Doudou
N'Diaye Rose:
The Griot, the Drum Master
Introduction
| Storytelling | Drumming
| Doudou N'Diaye Rose | The Mandinka
Epic | The Mandinka Story
In order to understand
the story of Doudou N'Diaye Rose (Pronunciation: Du du Ng-aya Rose)
it is important to review briefly the role of the griot
in pre-colonial Sénégal. Counselor, musician and living repository
of oral history; the griot has an important role in West African societies.
History was passed on from generation to generation through the praise-songs
of griots. Kings and queens assigned them to prepare warriors mentally
for important battles. Today, although his role has evolved, it remains
that the griot still has a pre-eminent role in Sénégalese Society.
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The
Drummers of West Africa
|
Doudou N’diaye
Rose, chief drum major, founder of the Drummers of West Africa, is
the most famous griot in Sénégal. Born in 1928 from a griot family
Doudou N’diaye Rose has music in his blood. But since his father was
an accountant, he never got the chance to be initiated to drum beat
in his early age. However at age nine Doudou N’diaye Rose had an irresistible
desire to play the drum. So he went in search for someone who would
be able to teach him. He was fortunate to meet El hadj Mada Seck who
was at that time the best drum major in Dakar. Throughout all his
childhood he followed him and learned from him the art of drum rhythms
and the different kinds of djembes
(African drums).
Life was quite
hard for Doudou N’diaye. He was being raised by his uncle who didn’t
want him to play the art of drum rhythms.
He later conceded that Doudou N’diaye Rose was destined to music and
gave him the freedom to go around all regions of Sénégal to learn
drum beat rhythms from different ethnic groups. Some years later when
his drum master El hadj Mada Seck moved to neighboring Côte d’Ivoire,
he was quite ready to carry on the torch.
Today Doudou N’diaye
Rose’s fame goes beyond the boundaries of Sénégal. He’s been touring
the world for over two decades and recently in 1996 his drum ensemble
was the center of attention at the opening of the National Black Arts
Festival in Atlanta, Georgia.
Career and
Production
Doudou N’diaye
Rose rose from the shadow of traditional drum major and soon, because
of his creative and innovative sense of conducting drum rhythms, he
became the rising darling of the Sénégalese drumming community. In
1960 when Sénégal became independent he joined the Sénégalese National
Ballet--this new opportunity would propel him to international stardom.
For many years he went touring around the world discovering countries
with rich music tradition such as Romania, Austria, France, etc…
In the late seventies
Doudou N’diaye Rose decided to explore new orientations in his music
career. In 1980 he formed a new ensemble called the Rosettes, a female
percussion troupe comprised of his own daughters. He also created
the Roseaux, a troupe of children aging from 4 to 12. Talking about
his ensemble Producer Andrew S. Grossman said: under the direction
of the incomparable Doudou N’diaye Rose, the Drummers of West Africa
are not only the most renowned drum ensemble of their native Sénégal,
or even West Africa, but probably the most revered percussion orchestra
in the world. The Drummers, all members of Mr. Rose’s family, have
toured the capitals of Europe and South America with huge box office
successes and recently with the opening attraction of the 50th annual
Cannes Film festival. The Japanese drum company Kodo is a great admirer
of the legendary Doudou N’diaye Rose, and invites him to appear regularly
with the Kodo drummers in a series of performances as well as seminars
in the art of percussive music.”
Doudou N'diaye
Rose is unquestionably the most famous sabar master in the world.
With his family he’s put together the theme song of the Sénégal’s
Television News. He has invented more than 500 new rhythms in African
percussion. His recent productions, the CD Real World Label
and the video Djabote seem to prevail among others. The CD
was produced during a week of recording on the Island of Goree. The
video has been hailed as “one of the most stunningly beautiful music
videos ever produced.” Sabar is another outstanding production
of Doudou Ndiaye Rose and his family Rosettes. Finally the very new
release by the legendary father of sabar drumming is Lac Rose
in reference the mysterious Pink Lake in the suburb of Dakar, Sénégal.
In this double CD, recorded live on August 10, 1999 at the Miura Percussion
& Meeting Kaichoon, Miura-Shi, Japan, Doudou N’diaye Rose is joined
by 16 members of his family and troupe from Sénégal.
![[image: drum]](graphics/side-top.gif)
