We are all one, well said I play the banjo way up north in Norway. The reason why the banjo has travelled so far and survived for so long because it's an awesome instrument. Mad respect to you my friend
Ekonting has special status within our culture, the Ajamaat (Jola, to many). To the outsider, it is a mere musical instrument. For us, it is much more. A tool to unite a people and emphasise our inherent principle of 'equality'. For those captured and sold into slavery along the River Gambia, playing the Ekonting whilst in the New World would have been intended to spiritually unite them with separated loved ones. On equality, the Jolas are the only tribe in Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau without a caste system. Though some historians, such as Olson & Meur (1996), believe that Jolas are devoid of social and political organisation, this is erroneous. The Jolas have designated community 'leaders' chosen by the people to represent their interests. So, whilst there was no king or 'noble' men (or women), community leaders filled those roles. The social and political stratification of the Jolas, therefore, rested in the hands of their representatives, thus mirroring the principle of equality - a point Daniel Jatta above mentions in his interlude.
In the book The Banjo, a chapter that studies the influence of the lowly banjo on music says this about this wonderful instrument, "..Balanta kusundu and kisinta, all still played in Guinea-Bissau. The akonting has three strings, and the top one is shorter than the other two and is played with the thumb, while the other strings are played using a downstroke technique with the top of the fingers-in a way very similar to what is called “clawhammer” style in the United States. Jola societies have not included castes of musicians, as many other West African societies have, and the akonting is not played by particular families. Its construction, playing style, and the fact that it was a popular and vernacular instrument all suggest that it was likely one of the influential examples in the formation of the banjo in the Caribbean." Page 45 The Banjo, Laurent Dubois.
That has a very lovely sound! Very beautiful sounding song! Wow I'm pretty sure that's the African ancestor to the clawhammer technique, similar technique!
Thanks Shawn! THe akonting lies at the root of minstrel and old-time banjo, and thus bluegrass banjo. I think its story is essential to understanding the music of the U.S.
Banjo roots and branches (your chapter, Mr. Levy) brought me here. Thank you for puting this video so I can hear how it sounds! I'm gonna look at Sana Ndiaye's playing too!
Something i noticed with the akonting is that it seems that the lowest string is in fact the bottom string. I don’t think there are any plucked string instrument (that i know of) that does this. Oud, lute, mandolins, and guitars don’t do this and even re entrant instruments (like the banjo) usually have some sort of high-low from the bottom to the top string before the very top string is high again. Very interesting stuff.
thats beautiful. we can all agree, one banjo, brings out our whole family history, weather from Africa, to America.. we all enjoy a banjo our grandfathers played.
I read somewhere bluegrass has roots with irish immigrants? I love to think some Irish lad picked up an Akonting and just started singing the songs of home and across the world, there was a soulful young man doing the same, thousands of miles away.
I love the history of the banjo, do you know of anything traditional 17/18th century songs played on the Akonting? I don't know how I got here today, because I have looked up "West African Banjo" quite a few times. I play southern traditional, and would love to be able to hear the similarities and differences between the two styles. This sounds almost like minstrel music which is interesting. So is the minstrel sound an accurate representation to what authentic early African banjo music would have sounded like?
Hi Jim, glad you made it here. It appeared to me that the akonting music I heard was relatively contemporary. To hear more, consider checking out my youtube channel, ua-cam.com/users/banjochuck you might also google akonting, ekonting, Ekona Diatta, Remi Diatta, Ulf Jagfors . I think there are elements of Africanisms in some minstrel music. It is too deep a question for me to answer completely, but some of the minstrel banjo repertoire has a freedom from some of the clawhammer conventions that are now pretty much established, and some of the musical phrasing (passages of thumb-lead downstroke seem more African/akonting to me.
Country music comes from the country...Both black and white people live in the country......Modern country music is a distant relative...Nashville is a city.
Country music was originally White people (like Jimmie Rodgers or The Carter Family) singing the Blues along with old time folk music. Now today "country" music is just pop with a twang (unless your someone like Sturgill Simpson, Kacey Musgraves, Ryan Adams, Or Chris Stapleton.)
Very nice and interesting music, Chuck. Now I understand why you have akontings in your music room. Perhaps in the near future we could get together for music and you could demonstrate the akonting. I hope so!
No you asshole. The modern banjo was an instrument created in the caribbeans by slaves, clearly deriving from this instrument. This is 2024. It doesn't take much to educate yourself. But you decided to show everybody how stupid and ignorant you are.
Why do people ALWAYS make claims of black, or white or whatever.......who does this? How about this. Human beings from all different areas of the world have made an impact and contribution to our collective experiences. Im sure Mr. Jatta would rather share his culture with others rather than claim THIS IS MINE!
Had the pleasure of talking to an african drum maker about this instrument the other day, he said I was pronouncing it wrong that it's just called Konting. He said in other countries in africa it goes by other names like Gembe and one other I can't remember. he didn't have any at the shop but I'd love to try and play one some time.
I am not a linguist, but the Jola people that I met called it an akonting. The "a" maybe an article, and may indicate size or status as an inanimate object vs. a living our once living thing. There is a small amount of controversy with some calling it an "ekonting". Daniel himself, born in Gambia, where saw his father playing, calls it an akonting.
Most Western musical instruments are upgraded versions of African and Asian, including the Piano. Few European musical instruments can be traced back to the 13th century or beyond, the majority were invented in the late 17th and 18th centuries after contact with Africa and Asia.
Simply false. I don't know where you get your information but you should look into European folk music. Americans are so hopelessly stupid it's incredible
It’s funny how all you see playing a banjo are white mountain boys, little do they know this come straight from Africa. Amazing how all music branches together
I think Daniel has made an excellent case for the influence this Gambian instrument had on the development of the American banjo. He plays and sings beautifully!
You are correct that the top string has the highest pitch. I don't think of this string as a true drone as it is integral t the melody in many traditional songs.. Unlike the 5-string banjo which employs reentrant tunings or the guitar in which the tones ascend from the top string (the 6th string) to the first string, the string tones descend from the top string to the first string.
Right? I have no idea where people got the idea that this was the origin of the modern American banjo. Every single country has their own form of a stringed guitar instrument. But just because the banjo is an American thing everyone has to accuse it of being stolen by Africans. Let’s be real people.
LOL I watched old african news reels in school in the 1960s and never saw any african clog dancing, playing banjo, or singing blue grass, or gospel. My Grandpa had literally at least 100 Nat Geos from the early 1900s. Never ever saw anything there either, except boobs and drumming on hollow tree logs..
It's incredible to see historic origins manifest through song
I am in total agreement!
The Akonting is the Banjo's Great Granddaddy because of it's Banjo like appearance and Folksy sound.
The downstroke style of akonting playing is very similar to minstrel and clawhammer banjo playing.
Holy shit, American music is more inspired by West Africa than probably most. Makes so much sense, this shit goes deep.
The river of music that we are traveling on is wide, deep, and long with many tributaries.
Latin music has a lot of African roots in it. Listen to Pegate by Ricky Martin, or Titi Mi Pregunto by Bad Bunny. Those are just some examples.
@@JJVel-zj1ksyeah and it’s like 20!plus countries
We are all one, well said I play the banjo way up north in Norway. The reason why the banjo has travelled so far and survived for so long because it's an awesome instrument. Mad respect to you my friend
thank you thank you thank you!
No only Gambia! Steals your Banjo and heads towards Gambia..........
Ekonting has special status within our culture, the Ajamaat (Jola, to many). To the outsider, it is a mere musical instrument. For us, it is much more. A tool to unite a people and emphasise our inherent principle of 'equality'. For those captured and sold into slavery along the River Gambia, playing the Ekonting whilst in the New World would have been intended to spiritually unite them with separated loved ones. On equality, the Jolas are the only tribe in Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau without a caste system. Though some historians, such as Olson & Meur (1996), believe that Jolas are devoid of social and political organisation, this is erroneous. The Jolas have designated community 'leaders' chosen by the people to represent their interests. So, whilst there was no king or 'noble' men (or women), community leaders filled those roles. The social and political stratification of the Jolas, therefore, rested in the hands of their representatives, thus mirroring the principle of equality - a point Daniel Jatta above mentions in his interlude.
Thanks for your thoughtful comments regarding Laemou Ahuma's video and Jola culture.
@@chucklevy5933 The pleasure is all mine!
This expands on what Daniel told us back in 2005 at the Black Banjo Gathering; thank you!
@@SuleDrum you're welcome
Man it's so obvious where clawhammer came from when watching this.
Thanks for your comment. I agree! It is powerful and can change how you look at the world.
They had a technique called downstroke, which was essentially the same thing, your fingernails slide across the strings downward
Modern banjo techniques and Appalachian music is closer to its African origins than I used to think.
Yup!
cuz it was invented by enslaved Africans of course it’s gonna be similar
In the book The Banjo, a chapter that studies the influence of the lowly banjo on music says this about this wonderful instrument, "..Balanta kusundu and kisinta, all still played in Guinea-Bissau. The akonting has three strings, and the top one is shorter than the other two and is played with the thumb, while the other strings are played using a downstroke technique with the top of the fingers-in a way very similar to what is called “clawhammer” style in the United States. Jola societies have not included castes of musicians, as many other West African societies have, and the akonting is not played by particular families. Its construction, playing style, and the fact that it was a popular and vernacular instrument all suggest that it was likely one of the influential examples in the formation of the banjo in the Caribbean." Page 45 The Banjo, Laurent Dubois.
Thank you so much ⛩🎶🌷
Sounds about right to me!
Didn't need your help explaining but whatever
@@banko1808 Sorry you didn't realize, but not everyone on the internet is talking directly to you.
@@cheeseburger8486 you are now so what's up?
Almost thought he was Jamaican, shows you how much influence Ghana, Nigerian, Gambia etc have on Patios.
Man , I've listened to Akan music and the accent of Akan sounds phonologically like Patwa to me when I'm not paying attention.
I'm Jamaican thinking the same his accent isn't far from Jamaican
Thanks! I think most folks now think the akonting is related to the banjo. It is exciting to see the connections.
INDEED...
I am glad if NPR brought you here.
this is everything that is good in music and it makes me happier than a lot of music has in a long time.
thanks
Thanks! Daniel Laemouahuma is terrific in this recording. I am proud to call him a friend.
I love the history of banjo and hope more people become aware of it.
Steve Martin approved this.
I would hope so.
I could listen to this all day long. Wonderful job, brother!
Thank you so much!
That has a very lovely sound! Very beautiful sounding song! Wow I'm pretty sure that's the African ancestor to the clawhammer technique, similar technique!
Amazing similarity to bluegrass. Daniel Laemouahuma Jatta, thank you! Beautiful song...amazing!
Thanks Shawn! THe akonting lies at the root of minstrel and old-time banjo, and thus bluegrass banjo. I think its story is essential to understanding the music of the U.S.
Esse instrumento é o ancestral do banjo 🪕
De fato é!
Thank you africa for banjo and okra! Good stuff!
Banjo roots and branches (your chapter, Mr. Levy) brought me here. Thank you for puting this video so I can hear how it sounds! I'm gonna look at Sana Ndiaye's playing too!
Thanks so much! SO glad you read BRB!
So glad I found this posting. Lovely. Thank you.
Thank you Mary Jane!
Something i noticed with the akonting is that it seems that the lowest string is in fact the bottom string. I don’t think there are any plucked string instrument (that i know of) that does this. Oud, lute, mandolins, and guitars don’t do this and even re entrant instruments (like the banjo) usually have some sort of high-low from the bottom to the top string before the very top string is high again. Very interesting stuff.
thats beautiful. we can all agree, one banjo, brings out our whole family history, weather from Africa, to America.. we all enjoy a banjo our grandfathers played.
Nicely said!
I read somewhere bluegrass has roots with irish immigrants? I love to think some Irish lad picked up an Akonting and just started singing the songs of home and across the world, there was a soulful young man doing the same, thousands of miles away.
I love the sound, I can’t say I’ve ever heard anything so beautiful...
Thanks Daniel! Laemouahuma knocks it out of the park with this on!
BEAUTIFUL ...GIVES CHILLS... AS IF REMEMBERING A PAST LIFETIME IN AFRICA..
Or a present one....
Nice to see everyone getting along again
This instrument or something very similar was played in Congo Square in New Orleans during Colonial times.
The roots of the Blues; Black America's cultural forefather. Akonting and Kora strings.
Amen!
Yes cousin of course the Bambara contributed to the development of the blues. Gotta give it to my Jola ancestors too though.
and by extend pretty much all the music we have today.
What an amazing instrument. You seem very good at playing it, as well! Thank you for uploading such a great song.
So these are the roots of the blues
Not the only roots, but perhaps a significant portion.
@@ChuckLevy I know...
I love the history of the banjo, do you know of anything traditional 17/18th century songs played on the Akonting? I don't know how I got here today, because I have looked up "West African Banjo" quite a few times.
I play southern traditional, and would love to be able to hear the similarities and differences between the two styles.
This sounds almost like minstrel music which is interesting. So is the minstrel sound an accurate representation to what authentic early African banjo music would have sounded like?
Hi Jim, glad you made it here. It appeared to me that the akonting music I heard was relatively contemporary. To hear more, consider checking out my youtube channel, ua-cam.com/users/banjochuck you might also google akonting, ekonting, Ekona Diatta, Remi Diatta, Ulf Jagfors . I think there are elements of Africanisms in some minstrel music. It is too deep a question for me to answer completely, but some of the minstrel banjo repertoire has a freedom from some of the clawhammer conventions that are now pretty much established, and some of the musical phrasing (passages of thumb-lead downstroke seem more African/akonting to me.
How wonderful to hear this piece. It is good to be a citizen of the planet Earth,and to have ears ! Thank you Chuck. Levy.
1.5x or 1.75 speed for bluegrass
That's funny!
The gret grandpa of the banjo, still kickin
Why not!
This is evidence that Country Music is Black music. The African origins of country music are there, but often ignored or buried.
You can have it back, country music is terrible.
Jessica Hart Lol. not all of it.😂😂😂
Country music comes from the country...Both black and white people live in the country......Modern country music is a distant relative...Nashville is a city.
Country music was originally White people (like Jimmie Rodgers or The Carter Family) singing the Blues along with old time folk music. Now today "country" music is just pop with a twang (unless your someone like Sturgill Simpson, Kacey Musgraves, Ryan Adams, Or Chris Stapleton.)
banjo playing bison Blues came from black folks tho. So it is still black in roots.
Un instrument tellement méconnu... Merci pour ce moment !
Very cool video; can definitely see clawhammer roots showing! Great tune!
I can hear Clarence Ashley's version of Little Sadie so clearly in this. Fantastic how music travels and transforms.
Excellent! The shared heritage of the akonting (ekonting) and the banjo and the peoples in between is endlessly fascinating!
Beautiful
Sounds a lot like old-time Appalachian folk music
The through line straight to old-time banjo is remarkable!
Beautiful.
Thank you! I agree!
American music is Black music. Bluegrass, Blues, Folk, Rock… all of it.
African influences are rich, full, and deep in the musics of the Americas
So lovely!
This is very beautiful
Totally agree.
They are nylon fishing line.
Very nice and interesting music, Chuck. Now I understand why you have akontings in your music room. Perhaps in the near future we could get together for music and you could demonstrate the akonting. I hope so!
Hi Les, I look forward to playing togehter. I would be happy to talk and show the akonting.
Ah! The glorious ancestor of the banjo!
Amen Captain Bleach
I'm a banjo player, and one day I might play with a akonting player, t'would be great
@@radiatorqcpogo3268 Where are you?
Canada
INDEED...
What a beautiful song!
Agreed
Beautiful Song.
The modern banjo, is an instrument, that was created in the USA (not Africa). It was influenced, by both African and European instruments.
No you asshole. The modern banjo was an instrument created in the caribbeans by slaves, clearly deriving from this instrument. This is 2024. It doesn't take much to educate yourself. But you decided to show everybody how stupid and ignorant you are.
Sounds beautiful
Thanks Vanessa! I agree!
Wonderful 👍Thanks for sharing 👏👏👏
Thank you!!!
This is pure talent
Lovely, ain't it?!
Awesome 👏
Thanks! I agree!
Reminded me of Motorhead "Ace of spade"
????????????
Why do people ALWAYS make claims of black, or white or whatever.......who does this? How about this. Human beings from all different areas of the world have made an impact and contribution to our collective experiences.
Im sure Mr. Jatta would rather share his culture with others rather than claim THIS IS MINE!
Apologies if this has already been answered, but can anyone see how many strings are there on that instrument?
Three strings
Had the pleasure of talking to an african drum maker about this instrument the other day, he said I was pronouncing it wrong that it's just called Konting. He said in other countries in africa it goes by other names like Gembe and one other I can't remember. he didn't have any at the shop but I'd love to try and play one some time.
I am not a linguist, but the Jola people that I met called it an akonting. The "a" maybe an article, and may indicate size or status as an inanimate object vs. a living our once living thing. There is a small amount of controversy with some calling it an "ekonting". Daniel himself, born in Gambia, where saw his father playing, calls it an akonting.
@@ChuckLevy There is the lute --more northern in Africa--the Gimbri/Guimbri. That could be the "Gembe" he's referring to.
I think so too!
is it just me or i hear hints of "Cumberland Gap" in this tune. listen close, its in there
Also reminds me of Barbecue Bob's "Yo Yo Blues".
🇬🇼🇬🇼🇬🇼✨🙌🏿✨🙌🏿 precursor to the guitar from west Africa 🙌🏿✨🇬🇼🙌🏿✨🇬🇼 Jola
Or maybe the banjo!
wow the african guitar sound like a banjo could be ancestor of the american banjo and good music :)
That was real nice...awesome stuff.
+Shane Richards I agree! Thanks!
So interesting and good!
Couldn’t agree more Fast Heart Mart
Most Western musical instruments are upgraded versions of African and Asian, including the Piano. Few European musical instruments can be traced back to the 13th century or beyond, the majority were invented in the late 17th and 18th centuries after contact with Africa and Asia.
Pretty sure the piano was invented in Italy.
Simply false. I don't know where you get your information but you should look into European folk music. Americans are so hopelessly stupid it's incredible
The drum was independently created by nearly every culture.
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s funny how all you see playing a banjo are white mountain boys, little do they know this come straight from Africa. Amazing how all music branches together
It is amazing how so many hidden threads join us!
This dude is the best
Thank you sir!
Thanks Ivan,
I will let Daniel know.
Original historic clawhammer ....
Can’t believe I didn’t know abt this -_-
I just found out that the banjo originated from W. Africa. Great to see music and instruments kept alive in history.
Thanks for looking!
Action looks a little high on that thing (; in all seriousness, very cool sound.
I think Daniel has made an excellent case for the influence this Gambian instrument had on the development of the American banjo. He plays and sings beautifully!
Listen to the drone on top...tuned(?) Higher than the other string (s).
You are correct that the top string has the highest pitch. I don't think of this string as a true drone as it is integral t the melody in many traditional songs.. Unlike the 5-string banjo which employs reentrant tunings or the guitar in which the tones ascend from the top string (the 6th string) to the first string, the string tones descend from the top string to the first string.
i wish i could understand the words if someone can translate that would be love
Cool
I agree!
The instrument that started country music in the USA
Ground zero for American popular music!
Where can u buy one
The origin of Bluegrass.
The source!
Senegal
Yeah!
That’s about as similar to a banjo as a shamisen is.
Right? I have no idea where people got the idea that this was the origin of the modern American banjo.
Every single country has their own form of a stringed guitar instrument.
But just because the banjo is an American thing everyone has to accuse it of being stolen by Africans. Let’s be real people.
3 strings
Essamay, you have to sing in wollof it's better for people then we can understand...
Well you could always learn jola
@@annaandersson1625 Iyooooh , Malegueen ! Aw kanè bou ? kassumay
Kassumay bare 🤗😂🤗
What kind of strings go on these?
This is where Southern Blues comes from known as the banjo.
One of the strands!
what's the tuning?
The banjo came from the Gambia and Senegal, and the blues came from Mali....the roots of a lot of American music stretch back to Africa....
The connection between the music of West Africa and the US is deep and vibrant.
@@ChuckLevy Indeed, and too many do not give credit where it is due!
thats look like /GNAWA/ in morocco
Good eye! The Gnawan gimbri, like the akonting (ekonting) is played in a downstroke style. Gnawan origins are in West Africa.
LOL I watched old african news reels in school in the 1960s and never saw any african clog dancing, playing banjo, or singing blue grass, or gospel. My Grandpa had literally at least 100 Nat Geos from the early 1900s. Never ever saw anything there either, except boobs and drumming on hollow tree logs..
Perhaps the newsreels did not give a complete history of the African origins of the banjo.
Seriously, what is up with that Nat Geo?!? Enough Boobs! We want more Banjos!
real banjo is this
Akonting and downstroke banjo seem to be two expressions of the same instrument to me.
Thumbs up if NPR brought you here
I hate how whitewashed country music has been. I wish i learned the history of the music we started when i was younger.
speak french you're from kassa /senegal...
Beautiful