RODERIC KNIGHT'S VIDEOTAPES

Mande Music and Dance now avaliable on DVD:


To order, click the picture.
(For consumer version, $29, go to bottom of Multicultural Media order form)

These videotapes were made between 1970 and 1982. They all began as film and were released on VHS in the 1990s as Music of the Mande, Parts I, II, and III.

For the DVD edition the accompanying booklet has been rewritten and expanded to include all song texts and translations in PDF form on a separate disc. All of the scenes from Music of the Mande videotapes Parts I, II, and III are included and have been carefully re-edited and brought into sync wherever possible. See detailed contents below.
If you have the VHS tapes, please consider upgrading to this new edition.

MANDE MUSIC & DANCE, Parts I & II
(originally released as OMV 006)		 62 min

(The term Mande refers to the large cultural entity of which the Mandinka are a part.) These films were made in 1970 and 1982 in The Gambia with a Super 8 camera. The sound was recorded with a Nagra III tape recorder.

For the DVD release, most scenes have been brought into sync. Some remain out of sync. I have produced these videos in spite of this shortcoming because I believe they have historic and musical value. Detailed notes on the Mande people, their music, and the technical details of the scenes are included in the PDF booklet.

Part I. Music for the Warriors, Hunters, and Ordinary People (15 min.)
SYNC achieved for Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6.

1. The bolon, four-string harp of the warriors -- 2:35
2. The simbingo, six-string hunter's harp -- 2:25
3. The ndang, a Bambara multi-necked lute -- 1:25
4. Mortar pounding--three pestels in one mortar-- 4:00
5. The ji dundungo, water drum played by women -- 1:45
6. The Siko drums -- 3:00

Part II. Professional Music: Mandinka jaliyaa with the kora (47 min.)
SYNC achieved for Nos. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7.

1. The president of Sierra Leone visits Gambia -- 2:30
2. Bai Konteh, kora, with son Dembo Konte -- 1:45
3. A kullio or child-naming, with kora and singers -- 6:00
4. Jali Mori Suso of Ziguinchor, Senegal and his 25-string kora --3:00
5. Steps in building a kora, with music by Amadu Bansang Jobarteh --17:30
6. Two koras: Jali Nyama Suso and Suntu Suso -- SYNC SOUND -- 5:00
7. A jali ensemble--two koras, balafon, singers -- 9:00
MANDE MUSIC & DANCE, Part III
Gambian Tantango Drumming (originally OMV 009)		 38 min.

These films were also made in 1970 in The Gambia with a non-sync Super 8 movie camera. They feature the Mandinka drum ensemble of sabaro and two kutiro drums in a variety of settings, with different drum troupes.

For the DVD release, sync has been achieved for a segment of No. 1 (Seruba). The other scenes have been re-edited and brought into near-sync whenever possible.

1. Lenjengo/Seruba, recreational drumming -- 7:30
2. Nyaka Julo, drumming for rice planting -- 4:30
3. Dimba Tulungo, young mothers' dance -- 9:00
4. Nyoboringo, team wrestling match -- 9:00
5. Kankurango, masked dance -- 4:25


The following videotapes are available in VHS format, directly from me. You may order by sending a check or money order to cover the price (shipping and handling included). Students receive a 30% discount (shown in parentheses).
>>Send your order to Roderic Knight, 89 Pyle Rd., Oberlin, OH 44074.<<

AFRICA

JALI NYAMA SUSO,
Kora Player of The Gambia		 OMV 003 20 min. $20 ($14)

This film was made at the University of Washington in 1972, at the end of a one-year residency by Jali Nyama Suso, a renowned player and teacher of the 21-string Mandinka harp called the kora. He died in 1991. The film was made in a studio with two 16mm sync-sound cameras and alternates between full-figure shots and closeups of the hands. Although the sound is not high fidelity, the performances are exemplary of Nyama Suso's energetic syle. An 8-page booklet provides background information and a synopsis of the song contents. The songs performed are as follows:
1. Alla l'a Ke (Allah's Deed)
2. Jula Faso (Merchant's Tune)
3. Yundumunko (Man from Yundum)
4. Masane Sise (Masanneh Sisay)

 

 INDIA


BAIGA DANCES OMV 007 40 min. $30 ($20)

These films were made in Madhya Pradesh, India in 1982 with a sync-sound Super 8 movie camera. The Baiga people live in the forests of the Maikala Hills near Amarkantak, the source of the Narmada River. The young people of the village perform songs and dances at weddings, festivals, and in good-natured competition between villages. A 24-page booklet provides extensive background information, examples of song texts, and notations of some of the drum rhythms.

Scenes in Silpidi Village -- 1:45
Excerpts of Weddings

1. Wedding at Ramepur-- 5:15
2. Wedding at Silpidi-- 3:45
Baiga Dances
1. Karma (general entertainment) -- 8:50
2. Jarpat (general entertainment) -- 3:10
3. Rina (women's dance) -- 2:45
4. Seila (men's dance) -- 8:45
5. Baar (mixer dance) -- 5:45
 * * * * * * * * * * * *

 MORE VIDEOTAPES FROM AFRICA AND INDIA ARE FORTHCOMING

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