Introducing Traditional West African Instruments to Children in a Library

Our médiathèque organized temps fort "Arts Senegal"at the end of May and beginning of June with various events highlighting Senegalese art and culture. There was exposition Batik, workshop Kemo, cooking workshop, Senegalese fairytales, projection of a documentary movie, and a concert of Malick Diaw. I will write about this concert in the separate post. A colleague from the childrens department organized thematic accueil de classe, presenting the exposition, reading Senegalese fairytales, and she asked me if I can present some Senegalese instruments. I checked at the instruments closet at my office and found some African instruments that could be used in the accueil.

List of instruments

Djembe

Tama

N'Goni

Balafon

Shekere

All instruments I had at the médiathèque except N'Goni, which I borrowed from a person from Vernon with who I did an initiation to N'Goni last year, during the fathers day.

These instruments are not strictly Senegalese, they are from West Africa, played in many countries, many of them actually coming from Mali. But since there are many different ethnic groups living in multiple countries, they are also played in Senegal. I know of Sabar, a Senegalese percussion, but I don't have it. So that's why I presented these instruments as traditionl instruments from West Africa, that are played in Senegal.

Accueil de classe

I started with djembe. I tell children that djembe are used for celebrations with a lot of people and tell them the story how Bambara people in Mali say the name "djembe" comes from the saying "Anke djé, anke bé," which translates to "everyone gather together in peace" and defines the drum's purpose. In the Bambara language, "djé" is the verb for "gather" and "bé" translates as "peace."

Then I show them how to play, I demonstrate it. Then I asked teacher to choose children to try. After couple of children tried, we moved to the next isntrument - Tama.

Tama is a talking drum. You put it under your armpits and the more you squeeze, the more the drum changes the sound. There is a small stick so you play it with hand and a stick. When you know how to play this instrument, it can sound like the human is talking. Since I don't really know how to play it, I managed to change the sound, but only to demonstrate. Not making any melodies. Anyway, the children were intrigued by it, they could try it, but for them it was hard to squeeze the instrument, so I would squeeze with my hands. :)

After tama, I show them N'Goni, a string instrument. I present it as a small harp or guitar, and as an instrument that accompanies singing and storytelling. Then I demonstrate how to play it, and I even created a short story about baobab and pain de singe. Then children can try to play the instrument. They loved it.

Then it's time for balafon - xylophone made from the wood. This one is easy to play, you just need to kick with the stick. ;)

For the end of instrument presentation I left shekere. I tell them it's a percussion instrument made from squash that makes sound like a rain falling or to make a rhythm because it has braids on it. This is also a straighforward instrument to play.

With these instruments usually all kids had opportunity to play and try the instrument. For the end, I teach them to sing a Senegalese children song "Fatou Yo". It's a simple song that I found on the site Mama Lisa's World.

Fatou Yo is a beautiful song about a little Fatou growing big and happy. First I read them the translation of the lyrics to french, then I sing. After the first time, I ask them to repeat after me, and kids quickly manage to sing it with me.

Fatou Yo

Fatou yo si dia dialano x4

Fatou faye faye fatou

Fatou kélémen dio

Fatou yo si dia dialano x2

Boutoumbélé boutoumbélé

Boutoumbélé o ma mi se ra

O Ma mycasse boutoumbélé

O ma mi se ra

O Ma mycasse boutoumbélé

Singing together is great way to finish the session in the spirit of community. :)

I learned a lot while preparing this musical session - a new song, a new instrument (tama), I got in contact with new people (to borrow N'Goni), I learned new stories, and got inspired for life. I will try to make a full accueil de classe with this theme. I also think that music is an accessible way to discover another culture. Even children who know nothing about Senegal can immediately participate by listening, playing, and singing together.