Aïcha Koné, Mawa Traoré, Kandet Kantet, Affou Kéïta… are some of the spokespersons of Mandingo music with confirmed talent beyond the borders of Côte d’Ivoire. Each of their outings with their jewels in solid and plated gold, richly embroidered bazin, beautiful dresses, etc., raise crowds, as if Mandingo music with its acoustic instruments such as the kora, the djembe, the balafon, etc., had a bright future ahead of it. The lyrics are generally written in the language of the Mandingo country (Bambara, Soussou, Wolof, Peulh, Songhaï, etc.) and are the foundation of this music.

In spite of modernism, the excellent use today of the musical instruments of the past is admirable and attracts music lovers from all over the world. Some of these instruments are: the 21-string cora, the 4 to 8-string cora, the 4-string n’goni, the mandékan, the bolon (the stringed instrument played by Oumou Sangaré), the traditional violin, etc. All these instruments are used to make music. All of these instruments are used to create melodies and beautiful music. Charmed, Europeans have been trying for some years to create the sounds of these traditional instruments in laboratories, even if it is never comparable to the original. Today, Europeans and Americans alike are in awe of Mandingo music and the original sounds of its instruments.

While many of its great musicians were originally griots carrying on the tradition of their ancestors, singing the genealogies and praises of royal courts and noble families from generation to generation, the milieu has opened up to the general public who are trying their hand at the musical genre. This has had an impact on this artistic creation, which is also characterised by the energy and enthusiasm of the artists, the beauty of the melodies and the diversity of the instruments.

Jewellery and ”workmanship

“The shows of Mandingo artists, especially female, are not lacking in attraction and are characterised nowadays, however, by abuses that highlight the poverty of certain artistic creations. The artists only cover the songs of their colleagues. Instead of singing, they are atalaku. So that we can do the ‘work’ (distribute banknotes),” says Mamadou Dosso, a teacher. He regrets the time of Mamadou Doumbia, who until his death was one of the leading figures of modern Mandingo music in Côte d’Ivoire. “I don’t deny the talent of Aïcha Koné, Mawa Traoré, Affou Kéïta, etc., but I invite their younger sisters and brothers to be true artists, or griots, custodians of declamatory songs, of the oral, poetic and musical tradition,” says our interlocutor. During the performances of almost all the Mandingo artists, especially the women, what is striking is their often ostentatious appearances and make-up.

Better still, the rounds of the field are punctuated by the distribution of banknotes each time the artist praises (atalaku) a person in the crowd. The procedure is the same. As soon as the artist starts praising someone, he stands up and covers him with banknotes, often in a surreal atmosphere. An attendant makes a point of picking up the tickets behind the artist. I attended a ceremony in Abobo where the griot said that she was not there for tickets under 2000 FCFA for the “fassa” (Atalaku in Mandingo jargon). I have seen women make a list and give their names to the griot so that she can sing their praises under a shower of banknotes,” says Arouna Bamba. He says he is always surprised by how easy it is for some people to shower the artists with gold at the mention of their name. “Before going on stage, the griottes prepare themselves. They find out who is going to be there and how much they can afford,” says Ms Sidibé, who had to pay 200,000 CFA francs for the griot to travel to her daughter’s wedding last month. In fact, to move confirmed griottes, one has to pay hundreds of thousands of CFA francs.

During ceremonies, rites, weddings or baptisms, Mandingo music is very popular in the northern communities. And each time, it is a real show, full of rhythm and spirit. The artists combine acrobatics, flutists and djembefola drummers. The djembe is probably the best known of the Mandingo instruments in Europe. There are many courses devoted to it. “We are artists in our own right. And what we wear during ceremonies is very expensive, as you can see. Not to mention the Tam Tam drummers who accompany us with the Sono,” said Oumou, a singer from Abobo. According to her, the “work” can earn her up to 300,000 CFA francs in one evening. So much so that she does not consider it “useful” for the moment to release a cassette. She simply interprets the songs of her predecessors, adding a few small changes for the audience in front of her. And that’s it. Mandingo music has inspired many artists and groups.