agree!
Here us a more recent example of his music, uploaded in 2011. It is an informal commentary interspersed with demonstrations of his style. The musical action begins about 4:30:
A brief live performance, 2013 upload:
I hope this music will get more exposure, as it deserves. Please go to the VOA page Music of Mauritania, Part I (all info used by their permission) for more and don't forget to check out Part II.
More information about Mauritania HERE and HERE.
Listen to these fascinating recordings done by Matthew Lavoie for the Voice of America (VOA) and you might be transported to the Sahel of Africa. Specifically, to Mauritania, a sand-blown country on the western coast of Africa north of Senegal. Its capital, Nouakchott, is one of the driest and most economically fragile cities in Africa, but it's the center of Mauritanian music known as Jakwa. The Jakwa style, less intense than some North African styles, was begun in 1976 by blind musician Jheich ould Abba in Atar, Northern Mauritania. Unlike Senegalese and Malian musicians, who are world-renowned and record with European and American musicians, the Mauritanians have little formal, commercial music industry. Their musicians perform at weddings and other ceremonies within the country. The traditional stringed instrument you will hear is a tidnit.
The VOA audio files and one of the Youtube videos were recorded in the field.
Jheich ould Abba, mentioned in the first paragraph, playing the early Jakwa style, with singing and clapping by women. This female accompaniment is central to Jakwa music and this earlier form is almost meditative.
Idoumou, son of Jheich ould Abba, carries on his father's legacy.
Hammadi ould Nana's (<audio file) innovation was in using the electric guitar to play this music. Listening to the VOA audio file, I can imagine him playing with the late Jimi Hendrix. The electric guitar gives the music additional power and adds a contemporary sound that may be more easily accessible to Western ears. Matthew Lavoie, the author of the VOA article, states, "In July of 2000 I invited Hammadi to perform for a few friends. I made this recording on a Sony Professional Walkman using the cheap microphone I had at the time. The sound is not great but this track has got a nice live feel." I have to agree!
Here us a more recent example of his music, uploaded in 2011. It is an informal commentary interspersed with demonstrations of his style. The musical action begins about 4:30:
A brief live performance, 2013 upload:
I hope this music will get more exposure, as it deserves. Please go to the VOA page Music of Mauritania, Part I (all info used by their permission) for more and don't forget to check out Part II.
More information about Mauritania HERE and HERE.