The master djembéfola-in his own words. Discover the magic and intrigue of West Africa in the long-awaited English version of Famoudou Konaté's book.
Memoirs of an African Musician tells the remarkable life story of Famoudou Konaté, a master of the djembé from Guinea, West Africa. Rooted in the traditions of his Malinké homeland, where music and rhythm are woven into the fabric of life, Konaté takes the reader on a journey deep into African traditions, across continents during a groundbreaking international career, and back again to where it started, to the heart of a culture that has endured through centuries of trials and hardships.
Along the way, Konaté unveils the mysteries of the djembé and its accompanying instruments, revealing rare insights into rhythms, techniques, and the cultural meanings behind the music. Beyond the drum, he offers a portrait of life in Malinké society-its traditions, struggles, and values-while reflecting on his experiences of bridging worlds, from remote Guinean villages to stages around the globe. His story is a testament to resilience, cultural pride, and the universal language of music, inviting readers to experience the rhythms of West Africa in an entirely new way.
Introduction by Professor Thomas Ott.
Translated by Dave Kobrenski, with cultural and historical footnotes.
Sprache
Produkt-Hinweis
Broschur/Paperback
Klebebindung
Maße
Höhe: 229 mm
Breite: 152 mm
Dicke: 18 mm
Gewicht
ISBN-13
979-8-9854287-2-8 (9798985428728)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Famoudou Konaté, born in 1940 near Kouroussa in French Guinea, is a legendary master of the djembé. He began performing on the instrument at age eight during village festivals. From 1959 to 1985, he served as the lead soloist for Les Ballets Africains de la République de Guinée, an internationally acclaimed ensemble that showcased Guinea's cultural heritage after independence. Since 1986, Konaté has toured and taught extensively around the world.His music was first documented internationally on the 1991 CD Rhythms of the Malinké, produced by the Berlin Museum of Ethnology. In 1996, he was named an honorary professor of African music at the Berlin University of the Arts. Konaté has recorded numerous CDs featuring traditional rhythms and songs. Between 1997 and 2014, he authored several hundred autobiographical notes in French, which form the foundation of this book, edited and compiled by Thomas Ott.Today, Konaté resides in his home village of Sangbaralla in Guinea.
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