Karamoko Sanogo
griot multi-instrumentalist
A gifted griot of his generation, Karamoko embodies Manding musical heritage. A multi-instrumentalist – Kora, N'Goni, Balafon, Peul Flûte – and talented percussionist, he trained with great masters, including Soungalo Coulibaly, Adama Dramé and Fadouba Oularé. He played with Kady Diarra and has opened for Salif Keita, Youssou’n dour and Judie Mowatt.
Karamoko has assembled and mentored youth dance, music and theater groups in Burkina and Ivory Coast such as Faso Denya. Following the success of their previous European, African and Asian tours, Karamoko will tour Europe again with them in 2024. He currently plays with the groups Yéléna, Bakh Yaye, Nissondia, Yamo Yamo 'Tillani: 'The Sharing'. Trained in various instruments in Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Mali, Guinea Conakry, he continues to tour through Africa, Europe, the Antilles, and Mayotte (Source: K. Sanogo).
Kara has recorded 3 Manding rhythms with DecodeNoir. My rhythm selection and captions below are informed by dance workshops with les Sissoko de Mali, Brahima Dit Banjougou of Mali, Karamoko Kone of Ivory Coast – and their dance associates from France : Amelie Féreol, Manu Sissoko, Gaelle Roussigne.
The author seeks to unite ancestral dances, rhythms and imagery – updating the site as data is collected. Like every aspect of life in the Global South, rituals have been disrupted by Euro-colonial invasions and prohibitions, looting and buying – yet African cultures show their resilience in these living rhythm codes.
sanja
From the Djelidon family of Mande griot dances. The circle of dancers travels anti-clockwise with individuals taking turns to spin around the inside edge of the circle.
Sources: Amelie Ferreol, Karamoko Kone
Numudɔn
Numu = forgeron/ dɔ̀n = danse (Mandé)
The slower rhythm is traditionally danced with axe in hand.
"La 1ère partie, plus lente, était basée sur le pas de base des forgerons, lorsque l'on danse avec la hache – et cette partie est dansée par les forgerons en même temps que les griots chantent leurs louanges dans les cérémonies. Lorsque la musique s'accélère, ce sont souvent les danseurs professionnels qui prennent le relai dans les cercles de danse car ils sont entrainés à la vitesse."
Manu Sissoko
korolé
The Bambara rhythm Koredouga was originally danced by a male secret society of smiths, in Kòmò masks that women and children were not allowed to see. Korolé is a female version of the dance. A theatre version called Tansolé is danced in Bamako.
Sources: Brahima dit Bandjougou Coulibaly
Karamoko Kone, Aruna Kone,
Gaelle Roussigne.
Baptême Malinké / Malinke Baptism (6 mins) 2024
This video is published in the DecodeNoir archive in support of the author's PhD research. Via the griot Karamoko, the godmother has kindly given permission for non-profit uses of this footage, recorded in France, September 2023. See 'West Africa' page for a longer version with fieldnotes.
My aim is to document and learn names of the rhythms of this ritual, their context and uses. I will document my experience as Afrodescendant researcher, of finding common ancestral rhythm motifs, values and aesthetics among living West African and Black Atlantic dances.
If there are any questions or concerns about this video – for example a person who wishes to be removed or anonymised – or an artist who wishes to be credited Please contact me by email dublinator[at]netscape.net
Karamoko playing lead or 'solo' djembé – marking the dancers gestures in a jam circle at Africlap 2023, Toulouse.
Dancers : Man in white ? Lady in blue: Audrey. Man in blue : Olivier. Lady in white wrap:?
Djembe & Vocal Mic:Karamoko Sanongo. Djembe: Demsi and Ladji Sanogo. Drummer on left: Issaka CompaoreAfriclap 2023 Festival : Alles Jules Guesde, Toulouse, FranceVideo by the author.
Photo credits: Artist header, portrait, Africlap festival video, circle graphic by the author.
Ngoni video source: Djoliba Percussion YouTube channel. One man band img: courtesy of the artist.
Bambara Mask: Isomoon / Museum der Kulturen Basel (white background). CC BY-SA.
Senufo Mask (black background): dma.org. The mask on the black background in the sound file is a Senufo mask, from the Poro male only secret society. Similar form and use as the Bambara masks – was that a related secret society and rhythm (eg: through caste of blacksmiths)? To investigate!
Fuego: by Aztlek. CC BY-SA 2.0 on flickr
Karamoko is available to book for events, festivals – including a playful one-man band show.
Booking enquiries: kakosanogo@orange.fr
