Yamadu Bani Dunbia (1917-2002) was a notable
djembe
A djembe or jembe ( ; from Maninka language, Malinke ''jembe'' , N'Ko script, N'Ko: ) is a rope-tuned skin-covered goblet drum played with bare hands, originally from West Africa.
According to the Bambara people in Mali, the name of the 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.
Biography
Dunbia was born in 1917 in west
Mali and served in the
French colonial army during the
World War II. After the war he found himself in the Malian capital
Bamako. After the Malian independence in the 60's, the celebration culture in
Bamako boomed, and Dunbia became a well known performer, keeping his reputation until 2002 when he died.
notes on "The Mali Tradition Vol. 1" CD edition.
His first recordings were made in 1995 when he was 78. The recordings were made in a school yard in Bamako without rehearsals, notation or similar and in a 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)
References
Further reading
*Eric Charry
"A Guide to the Jembe,"
originally published in "Percussive Notes" 34, no. 2 (April 1996).
*Polak, Rainer (199
, p. 23-42.
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dunbia, Yamadu Bani
African drummers
Master drummers
1917 births
2002 deaths
People from Bamako