E.T. Mensah’s “205” (from album: West African Music—The Rough Guide, 1995) (uploaded)
Kandia Kouyate’s “Douwawou” (from album: Kita Kan—Stern’s Africa, 1999) (uploaded)
Youssou N’Dour’s “Mame Bamba”(from album: Wommat, Columbia, 2011)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bSsN4POnvQ
Listen to the three songs listed above and explain how they each illustrate different approaches to the integration of African and non-African musical elements by African popular musicians. Your response should cover the following: musical form/structure, use of instruments, vocal organization/singing style, and any other feature that you consider important. (Song texts translated below.)
Please note:
Your response should be about two pages.
It should be typed, double-spaced, using the 12-point Times New Roman font.
Please submit your response to the Second Listening Assignment folder on Moodle.
Song-texts
1. E.T. Mensah’s “205” (Ghanaian Ga Language)
Who is that beauty approaching?
And you say: What is her name?
And so you say: Where she comes from?
Ayee: Is that what you are saying, a young lady from Koforidua?
Who is that beauty approaching/
Is this Abena Serwah?
Is it Ekua Bafo?
Ayee: Is that what you are saying?
Is that a young lady from Koforidua?
This is Koforidua flowers
Who is this beauty approaching?
Is this abena Serwah?
She is well endowed
Ayee: Is that what you are saying, grandchild of Apedwa Yaa Amposa, who drinks from the river Birem?
Who is this beauty approaching?
You will be mesmerized by her presence
Kandia Kouyate’s “Douwawou” (Senegalese Bambara Language)
I am going to get blessings from the learned people.
If you go to Timbuktu, you ‘ill find out that 333 Muslims are buried there.
If you go to Djenne Gao, Mopti, Koulikoro or Kayes, you’ll find many saints resting there.
Mali is not lacking in learned and holy people from whom you can get blessings.
3. Youssou Ndour’s “Mame Bamba”
Do you hear me father Bamba
Did they hear you father Bamba
The man in me changes every time I read your "Khassayids"
My strong faith in you makes me survive this crazy world
Now I can go anywhere, because I know you’ll be there
We know your pain will always make us stronger
Mame Bamba
"Khassayid" (Mame Bamba’s Islamic sacred text)
You are our rescuer
Every day, every night, every moment
They are singing and they are crying
You may be gone but your spirit will remain
Oh it will stay until the end of time
4
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