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MIT Stages Griot Festival February 28

Cambridge, MA... Rambax, the Senegalese drumming ensemble at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) hosts a day of performances and workshops celebrating the musical traditions of Griots from Africa and the Diaspora on Saturday, February 28.

Masters of words and music, griots are the hereditary musicians and keepers of oral history who have played an important role in many African cultures for centuries. For this event, Rambax will be joined by the Mbaye Family Drum Troupe, one of Senegal's most renowned families of griot drummers. Specialists in the sabar drum tradition, the Mbaye Family Drum Troupe is descended from 14th-century griots who accompanied the kings to the front lines of battle, drumming and singing their praises. Led by Masikh Mbaye, one of the eldest remaining griots of his generation, the Mbaye Family Drum Troupe currently performs in Senegal at weddings, baptisms, sabar dances, political meetings and wrestling matches.

The Troupe is featured in a book by MIT ethnomusicologist Patricia Tang entitled Masters of the Sabar: Wolof Griot Percussionists of Senegal.

"I am very excited about bringing the Mbaye Family Drum Troupe to MIT after working with them in Senegal for over a decade. The Troupe graciously hosted MIT students during the Rambax Senegal tour in the summer of 2005, so we are now looking forward to being their hosts, and to sharing their rich musical traditions with MIT and the greater Boston area," says Professor Tang, who co-directs Rambax with Senegalese drummer Lamine Touré.

The festival will begin in the morning with a hands-on drum workshop led by the Mbaye Family Drum Troupe. A pre-concert symposium panel will then give the public an opportunity to learn about the history and current role of griots throughout West Africa. The panel will feature griot elder Masikh Mbaye (with Amadou Seck serving as translator), Wesleyan professor Eric Charry (author of Mande Music), and Professor Tang.

The festival will culminate in a gala performance of African music, drum and dance featuring the Mbaye Family Drum Troupe, Rambax MIT, and numerous African artists now residing in the U.S., including Malian musicians Balla Tounkara (kora) and Balla Kouyate (balafon), as well as Senegalese drummers and dancers from throughout New England (including Demba Sene, Pape Ba, Yeumougor "Paa" Seck, Babacar "Moha" Seck, Talla Ngom and Cheikh Ngom).

All events free and open to the public. Made possible by MIT's Music and Theater Arts Section, the Council for the Arts, the School for Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Dean’s Office, the Committee on Race and Diversity, and the American Islamic Congress.

Schedule:

For more information, call (617) 253-2826.