Mali - lesser known Hunters Music

In the same show, as from where I catched the previous tracks by lesser known Orchestras from Mali, was a block of Hunters Music from Mali.

Toumani Koné Group, 1986 (© Malick Sidibé) - source

 INFO about the HUNTERS (or DONSO)

source: mali-music (through archive.org)
Throughout all of Mali the Hunters ("donso") have a status of their own. Their Brotherhood is placed above any ethnic, religious or caste-oriented rifts. It is the oldest traditional institution in Mali. The music is generally reduced to two instruments, the Karignan (a piece of iron that is scraped) and the N'goni Donso ("hunter's n'goni" with three strings) which accompanies the songs with the insistent repetition of its three notes. A flute can be added to these instruments. The songs function is primarily to reassure and encourage the members of the expedition during those long evenings spent in the bush, without the slightest shelter or protection.

• Some releases by Malian hunters (Sibiri Samake, Samou Diakite, Traore Seydou, Yacouba Doumbia, Yaya Samake and Yoro Sidibe)

Listen to Yoro Sidibe (track from VA-Mali Lolo)


MALI - Lesser Known HUNTERS MUSIC

playlist
11.Toumani Kone - Sojoko Finkele (from K7 Vol.2, red cover) - full K7 at wrldsrv
12.Seydou Traore et Ensemble, Toba Seydou - Ntalan (from K7 Marasa 1)
13.Yoro Sidibe - Nema Yiridon (from K7 Yoro Sidibe Vol.2)
14.Mamadou Sangare - Goni Somangonifo (from K7 Mamadou Sangare Vol.2)

source: WFMU Gateway to Joy with Donna - 2012 September 29 - Strictly Malian

Info about the Hunters presented here:

Toumani Koné aka."the Lion of Wassoulou"

• a legend among legends, extensive info at wrldsrv
• Vol.1  posted by RadioAfrica at youtube
• info in book 'Mand Music' by Eric Charry page 79

Seydou Traore et Ensemble, Toba Seydou

• Toba Seydou is nickname of Seydou Traore
• info and one album from hardwax:
  (Toba) Seydou Traore was born in the early 1960s near Bougouni in Mali, where as a young child he heard the music of hunters. Seydou’s ensuing fascination led to much family conflict, but he persisted, later becoming an apprentice of renowned musician Yoro Sidibe.
  In this context the word protégés apprentice is not inaccurate; not everyone can decide to become a donso, and the gift is said to be passed down from strong women to strong sons; it is equally a gift to be able to recognize which young boys have what it takes to brave both the bush and the strings of the donso ngoni. Young men are apprenticed to the great elder musicians and earn their place in the hierarchical society of the donsos.
  Seydou eventually became a master in his own right, consistently satisfying listeners across Mali with his strong voice and truly comic sensibility.
• album "Toba Seydou Traore" (#YY.006)* is out of stock at hardwax (see above), but seems available at dragcity
• Marasa 1 (no info found) only for Marasa 2 (not including the posted track)
• other albums available at iTunes: Marasa 2 / Doni Doni / Danfaga Sambou

Yoro Sidibe

• biography at mali-music (through archive.org)
• Vol.2 (no info found), but Vol.3 posted at wrldsrv
• biography fromt iTunes:
  A respected musician for some 30 years, practicing ritualistic tribal music that dates back to the 14th century, Yoro Sidibe is a donso ngonifola (hunter's musician) from the Wasulu village of Babbala, in the southwestern Malian hinterlands. Typically, donsos play to get the hunters riled before they leave for a hunt. Dressed in floppy hats and mudcloths with muskets draped on their shoulders, the hunters take to their bicycles in search for animals while Sidibe sings, chants, and strums in an intense trance. Over the years, as well as performing and teaching students, he released several dozen cassettes that were sold by street vendors in the village. Costing less than an American dollar, one of these boombox recordings caught the ear of field recorder Jack Carneal while he was visiting Africa with the hopes of tracking down indigenous musicians. After some convincing, he secured the rights to issue some of Sidibe's recordings on CD for the nonprofit label Yaala Yaala Records. In early 2008, the label paired with Drag City to release Yoro Sidibe's self-titled album. --Jason Lymangrover
  available at iTunes: Yoro Sidibe*
• album also at dragcity: Yoro Sidibe (2008, #YY.005)*

Mamadou Sangare (?or Madou Sangare?)

• no info found, but some videos with hunters music by Madou Sangare, so it could very well be him, if anybody knows more please comment

Note: *for Yaala Yaala Recordings, see comments to this post by Ngoni

Video to watch (when downloading):

• Extract of the documentary "Donso" (5:00) with Youssouf Tata Cissé, Adama Coulibaly, Sibiri Samaké, Bakary Traoré, Yoro Sidibé and another unknown hunter

Yoro Sidibe - source: flickr from Cris Ubermann