Masters of the sabar : Wolof griot percussionists of Senegal

"Masters of the Sabar" is the first book to examine the music and culture of Wolof griot percussionists, masters of the vibrant sabar drumming tradition. Based on extensive field research in Senegal, this book is a biographical study of several generations of percussionists in a Wolof griot ("g(r)w1/2l") family, exploring and documenting their learning processes, repertories, and performance contextsOCofrom life-cycle ceremonies to sporting events and political meetings. Patricia Tang examines the rich history and changing repertories of sabar drumming, including dance rhythms and "bakks," musical phrases derived from spoken words. She notes the recent shift towards creating new "bakks" which are rhythmically more complex and highlight the virtuosity and musical skill of the percussionist. She also considers the burgeoning popular music genre called "mbalax." The compact disc that accompanies the book includes examples of the standard sabar repertory, as well as "bakks "composed and performed by Lamine Tour(r) and his family drum troupe."

• I.1 Map of Africa p. 3
• I.2 Map of Senegal (with cities and major ethnic groups) p. 4
• 2.1 Sabar drum lacings p. 36
• 2.2 Full sabar ensemble p. 37
• 2.3 Lawbe (woodworkers) at Kolobane p. 39
• 2.4 Row of mbeng-mbeng players at a tannibeer p. 43
• 3.1 Panzacchi's interpretation of Wolof caste system p. 49
• 3.2 Tamari's interpretation of Wolof caste system p. 50
• 3.3 Diop's interpretation of Wolof caste system p. 50
• 3.4 Diop's political order chart p. 51
• 3.5 A new model for gewel p. 56
• 4.1 Mbaye family residence: Inside the courtyard p. 65
• 4.2 "Chambre de sabar" p. 66
• 4.3 Macheikh Mbaye p. 69
• 4.4 Family tree p. 73
• 4.5 Thio Mbaye p. 77
• 4.6 Lamine Toure p. 80
• 4.7 Njouck Seck (Lamine Toure's grandmother); courtesy of Lamine Toure p. 89
• 5.1 Le temps (keeping time) [musical transcription] p. 98
• 5.2 Key to vocal mnemonics [musical transcription] p. 101
• 5.3 Hand position: "gin" p. 102
• 5.4 Hand position: "pin" p. 102
• 5.5 Hand position: "pax" p. 102
• 5.6 Ya nu moom [musical transcription] p. 103
• 5.7 Ardin [musical transcription] p. 105
• 5.8 Farwu jar [musical transcription] p. 106
• 5.9 Ceebu jen [musical transcription] p. 107
• 5.10 Baar mbaye No. 1 [musical transcription] p. 108
• 5.11 Baar mbaye No. 2 [musical transcription] p. 108
• 5.12 Kaolack/mbalax/ndec [musical transcription] p. 110
• 5.13 Lembel [musical transcription] p. 111
• 5.14 "How are you" bakk [musical transcription] p. 115
• 5.15 Bakk de spectacle [musical transcription] p. 119
• 6.1 Maguette Seck dancing p. 132
• 6.2 Tyson [musical transcription] p. 147
• 7.1 Leneen bakk [musical transcription] p. 162