Here is a list of the festivals played in Hamana in Upper Guinea, which we have either personally experienced or been informed about. It is based on our experiences in the time we have spent travelling the villages in Hamana from 2000-2007. This list is not meant to be an exhaustive list of the traditional percussion music of Hamana. Under each festival we have included a list of the rhythms which are typically played, although this will differ from village to village.
We have placed short sequences from some of these festivals (indicated next to the name of the festival/rhythm) here, for those who cannot personally travel to Hamana to get a taste of the traditional festivals. You can also see some photos from various festivals in the Gallery section.
We will continually add video links to this list.
We have placed short sequences from some of these festivals (indicated next to the name of the festival/rhythm) here, for those who cannot personally travel to Hamana to get a taste of the traditional festivals. You can also see some photos from various festivals in the Gallery section.
We will continually add video links to this list.
| Festival | rhythm | video link |
| Denabor/Bundiani (outside Hamana often called Mendiani) | ||
| Lafé l Wadaba | >> | |
| Soliba | ||
| Denabor l Bundiani l Mendiani | ||
| Dabadialagyidi | ||
| Soliwoulen | ||
| Kawa | ||
| Takonani | ||
| Dja | ||
| Dja | ||
| Landio | >> | |
| Matadio | ||
| Dabadialagyidi | ||
| Woima | ||
| Kende | ||
| Doundounbe (actually pronounced with a soft 'g' doundoungbe) | ||
| Doundounbe (Kon) | ||
| Demousonikelen (Doundoun Hamana) | ||
| Bandodjeli | >> | |
| Bolokonondo | ||
| Takosaba | ||
| Konowoulen I | ||
| Konowoulen II (Djyi) | ||
| G'Beredu | ||
| N'Fa Kaba | ||
| Bada | >> | |
| Baramadon | ||
| Kurabadon | ||
| N'Yewaylela | ||
| Sankaranba | ||
| Tama | ||
| Fefo | ||
| Fefo | ||
| Diaa | ||
| Mamaya | ||
| Takosaba | ||
| Soko | ||
| Kassa | ||
| Kassa I | >> | |
| Kassa II | ||
| Kassa sene do | >> | |
| Konkoba | ||
| Kassa Dibon | ||
| Konden | ||
| Konden | >> | |
| Balani | >> | |
| Turanebananeng | ||
| Lamban | ||
| Mamaya | ||
| Mamaya | ||
| Diagba | ||
| Nouma | >> | |
| Numun | ||
| Sofa | ||
| Sofa | >> | |
| Soli | ||
| Soli | ||
| Soliba | ||
| Balakulandyan | ||
| Soro | ||
| Soro | ||
| Lonko | ||
| Woima | ||
| Woima | ||
| Woima | >> | |
| Lonko | ||
| Yaladuma | ||
Our friends in Hamana have also informed us of many other smaller festivals and rhythms which are played in the weeks leading up to and shortly following the main Soli festival.
| Festival | rhythm | video link |
| Soli - Kelalasi | ||
| Soko | ||
| Soli - Kelalasi | ||
| Soli - Diansamalon | ||
| Balakulandyan l Soliba | ||
| Gidamba | ||
| Soliba | ||
| Soliboba | ||
| Kobalama | ||
| Soli - Torodon | ||
| Toro | ||
| Wonden Wonden | ||
| Mola Mola | ||
Notes about the names of the festivals/rhythms
There are many difficulties in transcribing the original "names" of festivals or rhythms from Malinke into English. The following are some examples:
There are many difficulties in transcribing the original "names" of festivals or rhythms from Malinke into English. The following are some examples:
- Different villages may have different names for their music and festivities.
The same rhythm (musically speaking) may have different names in different
villages, and different musical pieces may have the same name.
The name itself however is not important, only that the "correct" rhythm is
played at the correct time. - Some of these rhythms have numerous versions, perhaps played differently in different villages, or as different rhythms in one village as part of one festival.
- Some rhythms are played at more than one festival (Soro, Dabadialagyidi, Soli,
etc), and sometimes the fundamental patterns and variations may be different (Konden is played differently depending on whether the mask appears or not). - Some rhythms are basically the same in different villages, only that the kensedeni might be played differently (often the case in 16/8 rhythms, but also for Mamaya,
and Konden) or the doundounba and sangban fundamental patterns are slightly different.
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