Re: the term dudu- I remember asking someone in the Caribbean about that term, but can't remember who it was or where they were from. I wonder if that word is still used. There's no entry for it {either spelled dodo or dudu in Internet glossaries of Jamaican patois {patwa}such as http://www.jamaicans.com/speakja/glossary.shtml or http://destee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35287 or
http://www.jamaicans.com/speakja/glossary.htm

Of course, the word dudu could have come from a Caribbean patois other than Jamiaca.

I had a book on Jamaican slang but it seems to have "jumped up" and hid itself from me. If it ever decides to show up, I'll check to see if this word is included.


By the way, the term "ndudu" was used to "brother" {and ndada} ws used to mean "sister" in an afrocentric after-school & summer school program which was led by a woman I know. Those referent were said to be from the Swahili language [East & Central Africa]. It will come as no surprise to note that the word "ndudu" caused countless sniggers from the children who were supposed to use it with a straight face.

Not that it matters, but my opinion is that some names and words don't work well in other languages for sometimes obvious reasons-"dudu" is one of those words.

Perhaps off topic-and perhaps not-see this information on
Dudu Tucci, Brazilian percussionist:

"Dudu Tucci da Silva, was born 1955 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Both
parents were opera singers; he was thus introduced to music at a very early age. While still a child, he drummed for Umbanda ceremonies. After school, he studied classical percussion, flute and musical science at Brooklin's Paulista conservatory. Traveling through Latin America in the mid seventies, he studied the musical traditions of various and the spirituality embedded in the music.

His friendship with the Brazilian composer Arrigo Barnabé, which began the 80s, led him to the Berlin Jazz Festival, invited by George Gruntz. Since then, he has lived in Germany.

Working with the dancer Ismael Ivo in an acclaimed production
"Ritual of a Body in the Moon" between 1982 and 1985, he became a member of Reinhard Flahtischler's ethnic percussion project "Megadrums", touring through Germany, Switzerland and Australia. He was honored as well on the Asia tour with the Korean drum group Samul Nori.

Dudu Tucci is a very popular teacher in Germany, many if not most of the 50 Samba schools now in existence in Germany were opened on his initiative. Together with Tiago de Oliveira Pinto he published his book "Samba and Sambistas in Brazil".

"In a tour de force through Brazil" street rhythms, Dudu Tucci presents a selection of sophisticated Samba arrangements and Samba Reggaes, as well as contemporary Afoxé, with Wolfgang Puschnig on saxophone and Kay Eckhardt de Camargo on bass. However, the master drummer's 18 (!) compositions, always recorded with compassion and with a virtuoso performance, are the main focus of attention, rendered here on conga drums, surdo and timbales, pandeiro, talking drums, berimbau and a whole range of other percussion instruments. A true celebration of rhythm!"

http://tcd.freehosting.net/djembemande/tucci.html

Dudu Tucci is also referred to as Obatimale Dudu Tucci in this website about one of his CDs: http://www.knockonwood.co.uk/details.asp/percussion/842/buy/Obatimale_Dudu_Tucci_CD.htm

The name: Obatimale is Yoruba {oba means king; I'm not sure what the other elements mean}... I'm wondering if the Caribbean term "dudu" originally came from the Yoruba language. There are oral traditions of people of Yoruba descent migrating to East Africa [and I believe there are traditions of the Yorubas originally being from Egypt/ancient Sudan].

Could the Swahili term "ndudu" and/or the Caribbean term "dudu" be traced to West Africa?

Some may be asking what does any of this have to do with Zydeco music?

My response is that you just gotta take a wide view of things and let it flow.

;O)