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Film, Video Balla Kouyate & World Vision: Traditional Malian Music from Massachusetts

Event video

Transcript: TEXT

About this Item

Title

  • Balla Kouyate & World Vision: Traditional Malian Music from Massachusetts

Summary

  • Balla Kouyate is a griot and virtuoso player of the balaphon. Considered the predecessor of the xylophone and the first Mande instrument, the balafon is made up of wood slats of varying lengths. The slats are secured over two rows of calabash gourds, which serve as natural amplifiers. Each gourd is punctured with small holes over which Balla places thin plastic tape. The vibrating air rattles the plastic to create the desired sound. Were he back home in Mali, Balla would use spider webs (collected from kitchen walls) to cover the holes. The first known balafon dates back to the 13th century and remains under the guardianship of the Kouyate family. It is considered a UNESCO-protected Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Once a year it is brought out and played during a ceremony. In this concert Kouyate performs with singer Adjaratou "Tapani" Demba, Sekou "Pablo" Dembele, Makane Kouyate, Idrissa Kone, Daniel Day, and Raja Kassis.

Names

  • American Folklife Center, sponsoring body
  • Library of Congress

Created / Published

  • Washington, D.C. : Library of Congress, 2010-04-28.

Headings

  • -  Culture, Performing Arts
  • -  Performing Arts, Music

Notes

  • -  Classification: Fine Arts.
  • -  Classification: Music and Books on Music.
  • -  Balla Kouyate.
  • -  Recorded on 2010-04-28.
  • -  Publishers.
  • -  Researchers.
  • -  Teachers.

Medium

  • 1 online resource

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021688441

Online Format

  • video
  • image
  • online text

Additional Metadata Formats

Rights & Access

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Credit Line: Library of Congress

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

American Folklife Center, Sponsoring Body, and Library Of Congress. Balla Kouyate & World Vision: Traditional Malian Music from Massachusetts. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, -04-28, 2010. Video. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021688441/.

APA citation style:

American Folklife Center, S. B. & Library Of Congress. (2010) Balla Kouyate & World Vision: Traditional Malian Music from Massachusetts. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, -04-28. [Video] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021688441/.

MLA citation style:

American Folklife Center, Sponsoring Body, and Library Of Congress. Balla Kouyate & World Vision: Traditional Malian Music from Massachusetts. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, -04-28, 2010. Video. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021688441/>.