Djanbutu Thiossane is a Senegalese group led by the N'diaye brothers, a living exponent of the griot music of Western Africa. The figure of the griot is roughly akin to that of the bard in our culture and the griot plays a dual role in his community. He livens up any type of festival or gathering...
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Djanbutu Thiossane is a Senegalese group led by the N'diaye brothers, a living exponent of the griot music of Western Africa. The figure of the griot is roughly akin to that of the bard in our culture and the griot plays a dual role in his community. He livens up any type of festival or gathering while keeping local legend alive with his songs recounting both recent and historic events.
Djanbutu Thiossane's music is mbalax - rooted in Wolof percussion and centered on dance and the sabar drum. This style of music is unique to the Wolof tradition - the Muslim people of Senegal. Its rhythms are pulsating and the dancers are known for their incredible acrobatic leaps.
The group uses a combination of drums to achieve their deeply textured, polyrhythmic sound, including the sabar, djembe, dum dum, and de axila. On occasion they are also accompanied by the crystalline sound of the kora - the mandinga harp.
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