INSRUMENT MAKER AND COSTUME MAKER
[costume]
Fodays artistic experiences are not limited to the performing arts drumming, dancing, singing and drama but also he has a deep understanding of the instruments needed to make the music supporting the many ballets, ensemble instrumentals and cultural and modern bands he has initiated. See Resume for more details.
INSTRUMENTS:
Sawrulba Fodays experience playing sawrulba began at the ripe old age of 8, performing for the mothers at a Mandinka baby naming ceremony with cortirinding.
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At age 12 he began to play cortirriba and at 15 he began to solo on the jilungjungno. The story goes that one day the King of the Manding called all his people together for a festival everyone was welcome. When the food had been cooked and everyone had filled their bellies, a Jola sat and played his bugarabu(bass). Well it didn't take long before a Fula heard the bugarabu and could feel how his music could blend with the rhythms he could hear.. |
so taking his drums cortirinding & cortirriba(accompaniment) he joined the Jola.. as the rhythms began to dance together it was only a moment before the Mandinka joined with his jilungjungno(solo) and played for the, together they played for all the people and for all their dances¡One of the many stories about the coming together of sawrulba but I liked this one. More information about these drums and classes later.
Djembe The djembe was a big key that stimulated the interest in African arts and culture in Australia. It is a talking drum and is used to signal drummers and dancers of changes in the dance. Therefore it has strong significance in African ballet as the artists move between dance sequences and rhythms. Features: all natural product, easy to tune, Australian goat skins, professionally assembled enabling the drummer to hear the difference between slap tone bass the 3 notes of the djembe - using lighter hand movements.
Benefits: developing new skills, a portable acoustic instrument, a long life product and a good investment a feel good instrument and good companion.
Repairs: We re-skin and repair djembes and other instruments. Prices & Classes: Any inquiries about drums or the availability of drums and drumming classes please contact Foday & Mariama at: wulabainternational@yahoo.com.au
Bongo West African cultural instrument. Variations of the bongo are found in different countries in W/Africa, each with its own style. Beginner rhythms are taught using 3 keys then 5 keys finishing with eight. Traditionally the keys were made from wood, but due to lack of resources they have been replaced with metal eg. various lengths of hacksaw blade. The melody is played across the keys with the fingers on the right hand and a cross-rhythm is tapped on the body of the bongo using a ring on the left hand. It can take the place of a bass guitar, dun-dun or sabar Wolof, and the following cultural rhythms can be successfully transposed onto bongo: nyaka, jumbadongno bugarabu, cassa, lenjengo, musobajulo, ekon-kon etc. A more modern funky sound is used in Afro-Manding music.
Features: can be amplified if necessary, available from 3- 8 keys for all skill levels, all rhythms include bass & tempo and it is easy to learn.
Benefits: two instruments in one, portable musical instrument, excellent accompaniment for any acoustic instrument eg. guitar, flute etc.
Prices & Classes: For more information please contact Foday & Mariama at wulabainternational@yahoo.com.au . Bongos range from 3, 5 & 8 keys
Dun-duns are the time keepers and the core beat that the rhythms weave around. If you are dancing or drumming you will always know your position in the rhythm by listening to the dun-dun. Due to lack of resources, we make our dun-duns out of metal tins. There are 3 sizes large(dun-dun) medium (saambungo) small (kenkeni). They are skinned with Australian cow. For more information contact Foday & Mariama at wulabainternational@yahoo.com.au
Costumes are used to enhance the stories told through the ballets and cultural dances. The costumes identify where you are from, and dancing in costume can be an aid to help you return to your roots. Foday has developed his costume making skills and ideas from his long history in the arts see resume. In 1999 Foday was choreographer for the National ballet of the Gambia and made all the costumes for the15 member cultural dance troupe that toured America for 3 months. Foday finishing the costumes during the flight over.. Decorations eg. brightly coloured pom-poms, tassells, beads, raffia, buttons, shells, feathers, bells, cowrie shells etc. etc. all sewn onto bright coloured fabrics in traditional Mandinka, Jola, Fula & Wolof designs The costumes dance and jiggle in a wonderful array of colour¡ see photographs. Accessories to the costumes are raffia arm and leg bands a headband decorated with cowrie shells, dance belt, beaded neck decoration, and plenty of beads. Email any inquiries to wulabainternational@yahoo.com.au
