Yamadu Bani Dunbia
Encyclopedia
Yamadu Bani Dunbia was a notable djembe
master drummer
from Bamako
, Mali
. Although recordings of his playing are scarce, he was well known across Bamako
. He recorded his first songs at the age of 78.
and served in the French colonial army during the World War II
. After the war he found himself in the Malian capitol Bamako
. After the Malian independence in the 60's the celebration culture in Bamako
boomed Dunbia became a well known performer and kept his reputation until 2002 when he died.
His first recordings were made in 1995 when he was 78. The recordings were made on a school yard in Bamako
without rehearsals, notation or similar and in one single shot. Yet the music recorded is of significant importance to students of West African music.
Djembe
A djembe also known as jembe, jenbe, djbobimbe, jymbe, yembe, or jimbay, or sanbanyi in Susu; is a skin-covered drum meant played with bare hands....
master drummer
Master drummer
In African drumming, the title of master drummer is given to a drummer who is well known by other masters for his high skill and knowledge. It is a title passed down from a master to his pupil, after he has learned all there is to know about the African drum....
from Bamako
Bamako
Bamako is the capital of Mali and its largest city with a population of 1.8 million . Currently, it is estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and sixth fastest in the world...
, Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
. Although recordings of his playing are scarce, he was well known across Bamako
Bamako
Bamako is the capital of Mali and its largest city with a population of 1.8 million . Currently, it is estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and sixth fastest in the world...
. He recorded his first songs at the age of 78.
Biography
Dunbia was born in 1917 in west MaliMali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
and served in the French colonial army during the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war he found himself in the Malian capitol Bamako
Bamako
Bamako is the capital of Mali and its largest city with a population of 1.8 million . Currently, it is estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and sixth fastest in the world...
. After the Malian independence in the 60's the celebration culture in Bamako
Bamako
Bamako is the capital of Mali and its largest city with a population of 1.8 million . Currently, it is estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and sixth fastest in the world...
boomed Dunbia became a well known performer and kept his reputation until 2002 when he died.
His first recordings were made in 1995 when he was 78. The recordings were made on a school yard in Bamako
Bamako
Bamako is the capital of Mali and its largest city with a population of 1.8 million . Currently, it is estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and sixth fastest in the world...
without rehearsals, notation or similar and in one single shot. Yet the music recorded is of significant importance to students of West African music.
Discography
- 1995 - The Art of Jenbe Drumming: The Mali Tradition Vol. 1
- 1998 - Jakite, Dunbia, Kuyate, and Samake: BAMAKÒ FÒLI: Jenbe Music From Bamako (Mali)
Further reading
- Eric Charry, "A Guide to the Jembe," originally published in "Percussive Notes" 34, no. 2 (April 1996).
- Polak, Rainer (1998)"Jenbe Music in Bamako: Microtiming as Formal Model and Performance Practice".ISBN 3-89645-241-X, p. 23-42.