Wolof music
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Wolof are a Senegalese ethnic group. Their folk instruments include the sabar drums, tama and xalam. Modern musician also use the Fula flute, the balafon, the Maures tabala drums, the kora, the West African harp and the riiti (a Fulani bowed string instrument with one string). Wolof music has contributed greatly to popular Senegalese music, and to African music in general.
The xalam is a very important instrument in Wolof folk music. It is a five-stringed lute. Another important instrument is the sabar, an ensemble of seven different drums, each differently tuned. Other kinds of drums include the Qaddiriyya (a Sufi brotherhood) tabala drums, and the hourglass talking drum called a tama. These drums are the most important part of Senegalese music, because rhythm is the central component of the entire field.
Wolof musicians were griots (géwél), or of the blacksmith caste (tëgg), who were masters of drumming. Griots taught history, ethics and religion using their songs.
