Great tune. I live in the Appalachian mountains and you can hear the influence of this music in the old time mountain music here. The rhythm and cadence is unmistakable. Thanks for sharing this
Things changed when we came to America, we got the blood of multiple African heritage’s and European and Native American blood as well, really changed the tune, but it’s great to feel this side of us , especially when rising out of the great challenges of being African American and moving to the business side of our heritage, and our heritage itself🫡 🎸
She is frailing! the akonting has a short string she is playing with her thumb absolutely in the style of old time Appalachian banjo. I love the song and her voice, and particularly like the beginning of this video when she is teaching the instrument.
Interestingly enough, I slowed the video down and closely examined the pattern of her right hand, and she actually is “frailing”, albeit with a twist. She’s specifically doing: “bum-ditty-ty-ditty/bum-ditty-ty-ditty/bum-ditty-ty-ditty…etc etc”. That is, in stroke-style terms, a standard “bum-ditty” with a double thumb pluck, followed by a strike (a single down stroke with the finger, followed by a single thumb pluck). Ekona Jatta uses a very similar pattern on the first song of his “advanced akonting playing” video uploaded by Ulf Jagfors. His pattern is: ““bum-ditty-ditty-ty/bum-ditty-ditty-ty/bum-ditty-ditty-ty…etc etc”. This is highly interesting as it showcases a fairly incontestable African origin of the “bum-ditty” which is at the heart of clawhammer, and also lines up perfectly with the current consensus of “o’teck -> black frailing/stroke style -> clawhammer”.
It has a lot to do with the materials the instrument is made from. The resonator of this akonting is made from a hollowed out gourd, and the head is animal skin. The strings are also probably animal gut. Modern banjos have a resonator made of metal and hardwood, designed to amplify the sound. Also, modern banjo heads are fiberglass or plastic, and the strings are often metal. If you search up "gourd banjo" or "minstrel banjo" you'll find examples of early banjos made similarly to this akonting, and with a similarly softer, more mellow, organic sound. Also, the playing style has something to do with it. The playing here is similar to what is called "frailing" or "clawhammer" style banjo playing. This can have a more mellow, sweet sound. By contrast, Bluegrass banjo is plucked with metal or plastic picks attached to three fingers on the right hand. It produces a harsher, more "twangy" sound.
@@jaredwblack The ekonting strings are nowadays made of nylon fishing line. In the old days they were made from fibres from the roots of palm trees. The ekonting acoustic is remarkable in that it sounds almost the same outdoors as it does indoors.
Very unusual for Diola women to pay the ekonting. Which village is this lady from? And which intrepid ethnographer made the long trip and the recording? I hope he/she also visited Ekona Diatta in Mlomp.
Great tune. I live in the Appalachian mountains and you can hear the influence of this music in the old time mountain music here. The rhythm and cadence is unmistakable. Thanks for sharing this
She’s frailing!
@@JaiUttal definitely sounds like it. Great song
Things changed when we came to America, we got the blood of multiple African heritage’s and European and Native American blood as well, really changed the tune, but it’s great to feel this side of us , especially when rising out of the great challenges of being African American and moving to the business side of our heritage, and our heritage itself🫡 🎸
Love it 🇬🇼✨🙌🏿 Jola people of Guinea Bissau the precursor to the 🎸🎸🎸
Beautiful ❤
Love from Placid County, Hungary!
Wonderful Elisa, beautiful music from a beautiful lady!
Beautiful!
Beautiful song!
She is frailing! the akonting has a short string she is playing with her thumb absolutely in the style of old time Appalachian banjo. I love the song and her voice, and particularly like the beginning of this video when she is teaching the instrument.
Interestingly enough, I slowed the video down and closely examined the pattern of her right hand, and she actually is “frailing”, albeit with a twist. She’s specifically doing: “bum-ditty-ty-ditty/bum-ditty-ty-ditty/bum-ditty-ty-ditty…etc etc”. That is, in stroke-style terms, a standard “bum-ditty” with a double thumb pluck, followed by a strike (a single down stroke with the finger, followed by a single thumb pluck).
Ekona Jatta uses a very similar pattern on the first song of his “advanced akonting playing” video uploaded by Ulf Jagfors. His pattern is: ““bum-ditty-ditty-ty/bum-ditty-ditty-ty/bum-ditty-ditty-ty…etc etc”. This is highly interesting as it showcases a fairly incontestable African origin of the “bum-ditty” which is at the heart of clawhammer, and also lines up perfectly with the current consensus of “o’teck -> black frailing/stroke style -> clawhammer”.
she's not playing in the style of Appalachian banjo - the AKONTING predates the banjo.
Lovely lovely!!!!
music nice sista bonne continuation
Beautiful! Looking forward to seeing more of your videos.
J’aime bien ❤❤❤
Machalakh
I came to hear the instrument, but her amazing voice is the real star here...
Très cool ma chérie
Some one got to send her a banjo.
I wonder how they make the sound more hollow and deep but the American banjo is more twangy and higher pitch.
It has a lot to do with the materials the instrument is made from. The resonator of this akonting is made from a hollowed out gourd, and the head is animal skin. The strings are also probably animal gut. Modern banjos have a resonator made of metal and hardwood, designed to amplify the sound. Also, modern banjo heads are fiberglass or plastic, and the strings are often metal.
If you search up "gourd banjo" or "minstrel banjo" you'll find examples of early banjos made similarly to this akonting, and with a similarly softer, more mellow, organic sound.
Also, the playing style has something to do with it. The playing here is similar to what is called "frailing" or "clawhammer" style banjo playing. This can have a more mellow, sweet sound. By contrast, Bluegrass banjo is plucked with metal or plastic picks attached to three fingers on the right hand. It produces a harsher, more "twangy" sound.
@@jaredwblack The ekonting strings are nowadays made of nylon fishing line. In the old days they were made from fibres from the roots of palm trees. The ekonting acoustic is remarkable in that it sounds almost the same outdoors as it does indoors.
Very unusual for Diola women to pay the ekonting. Which village is this lady from? And which intrepid ethnographer made the long trip and the recording? I hope he/she also visited Ekona Diatta in Mlomp.
That contour ditch that's full of water is a swale.
Not far removed from Georgie
Buck or Sail away ladies ain't It?
Bravo ma maman.