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Senoufou Youssou N'Dour BBC 4 Proms (8) RE: Youssou N'Dour BBC 4 Proms 08 Sep 18


The 'donno' player (small drum played under the arm and squeezed to change its tone, player uses a hooked stick to beat it)
and the 'djembe' chap (bigger free-standing drum, narrow in the middle) were the best I've ever seen. I used to watch Senegal musicians on TV in Dakar, but none were as good as these.

One of the guitars was played in such a way as to imitate the sound of the 'cora' (stringed free-standing instrument made from an enormous gourd-shaped object) Wonderful how they'd improvised that!

Youssou certainly knows how to engage his audience.

Only downer was he chose a Bob Marley song (Redemption) near the end. Now Bob Marley is very popular in W Africa, especially among the Djola, many of whom are Rastafarians. But I imagine the audience at the Prom were wanting to hear traditional Senegal music, not Caribbean stuff.

Also, I wish the lady singer had chosen to wear one of the magnificent Senegal dresses worn by nearly all the women out there. They're loose and flowing, brightly coloured and gorgeous. I didn't like her more Western top and skirt!

It was lovely to hear the Wolof language again in most of the songs.
Great evening!


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