Djembe drumming is a traditional form of percussion in West Africa. Originally performed a broad variety of events and circumstances by the Malinké peoples living in Guineau, Mali, and other West African and Sahel nations, the djembe drum and style is increasingly found throughout the world. One major Djembe group close to Madison is the Chicago Djembe Project, a seven-year old group that plays what it describes as "intricate, melodic, [and] energetic percussion music." In November of 2003, the ensemble performed in a classroom at the UW-Madison.
The five-minute-long concert clip follows below.
The artistic director of the Chicago Djembe Project is Lilian Friedberg. Following the performance nearly three years ago, she spoke at the UW-Madison about her PhD. scholarship, investigating "the place of the genocide of Native Americans in American history" as reported in the Nov. 28, 2003 issue of The Madison Times.
More videos of the group's performances can be found here. More information about Malinke djembe drumming is available from Rootsy Records.
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