"Masters of the Sabar" is the first book to examine the music and culture of Wolof griot percussionists, masters of the vibrant sabar drumming tradition. Based on extensive field research in Senegal, this book is a biographical study of several generations of percussionists in a Wolof griot (gewel) family, exploring and documenting their learning processes, repertories, and performance contexts-from life-cycle ceremonies to sporting events and political meetings. Patricia Tang examines the rich history and changing repertories of sabar drumming, including dance rhythms and bakks, musical...

Examines the rich history and changing repertories of sabar drumming, including dance rhythms and bakks, musical phrases derived from spoken words. Highlight the virtuosity and musical skill of the percussionist, this work also considers the burgeoning popular music genre called mbalax. It is accompanied by a Compact Disc.

Election campaigns, political events, and national celebration days in Malawi usually feature groups of women who dance and perform songs of praise for politicians and political parties. These lively performances help to attract and energize throngs of prospective voters. However, as Lisa Gilman explains, 'praise performing' is one of the only ways that women are allowed to participate in a male-dominated political system. Although political performances by women are not unique to Malawi, the case in Malawi is complicated by the fact that until 1994 all Malawian women were required to perform...

Intrigued by texted sonorities - the rhythms, musics, ordinary noises and sounds of language in narratives - this title examines the soundscapes in contemporary Francophone novels such as Ousmane Sembene's "God's Bits of Wood" (Senegal), and Patrick Chamoiseau's "Solibo Magnificent" (Martinique).

A groundbreaking study of music in an ethnically marginalized South African community