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| Cheick Hamala Diabate', Randii and Guy Davis |
My first banjo was a Japanese made instrument that I bought
in a pawn shop. A
"Kasuga", made sometime back in the 1970's. For years I kept picking it up and trying to learn how to
play, then putting it back in it's case, leaving it forgotten until the next
time.
I fell in love with the banjo as a child, back during the
folk music revival era, when Pete Seeger was singing songs about humanity,
compassion, and peace. (He still does, you know.) I tried, unsuccessfully, to learn to
play other instruments throughout the years, but the banjo calmly waited for
me.
Eventually, I learned that the banjo is an African
instrument, created by slaves in the African Diaspora - my ancestors, and is
part of the "lute" family of instruments found all over West
Africa. After a spiritual
initiation in Zimbabwe, I decided that it was time for me to take my banjo out
of the garage and finally learn how to play it - to reclaim my heritage and
honor my Ancestors. Upon that
decision, my Ancestors started "gifting" me instruments to learn to
play. All of them are banjo
Ancestors.
I joined a web forum, "Black Banjo Then and Now,"
where I found musicians, historians and musicologists, with a wealth of
information about black banjo players, their music, and their playing
techniques. All of whom are
extremely supportive of people of African descent reclaiming our instrument, by
learning how to play it.
I suddenly found myself in the position of having to rapidly
learn everything about the history of the banjo, so I could do a presentation
for an audience at my job for our Juneteenth celebration. I had to quickly learn how to play all
of these instruments that my Ancestors had sent to me. I wanted people to hear and understand
the how the banjo had evolved from an instrument that was only played by black
slaves for over 200 years, into the modern, metal, industrial-age machine, that
is the darling of white Bluegrass banjoists. Sometimes the best incentive to learn is to have to teach
the subject you are studying.
A few months ago, I went to a week long Blues festival and
"Blues Camp" where I was privileged to be immersed in Blues music,
Blues musicians, and Blues Banjo.
I learned something about African picking techniques on modern banjo
from Cheick Hamala Diabate', a Mande Griot - who just "happened" to
have an N'goni he was selling (another Banjo Ancestor), but only after he
played it onstage with Taj Mahal!
I am genetically traced to the Mende - which is a branch of the Mande
people. So I am learning to play
N'goni under the direction of a Griot who is a "genetic cousin"! (Griots are cultural historians,
teachers, and advisors to kings.
The Griot profession is inherited, and the Diabate' line of Griots
includes Tourmani Dibate' - a renowned Kora master.)
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Back Row:
Modern Ekonting (note modern tuning pegs), Modern Bluegrass Banjo,
Replica Minstrel Banjo (note: all banjos were originally fretless)
Front Row:
"Didlake Style" Slave Banjo with 4 strings (the first banjos
(that have been found intact) had 4 strings - 3 long, one short
"drone" string), N'goni (from Cheick Hamala Diabate'), Malian Gita
(percussion instrument made from a calabash gourd)
All of these instruments are part of the African
"Lute" family of instruments!
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Now, at the request of my Ancestors, I am on a pilgrimage
home to Guinea-Bissau, to meet my people - The Balanta and Fula. I am also in search of another related
Banjo Ancestor - reportedly called the Kusunde' - which is played by the
Balanta. The Kusunde' has only
been reported on by one person, who encountered it as a 3 stringed instrument
which is similar to the Ekonting.
My goal is to learn how to play this instrument, which is related
directly to my ancestry.
I don't know where this path is ultimately leading me, but I
have learned that when the Ancestors ask me to do something, things always work
out when I shut up and do what I am told!
Ashe'
1 comment:
Love this.
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