Bobo Drumming and Dance Ceremony in Mali

This vdeo was shot at a traditional Bobo celebration on the outskirts of Bamako. The Bobo people have lived in Mali and the western part of Burkina Fasso for a very long time, some people say as far back as 800 A.D.
Their population is now estimated around 100,000 people. Traditionaly they are agriculturaly based, though many now live in the city and heart of Bamako as well. The language of the Bobo people is Bobo part of te Mande laguage family. They are known to many for their music played on unusual gourd drums covered with skin and held between the legs. The largest gourd is played with one hand and a stick and holds down th bottom or pulse of the rythym. and the smallest gourd is the solo drum which is played with two hands like a djembe. The music is usualy accompanied by two very large balaphones (wooden keyes which cover a set of tuned tiny gourds with membranes and hit with two malletts). Interestingly their music also now inclused a talking drum palyer who plays 2 talking drums simultaneously.