Mbalax (or Mbalakh) is the national popular dance music of Senegal and The Gambia. Senegal (le Sénégal officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country south of the Sénégal River in western Africa. Mbalax is a fusion of popular Western music and dance such as jazz, soul, Latin, and rock blended with sabar, the traditional drumming and dance music of Senegal. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Soul music is a Music genre that combines Rhythm and blues and Gospel music, originating in the United States. Latin music, includes the music of all countries in Latin America (and the Caribbean) and comes in many varieties Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. The sabar is traditional Drum from the West African nation of Senegal. The genre's name derived from the heavy use of accompanying rhythms used in sabar called mbalax.
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History and Influence
Mbalax in its current form developed in Senegal in the 1970s. Senegal (le Sénégal officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country south of the Sénégal River in western Africa. Up to that time popular music was dominated by Congolese Soukous, American Soul and Funk, as well as, most prominently, Cuban music, as interpreted by Senegalese musicians. Influenced by the 'back to roots' philosophy of Negritude and the receding influence of colonialism, artists began to mix these sounds with traditional Senegalese music and forge new sounds incorporating their new national identity. Musicians began singing in Wolof (Senegal's predominant dialect) instead of French and English, and incorporated rhythms of the indigenous sabar drum. The sabar is traditional Drum from the West African nation of Senegal. Dancers began using moves associated with the sabar, and tipping the singers as if they were traditional griots. A griot ( pronounced /gɹiɒ/ in English or in French, with a silent t) or jeli ( djeli or djéli in French
Among the bands that played this new style, Etoile de Dakar (starring Youssou N'Dour and El Hadji Faye), and Raam Daan (starring Thione Seck), were the most popular and innovative and are credited with the modern sound. Youssou N'Dour (jusun̩ˈduːʀ (born October 1, 1959 in Dakar) is a Senegalese Singer and Percussionist. Raam Daan is a Mbalax band from Senegal, Africa Founded in 1974 by Thione Seck, Raam Daan has risen to become one of the most popular mbalax bands in Thione Ballago Seck (born March 12, 1955) is one of Senegal 's greatest singers and musicians in the Mbalax genre on par with Baaba Maal Since becoming popular, both Mbalax and its associated dance have spread to other region such as Mali, Mauritania, Ivory Coast and France. Mali, officially the Republic of Mali (République du Mali is a Landlocked nation in Western Africa. Mauritania (موريتانيا Mūrītāniyā officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is a country Côte d'Ivoire (ˌkoʊt divˈwɑː(r ' in English, kot diˈvwaʀ in French) or Ivory Coast, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. This dissemination has come about through radio, audio cassettes and televised video clips. The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a Magnetic tape sound
Following worldwide trends in pop music, modern Mbalax has evolved to contain keyboards, synths and other electronic production methods. As Jazz, Funk, Latin (especially Cuban) and Congolese pop music influenced the early sounds of Mbalax, today it is increasingly influenced by RnB, Hip-Hop, Coupé-Décalé, Zouk and other modern Caribbean, Latin, and African pop musics. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Funk is an American musical style that originated in the mid- to late-1960s when African American musicians blended Soul music, Soul Hip hop is a cultural movement which developed in New York City in the 1970s primarily among African Americans and Latinos. Zouk is a style of rhythmic Music originating from the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Recently, Mbalax artists have frequently collaborated with artists from these genres, such as Viviane Ndour's recent collaborations with Zouk star Philip Montiero and French/Malian rap star Mokobe. Viviane Ndour (born Viviane Chichid is a Senegalese pop singer who is the former Sister-in-law of Youssou Ndour. However, its sabar rhythms and Islamic influenced vocals continue to make Mbalax one of the most distinctive forms of dance music in west Africa and the diaspora.
Mbalax Dance
Mbalax Dancing is popular in nightclubs and social gatherings as well as religious and cultural gatherings for example; weddings, birthdays, and naming ceremonies. Although it is popular among all ethnic and socio-economic groups, it is most popular among young Wolof. Movement varies across age and gender lines. Mbalax dance style incorporates pelvic gyrations and knee movements.
New Mbalax dance movements are constantly emerging, this often occurs with the increasing popularity of a particular song. Patricia Tang describes some of the new movements:
"Examples of such dances are the ventilateur ('electric fan', which describes the motion of the buttocks swirling suggestively); xaj bi ('the dog', in which a dancer lifts his/her leg in imitation of a dog); moulaye chigin (which involves pelvic and knee movements that perfectly match the sabar breaks); and more recently, the jelkati (a dance in which the upper arms, bent at the elbows, move in parallel motion from left to right). Interestingly all of these dance crazes are closely tied to sabar breaks, and some (such as tawran tej) are even named for the vocal mnemonics of the sabar rhythm they accompany. "[1]
Music and Instrumentation
Senegalese songs are usually unwritten, and certain instruments or musical styles are reserved for specific genders or age groups. In the past, only griots could perform music. A griot ( pronounced /gɹiɒ/ in English or in French, with a silent t) or jeli ( djeli or djéli in French Their traditional role was transmitting oral history, genealogies and social rankings, diplomacy, and storytelling. Today, griots continue to participate in naming ceremonies, weddings, and funerals.
Music is performed using instruments such as drums, balafon, riti, tama (small drum), sabar drum. The balafon ( bala, balaphone) is a resonated frame wooden keyed Percussion idiophone of West Africa; part of the Idiophone family In the 1970s Western instruments and equipment such as the flute, electric guitar, piano, violin, trumpet and synthesizer have been incorporated into the music, to accompany the dance. The flute is a Musical instrument of the Woodwind family Unlike other woodwind instruments a flute is a Reedless wind instrument that produces its An electric guitar is a type of Guitar that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into an electrical current which is made louder The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers The violin is a bowed String instrument with four strings usually tuned in Perfect fifths It is the smallest and highest-pitched member In addition to the instrumentation, humming, chanting and singing (in either Wolof, French or English) are used to accompany the music that the dance is done to. The lyrics of mbalax songs address social, religious, familial, or moral issues.
According to author Patricia Tang:
"The rhythmic foundation and primary identifiable feature of modern mbalax is the sabar…in Wolof gewel percussionist parlance, mbalax literally means 'accompaniment'. Within a sabar ensemble, different drums play different roles, and mbalax refers to the accompaniment parts played by the mbeng-mbeng. However, the mbalax part varies rhythmically from one dance to another. [2]
Artists
- Youssou N'Dour
- Thione Seck
- Omar Pène et Super Diamono
- Alioune Mbaye Nder
- Viviane N'Dour
- Coumba Gawlo
- Fatou Guewël
- Fatou Laobé
- Kiné Lam Mame Bamba
References
- ^ Tang, Patricia (September 2007). Youssou N'Dour (jusun̩ˈduːʀ (born October 1, 1959 in Dakar) is a Senegalese Singer and Percussionist. Thione Ballago Seck (born March 12, 1955) is one of Senegal 's greatest singers and musicians in the Mbalax genre on par with Baaba Maal Alioune Mbaye Nder (born 1969 Dakar, Senegal) is a Senegalese Singer Viviane Ndour (born Viviane Chichid is a Senegalese pop singer who is the former Sister-in-law of Youssou Ndour. Masters of the Sabar: Wolof Griot Percussionists of Senegal. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, p. Temple University Press is a University press publishing house that is part of Temple University, Philadelphia Pennsylvania. 159.
- ^ Tang, Patricia (September 2007). Masters of the Sabar: Wolof Griot Percussionists of Senegal. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, p. Temple University Press is a University press publishing house that is part of Temple University, Philadelphia Pennsylvania. 155.
Addition information was garnered through interviews of Senegalese nationals.
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