Friday, Nov. 14, 2008

First U.S. visit brings Mali song and dance troupe to Gallo Center

The traditional musical instruments and sounds of Mali are coming to Modesto.

The Song & Dance Ensemble of West Africa, led by drummer and artistic director Bamba Dembele, will perform favorite traditional songs of love, respect and community at the Gallo Center for the Arts on Nov. 21.

"Mr. Dembele's mission is to give America the opportunity to enjoy the culture, music and dancing and joy of West Africa," said Madelaine Collinson, Dembele's interpreter and the company manager. "All you hear is the bad things about Africa — misery, war and famine. He wants people to know the good things about Africa."

Founded by Dembele in 1984, the 16-member group has toured Europe but is visiting the United States for the first time.

One of the pieces it will perform is "Djou Djou Nama," a song sung by young girls in a village to encourage the farmers laboring in the fields. Other pieces include "Djefrile," a song about the importance of kindness to children, and "Kononi," about honoring parents.

Musical instruments include the cora, an African harp with 21 strings made from fishing lines and a body made from a calabas, a type of gourd. Performers will also play the balafon (a type of xylophone) and the "talking drum," which produces different tones through manipulation of strings attached to it from top to bottom.

The songs are from West Africa's many ethnic groups, including the Sonike, Peuls and Tamashek people of the desert.

"The costumes are very colorful," said Collinson. "They're Mali traditional."