Bamana and Bozo Songs from Kirango, Mali
by Elisabeth den Otter
Kirango, in the arrondissement Markala, is a village with over six thousand inhabitants, located on the bank of the Niger river about 40 kilometres north east of the city of Ségou.
During the masquerades of the Bamana and Bozo of Kirango, large puppets in the shape of mythical animals (sogow, liter-ally 'meat') are made to dance by puppeteers that are hidden inside. Some of the animals carry small rod puppets on their back (maanin, literally 'little people'), which 'dance' as well. They alternate with masked dan-cers, equally representing mythical animals and symbolic persons. These hidden dancers express the character repre-sented by the puppet or mask, through their move-ments.
The male bush buffalo, Sigi, symbolises strength and the power of tradition. On his back, he carries small rod puppets representing women pounding millet, a farmer, fisherman in a boat, the water-god Faro, and a crocodile. He is accompanied by men playing drums.
Other occasions during which music and song may be heard, are weddings and traditional hunter's feasts of the Bamana, who are famous for their hunting skills.
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wedding music  |
Article:'Music
for the hunters' (including mp3 music samples) |
PAN record PAN 4010KCD
Recordings, photography, and liner notes by Elisabeth den Otter
This CD costs US$ 15 + US$ 5 shipping, and may be ordered directly from PAN records: paradox@dataweb.nl