Jason Hann – Yamama: West African Dance Rhythms (CD)

Jason Hann – Yamama: West African Dance Rhythms

This CD was produced in conjunction with West African Dance Vol. 2 DVD and contains all 5 of the rhythms for those dances. There are 2 versions of each of these rhythms: one for practice, warm up and repetition and the other for use with specific choreography. The recently composed rhythm Telefone has been included which accompanied the Telefone dance found on West African Dance Vol. 1 DVD. No other known recordings of this rhythm are available.

The rhythms are ideal to accompany a variety of body percussion, bean bag passing and locomotor – non-locomotor movement activities. Just let go and let the drums move you!

Dance Rhythms

• Kassa – A traditional Malinke rhythm from Upper Guinea played at all events linked to harvest as well as to encourage farmers as they plant and harvest their crops
• Soli – From the Malinke ethnic group, traditionally used during the ritual that proceeds a boy’s initiation into manhood
• Sinte – From the Susu ethnic group of coastal Guinea, danced all year round at various village gatherings
• Soko – Traditional rhythm of the Komanko people of Guinea’s Faranah region, originally used in male initiation but now popular throughout Guinea for weddings and other ceremonies
• Yamama – From the Susu ethnic group, also called “Mamaya.” the women of the village get together once a year to honor the female spirit of Yamama. On this occasion they will ask her for whatever they will need in the coming year