Famoudou Konaté
HAMANA NAMUN
Famoudou Konaté’s new CD, Hamana Namun, reveals the pure virtuosity, creativity and musical genius of this Grand Master of the djembe drum and its orchestra. Through this new recording, Konaté once again warmly invites us to experience the beauty, energy and artistry that is the living musical heritage of the Malinké people of Guinea, West Africa. And from the first call of the djembe on the opening track, Tiadian, we know this is going to be a powerful, high-octane percussive ride.
Hamana Namun delves deeply into the Malinké musical tradition with a richness, color and feeling often heard only in the village setting where music is closely interwoven into the fabric of daily life. A traditional song for farm workers, Kassa, becomes a rhythmic journey through multiple, fully-orchestrated variations, as if we are progressing through chapters of a good book that we just can’t put down. The disk offers up a healthy dose of the signature dunun rhythms of the Hamana region of Guinea (i.e., the “dance of the strong men”) and Konaté’s skilled ensemble incorporates a wide variety of lesser known Malinké instruments, including the balafo (West African xylophone), tantanen hand drums, wassamban shakers and kodo kodo wood blocks that add even further texture and authenticity to the music.
Famoudou Konaté’s commanding djembe solos cut through the intricate dunun melodies and polyrhythms with unbridled clarity, energy and joy. Ultimately, Hamana Namun delivers on the spirit of its final rhythm, Soofétama, a Malinké word meaning “to do the rounds,” as when village drummers go from house to house to honor individuals or to announce important events and festivals. In a world where our lives are often complex but our music generally is not, Konaté’s new CD calls us out to a rhythmic celebration rooted in centuries-old tradition but fully accessible to all.
Amy Lusk
Diamana Diya, Chicago
Artist: Famoudou Konaté
Title: Hamana Namun
Release Date: April 21, 2008
Product: Audio-CD including a 24 page booklet with English, French and German information.
Label: Ursula Dittmar / TARIKUmusique, Pappenheim, Germany, dittmar@tarikumusique.com
Label-URL: www.tarikumusique.com
Distribution: Online shop www.tarikumusique.com and selected re-sellers in North America and Japan
Catalogue number: TAR 02
Tracks:
01 Tiadian
02 Söma Sandyi
03 Kawa de Faranah
04 Kawa de Hamana
05 Toro
06 Nanfina
07 Dunun Mayèlèman
08 Dibon, Kassa et Konkoba Dunun
09 Bara Duu
10 Soliwulen
11 Solibasi
12 Soofètama
