Daykil Chosan Group: Wollof, Mandinka, Fula and Susu

[Olùkọ́ Ọbádélé]

Daykil Chosan Group

ECCO`s group of musicians and music-teachers, Daykil Chosan, have put together a fine selection of traditional and new music, characteristic for the musicians as bearers of different West African Music Traditions: Wollof, Mandinka, Fula and Susu.

The CD can be bought through ECCO-Europe or through ECCO-The Gambia.

To be able to play the two tracks of music, you need a Quicktime Player. You can download it for free here.
1. Ndawi Rew mi Laity Faye/Kebba Taylor
2. Madirisa Juldeh Camara/Kebba Taylor
3. Kaira Momodou Susso/Kebba Taylor
4. Badibou Laity Faye
5. Kaw Dembo Juldeh Camara
6. Kele Momodou Susso
7. Sabu Nyima Momodou Susso/Kebba Taylor
8. Ahi Njurel Lalia Faye
9. Alelu Aduna Lalia Faye
10. Meedo Meejo Juldeh Camara/Kebba Taylor

Recorded & Mixed at Yellowgate Studios by Kebba Taylor.
Musical Production - Daykil Chosan Group/Kebba Taylor.
Eddie Andresen and Allan Vigre - Acousdig Musicproduction, Norway.
Cover Design - Anders Lien.
All Rights Reserved ECCO The Gambia.

About the Music
Lack of archaeological finds of musical instruments or music-related items makes it difficult to construct a deep history of music in West Africa; the traditions are centuries, perhaps even millennia, old. The traditional music is still playing an important role in the everyday West African society. The traditional musicians (Griot in French, Jali/Jeli in Mandinka and Fula, Gewel in Wolof) function as living libraries; they are the voice of oral history, storytelling, proverbs, negotiations and various forms of praising.

The Mandinka forms the majority of the Gambian population. Their settlement in the Senegambia region was largely attributed to the invasion of the region by Tirmakhan Traore who was a war General of Sunjata, the founder of the ancient Mali Empire. Tirmakha Traore is also given credit in Gambian oral traditions for founding the Kaabu Empire. However, a relatively small number of Mandinka were already in the region before Sunjata and Tiramakhan`s time. They had been migrating west since the 10.th century either in search of land or to open up trade routes.

ECCO`s main teacher in Mandinka is Jali Mamodou Susso.

The Wolof lived mainly in the Semi-arid Northern Senegambia region where they established independent communities which later became the Wolof states of Jolof. Wolof migration into the Senegambia region increased during the Soninke Marabout wars, the establishment of British trading posts and the colonial period. Today the Wolof can be found in Niumi, Baddibu and Jokadu and Banjul, where the Wolof language is widely spoken.

ECCO`s main teacher in Wolof is Alh. Prof. Ebou Secka.

The Fula: It is believed that the first Fula-migrants into the Senegambia region were herdsmen who originated from the ancient Mali-empire. The migration of different Fula-groups stretched over some hundred years before the founding of the Kaabu state. Originally, the Gambian Fula left the politics to the Mandinka. However, in the 19.th century Alpha Molo led a successful revolution against the Kabu-Mandinka. This resulted in the founding of the Fula kingdom of Firdu (now Fulladu).

ECCO`s main teacher in Fula is the excellent Riti-player Juldeh Camara.

The Susu: The late president of Guinea Seckou Touray developed and institutionalized the idea of National African Ballet-groups. Young boys and girls where sent to cultural training after school to become bearers and performers of the traditional African Culture. The present Djembe music and dance is often well choreographed with song, dance and theatre as ingredients in a performance prepared for an audience.

ECCO`s main teacher in Susu is Karamoko Bangura.