Kora & Guitar Musician & Singer Sona Jobarteh - "The Gambia" (video, information, comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Update; June 17, 2019

This pancocojams post showcases a video of the song "Gambia" by the Gambian musician/vocalist Sona Jobarteh.
This post also provides information about Sona Jobarteh along with selected comments about this singer musician and this song from that YouTube video's discussion thread. This song's lyrics in Mandinka and its English translation are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Sona Jobarteh for her musical legacy. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT SONA JOBARTEH
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sona_Jobarteh
"Sona Jobarteh is a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and composer from the Gambia and the UK. She was born in 1983[1] into one of the five principal Kora-playing Griot families from West Africa - she is the first female professional kora player[1][2] to come from a Griot family. She is the granddaughter of the Master Griot of his generation, Amadu Bansang Jobarteh, cousin of the well-known, celebrated Kora player Toumani Diabate as well as the sister of the renowned Diaspora Kora player Tunde Jegede.[3]

Biography
Born in London,[1] Sona Jobarteh is a member of one of the five principal Kora-playing (Griot) families from West Africa, and the first female member of such a family to rise to prominence on this instrument. Before her, the playing of this 21-stringed harp-like instrument was exclusively passed down from father to son.[4] The instrument is an important element of the Mandingo peoples in West Africa and their playing is reserved only to certain families called Griot.[5] She is the granddaughter of the Master Griot of his generation, Amadu Bansang Jobarteh, who migrated from Mali to the Gambia. Her cousin is the well-known, celebrated Kora player Toumani Diabate. She has studied the Kora since the age of three, at first taught by her brother Tunde Jegede, and then by her father, Sanjally Jobarteh. She gave her first performance at London’s Jazz Café when she was four years old.[1][4][6]....

Artistry
She is European-born of African heritage, and strongly identifies with the latter.[1] Spending significant time in both England and the Gambia,[1] she blends different musical styles, from both the European and West African traditions.[4] However, unlike her contemporaries, she explores and expands on traditional African roots rather than trying to fuse them with contemporary hip-hop and jazz.[1] Instead, she looks to reinterprate traditional music.[5] In addition to the kora, she also sings and plays the guitar.[1]"...

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Sona Jobarteh - GAMBIA (Official Video)


The West African Guild Published on Nov 19, 2015

Sona Jobarteh's debut music video "Gambia" in celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Independence for the Gambia in 2015.

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LYRICS: THE GAMBIA (IN THE MANDINKA LANGUAGE)*
(Sonia Jobarteh)

VERSE 1
Kairaya loo
Tengkungoyabeng
Yiriwaningnyatotaa le yajiyaa
Hadamaya
Sewo ye nyaadaalubeng
N'nabankukendemaalem

Gambia
Ibedawoda
Ikana song mummey
kanyineyfaasuwo la
Gambia
Tonya
I'nyinatai'bonsungwo la
I'nyinatai'fangwo le la
Nsinganyaa
N'tenganyaata
N'nabanko le la
N'singanyaa
N'singanyaa
N'singanyaa
Al nganaakafunyooma
Nganyomuta
N'singanyaa
Wolemunyatotaa
Ningnafasoto

CHORUS 1

Gambiankolu le
Nyinembankunyimati
Gambiankolu le
Nyingbankukaira ma
Gambiankolu le
Nyinemmoolabankooti
Gambiankolu le
Nyinenyongomangsiyaa

VERSE 2
A nemata
Woleyasaabu
Mooluyabunyaa
Abarakata


*Source: hais Soares (posted in 2016 from that YouTube's viewer discussion thread https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtmmlOQnTXM)
-snip-
English translation from https://lyricstranslate.com/en/gambia-gambia.html-2

The Gambia
Built in peace and stability,
hosted by development and progress,
Humanity
and happiness is on all faces,
our outstanding country Gambia.

Wherever you are
, never forget
your homeland Gambia
For if you forget your roots,
you turn your back on who you are.

(Refrain):
We are proud…
We are proud of our country

(Refrain):
We are proud…
Let us come together and unite
(Refrain):
We are proud…
This is what will result in progress

People of the Gambia; this is the beautiful land
People of the Gambia; this is the peaceful land
People of the Gambia; this is the land of our people
People of the Gambia; there is nothing that compares to this land
People honour this country because it is blessed

We should not abandon our beautiful country
Sons/daughters of this land, let us come to together
I will truly always be proud to be a Gambian
Wherever I travel, I shall tell of the wonders of this country
There is nowhere that compares to Gambia

Outro:
The home of Peace… everyone say “Gambia”
The home of Blessings… everyone say “Gambia”
The home of Humility… everyone say “Gambia”
The home of Family… everyone say “Gambia”


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SELECTED COMMENTS
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread:
These comments are given in relative chronological order with the oldest comment given first. I've assigned numbers for referencing purposes only.
1. Tiya S, 2015
"where she come from ?"

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Reply
2. blade, 2016
"she comes from Gambia. .The smiling coast. We are all proud of her"

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Reply
Tiya S, 2016
"+blade i know but she not a full gambian i want to know with what she is mixt ?"

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Reply
blade, 2016
"+fatsyii Mk well I may not be able to tell exactly all about her biography, but her grandfather migrate from Mali to Gambia and sona was born in the UK in London and her family lives in a place in Gambia called Kembujeh in the west coast region near a Town called Brikama and there also have great kora artist like jaliba kuyateh, tata dinding jobarteh and many more, but sona is truly amazing in this music"
-snip-
This comment exchange continued with blade asking whether Sona Jobarteh's mother was (is) White European. As of the date of this post's publication, no commenter had answered that question.

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Islamadeena, 2016
"Ahmad Najib She sings about working in togetherness to progress and develop the country in short."

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Kieran Sudworth, 2016
"Just returned from my third visit to The Gambia and loved it as usual. By the way Sona Jobarteh is singing this song in Mandinka language."

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Reply
Marybella Criola Guigui, 2016
"oh yes that my native language! mandinka"

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Reply
Kieran Sudworth, 2016
"+Marybella Criola Guigui Maybe you could translate the lyrics for us non Mandinka speakers lol"

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Reply
Wata Lano, 2016
"the song is about knowing where u come from and dont Forget where u come from. she is also encouraging gambians for patriotism and unity and saying how bless, lovely and peaseful Gambia is."

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Foday Ladie, 2016
"you need to understand the lyrics, she is praising her mother land The Gambia. mind you Sona is a British by birth"

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Yaya Camara, 2016
"She is singing in mandinka language, a tribe in Gambia and also spoken by the majority in that beautiful land.fondly call smiling coast. wmmm"

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yuri.dp, 2016
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandinka_people it is about them?"

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Reply
kd carney, 2016
"+yuri.dp
It is Mandinka language but is about the Country of Gambia."

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Anthony Thorne, 2016
"If I am having a tough day I just play her music. Her soft soothing voice coupled with harmonics of the Kora just sets the tone to power through the rest of the day. The maleness of the Kora combined with femaleness of Sona completes the whole. I live in Trinidad and Tobago and the name Jobity is present here but I can't seem to find it in the US or England could be a version of the Jobarteh name that survived the water crossing? Any ideas or info would be helpful."

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Alhagie Sillah, 2016
"thank so much my sister sona jobarteh for your singing my country gambia smiling coast of west africa your singing this song in mandinka language is so beautiful i love u sona so much and i love all of your group band kora music from west africa i'm very happy for you and i'm proud for you thank you"

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mizzomiz, 2016
"so what are the lyrics? and can someone translate mandika?"

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Reply
jatou cee, 2016
"she is singing a praise song about her country Gambia. About the peace, togetherness etc.i hope this helps"

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What "Red Card" Means In Silky Criss' Gambian Dancehall Reggae Song "Red Card"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a video by the Gambian musician/vocalist Silky Criss and provides information about what the expression "giving a red card" means in different contexts.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, political, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Silky Criss for his musical legacy. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

This is a companion post to this previous pancocojams post about the crisis in The Gambia: http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/01/pa-bobo-jobarteh-step-down-jammeh-new.html Pa Bobo Jobarteh - Step down Jammeh (New Gambia) - with information about the political crisis in Gambia, West Africa

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: RED CARD by Silky Criss



TV4gament, Published on Jan 1, 2014

Welcome to 2014, with this brilliant Imagery from Supagrafix...Silky Criss in RED CARD. as Directed By Efe Omo Igori, Happy Viewing

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WHAT IS THE ATHLETIC MEANING OF "RED CARD"?
Original Athletic Meaning:
The expression "giving a red card" comes from the game of soccer:
From http://www.thefreedictionary.com/red+card
red card
"red card [noun]
A red-colored card shown by a referee to a player, especially in soccer, to indicate that the player is being ejected from the game."

**
From https://sites.google.com/site/americansguidetosoccer/laws-of-the-game/yellow-cards-and-red-cards\
"Yellow Cards and Red Cards
What are they?
Yellow and red cards are used as a means to discipline players for misconduct during the game. A yellow card is used to caution players, while a red card results in the player's dismissal from the field of play. Thus, yellow cards are used to punish milder forms of misconduct than red cards. However, if a player receives two yellow cards in one game, he gets an automatic red card."

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WHAT DOES RED CARD MEAN IN THE CONTEXT OF SILKY CRISS' SONG WITH THAT TITLE?
Romantic Meaning
In Gambian Dancehall Reggae singer Silky Criss' song of that name, the soccer meaning is extended to mean "informing someone that you are ending your romantic relationship with her (or him) by either actually giving them a red card or by just using that expression.

From http://whatson-gambia.com/news/headline-news/636-after-getting-the-red-card-from-silky-criss-sandeng-is-now-madly-in-love.html# After getting the RED CARD from Silky Criss, Sandeng is now madly in love, Written by Saja, Published on Tuesday, 29 November [20??]
"She was attacked by her ex-boyfriend Silky Criss in his hit single, Red Card.

'Girl you broke my heart, now I give you RED CARD. Stay away!'

Sandeng is now staying away from him as she enjoys her new relationship with fellow band member, Modou Joof a.k.a Dre.

The pair has been seeing each other for a while now, sources disclosed to What On-Gambia. And Sandeng is no longer keeping the relationship under wraps because Dre is a "potential husband”.

Dre recently posted a koriteh photo with the popular singer on his Facebook wall confirming their love is real and not a showmance.

Sandeng is one of the lead vocalists for Humanity Starz. She has a voice that can instantly be recognized by all Gambian music enthusiasts

Please, Sandeng don’t forget to inform What’s On-Gambia when Dre proposes."

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Political meaning
Silky Criss's "Red Card" song with its "I reject you" theme became a rallying symbol for Gambians in opposition to the continuation of the twenty two year rule of Gambian's [then] president Yahya Jammeh:
"His love song Red Card became the anthem of the opposition to the president, and his graffiti calling on Mr Jammeh to step down led to his crew being pursued by security officials"...http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38718818 The Gambia's Jammeh may be gone* but life is far from normal by Alastair Leithead, 23 January 2017
-snip-
Read that BBC article for more information about the political situation in The Gambia. Jammeh finally left The Gambia on January 22, 2017. Also, click http://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/gambia.html for more political information about The Gambia

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Five Videos Of Gambian Fulani Musician/Singer Juldeh Camara

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post features five videos of Gambian Fulani Musician/Singer Juldeh Camara. Information about Juldeh Camara and information about the nyanyeru (riti), the one string violin (fiddle) that he plays, is also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thank to Juldeh Camara for his musical legacy. Thanks also to also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT JULDEH CAMARA
http://www.worldmusic.co.uk/juldeh_camara
"Juldeh Camara, Gambian griot and acknowledged master of the one-string fiddle (aka nyanyeru, ritti or riti), is a solo artist, but is often more know[n] for his collaborations with [other] artists...: He is most often associated with guitarist Justin Adams these days (alongside Salah Dawson Miller on percussion).

"Born in 1966 in Basse, Gambia, West Africa, ...Camara has been recognised as the leading ritti player in the world....

The riti or nyanyeru is a one-string violin, originating from the Fulani people. The Fulani are originally a nomadic people and you can find various Fulani people all over the Sahel, from East to West. In Wolof the violin is called the riti, and in Fula the nyanyeru.

”The djinni took his eyes and gave him the violin, the gift to play on it and the gift to see what other people cannot see." This is Juldeh's story about how his father became a musician. Juldeh's grandfather was a hunter, and he wanted his son Serif to become a great hunter as himself, but when Serif was 15 years old he disappeared in the forest. Everyone thought he was dead, killed by the hyenas. One year later his father still went every day to the forest to look for his son. Suddenly he could hear a sound from a tree. He came closer and he saw his son sitting in the tree playing a golden violin. He understood that Serif was hypnotised by the djinni and after many hours he managed to drive the djinni away, but at the same time the violin was gone. Serif followed his father home, but every day he went back to the forest to learn more from the djinni. When the time came, and Serif had become a fully trained musician and Marabou, the djinni took his eyesight in return. Juldeh grew up in Sariyalla in Casamance, West Africa, with his blind jali-father as his teacher. When one listens carefully one can hear the sound of the djinni in Juldeh's music"...
-snip-
"Jali" = griot

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From https://realworldrecords.com/artist/3193/juldeh-camara/
Quoting The Guardian: "Gambian musician Juldeh Camara is a virtuoso on the ritti. In his hands, this rustic, one-stringed fiddle provides a supple accompaniment to his vocals: rolling fables, wry observations and passionate declamations, all sung in the Fulani language. He's an immensely likable performer..."
-snip-
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goje for more information about the one stringed or two stringed fiddle known as "goje", "riti", "nyanyeru" and other names.

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FEATURED VIDEOS
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting date on YouTube with the oldest dated posts presented first. Unfortunately, I've not been able to find information about the meaning of the two Fulani titles. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Example #1: Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara's "Ya Ta Kaaya"



World Village USA Uploaded on Apr 30, 2008

"Ya Ta Kaaya" from BBC Radio 3 World Music Award winning album "Soul Science"
-snip-
This is a collaboration between Justin Adams (guitar), Juldeh Camara (nyanyeru) and Salah Dawson Miller (percussion)

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Example #2: Juldeh Camara - Nyenyero



nijiidk Uploaded on Jul 1, 2008

Juldeh Camara and Tiramakang Ensemble in Copenhagen - August 2000. More on Gambian Music: http://www.gambia.dk

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Example #3: Samba & Julde Camara



Sankulay Jallow, Uploaded on Dec 1, 2010

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Example #4: Madam Mariama - Juldeh Camara, Justin Adams & Roy Oodds



brummydublinerUploaded on Feb 18, 2011

From 'Horo Gheallaidh'

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Example #5: JuJu (Justin Adams Juldeh Camara) Mariama Trance



SasaMusicAgency, Uploaded on Apr 11, 2011

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Jola (Diola) Music & Dance (West Africa)'s Hand Held Percussion Instrument

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Update -April 22, 2024

This pancocojams post presents six videos of Jola (Diola) music and dance, with special focus on the clave-like instrument that is played by the female singers/dancers.* Information about the Jola (Diola) people is also included in this post.

I don't know the name of the Jola instrument that I'm referring to as a "clave-like instrument". If you know the name of this instrument, please add it in the comment section of this post. Thanks in advance!

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks to all those who keep the dance and music traditions of Africa alive. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
The original title for this post referred to what I though was the "clave-like" aspect of these instruments. Since publishing that post, I've learned more about "claves" and besides both of these instruments being of African origin and both being percussive instruments that are played throughout the music/dancing, I'm not sure that the Jola instrument were a precursor of claves. 

Here's some information about claves from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claves
"Claves... are a percussion instrument (idiophone), consisting of a pair of short (about 20–30 cm (7.9–11.8 in), thick dowels. Traditionally they were made of wood...When struck they produce a bright clicking noise."

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE JOLA PEOPLE
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jola_people
"The Jola (Diola, in French transliteration) are an ethnic group found in Senegal (where they predominate in the region of Casamance), the Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau. There are great numbers on the Atlantic coast between the southern banks of the Gambia River, the Casamance region of Senegal and the northern part of Guinea-Bissau. The Jola are believed to have preceded the Mande and Fula peoples in the riverine coast of Senegambia and may have migrated into Casamance before the 13th century. The Jola and Serer people with whom they have an ancient relationship with[2] are believed to be some of the oldest historical inhabitants of the Senegambia Region.[3] The Jola language is distinct from the Dioula language of the Dioula (Dyoula) Mande people of the Gambia,
Upper Niger and the Kong highlands of Burkina Faso."

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From http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/legends-spotlight-on-daniel-lamou-jatta-the-sound-of-akonting
..."The Jola, Manjak (Manjaco, Manjago), Bujogo (Bijago), Papel, and Balanta are neighboring rice-farming peoples with similar cultures and social systems. Their traditional village-based agrarian societies are non-hierarchical without the tripartite caste system of their Mande, Wolof, and Fulbe (Fula, Fulani, Peul) neighbors. This being the case, these people have no griot caste nor do they have traditions of professional/semi-professional music-making and praise-singing (i.e. composing and performing laudatory songs for gratuities). Amongst the Jola, Manjak, Bujogo, Papel, and Balanta, playing the lute-- like all other forms of music-making-- is a vernacular social activity open to all, rather than being the exclusive domain of specialist music/word artisans...

While Daniel [Laemouahuma Jatta, the Jola scholar from The Gambia] set about his work to preserve and perpetuate the ekonting in Gambia, the instrument was faring a little better in neighboring Casamance, the crucible of the tradition. Unlike the Gambian Jola, the Jola are the largest ethnic group in Casamance with something like two-thirds of the total population of that region. This is the heartland of the Jola people and culture, especially in Lower Casamance, the region along the southwestern shores of the Casamance River.

According to some tradition-bearers, the actual birthplace of the ekonting is the village of Kanjanka in Lower Casamance...

Thanks to the crucial ground-breaking work of Daniel Jatta and others, there is growing global awareness of ekonting (akonting) and its siblings in the large diverse family of West African folk/artisan lutes, which have been hitherto overlooked. These instruments are just now beginning to get the international recognition and attention they deserve as living ancestors of the banjo. Many museums around the world have updated their collections to include the ekonting and other members of the West African folk/artisan lute family, while banjo historians and ethnomusicologists have begun to broaden the range of their focus to take these instruments.

Author: Oko Drammeh"

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FEATURED VIDEOS
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates with the oldest examples given first.

As somewhat of an aside, notice the number of videos that include the saxophone being played with this traditional music.

Video #1: Mike Bennett presents...Jola dance



Omarmane, Uploaded on May 3, 2008

Captured by Mike Bennett in Kafountine, Senegal. This is the dance style of the Jola tribe.
-snip-
cavaleer2, a commenter wrote "These rhythms are SMOKIN! Love Bugarabou. Respect from USA. That's a touch dance too.”
-snip-
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bougarabou for information about the Jola drums known as "bougarabou".

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Video #2: Mike Bennett presents...more Jola dance



omarmane, Uploaded on Jul 23, 2009

In the beautiful village of Kafountine, Senegal.

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Video #3: Jola at Lamin-Feb 2010



platini64, Uploaded on Apr 7, 2010

Jola music at a wedding in Gambia(Feb 2010). More at www.onegambia.com

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Video #4: Jola Music Performance at The Roots Festival Gambia



HarmattanProductions, Uploaded on Sep 23, 2011

Music Tradition of Jola (Diola) people in Gambia. Filmed at The Roots Festival, Gambia

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Video #5: CASAMANCE - Mariage Diola IgoRama


Tapha Diedhiou, Published on Jan 6, 2013

Mariage de Cheikh Sémou DIEDHIOU et de Rama Dia, oussouye, le 26 décembre 2010.

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Video #6: Traditional African dance. Diola. Cap Skiring. Casamance.Senegal.



Андрей Сапронов, Published on Jan 12, 2014

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Kankouran Masquerade And Female & Male Circumcision

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post presents information about and two video examples of the Kankouran (Kankurang) masquerade that is traditionally central to initiation rites in Senegal and Gambia.

This post also presents information & links about the health risks of female genital circumcision (also known as female genital mutilation) and the health risk of male circumcision when done in certain traditional ways.

I should note that while some articles & videos that I've found connect Kankouran with male circumcision, I've not found any online articles that clearly indicate that Kankouran is associated with female genital circumcision. However, information that I've come across (quotes from which are given below) certainly allude to that connection.

I'm 1000% opposed to female genital circumcision, and I'm equally opposed to certain forms of male circumcision. I believe that the dance and music traditions of a culture can be retained & supported apart from cultural traditions that are harmful to people's health & wellbeing.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, health, sociological, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks to all those who keep the dance and music traditions of Africa alive. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT KANKOURAN MASQUERADE
From http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&u=http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kankurang&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dkankurang%2Bwikipedia%26biw%3D853%26bih%3D579 [translated from Dutch to English...I've made no attempt to edit this to standard American English]
"Kankurang is a mask dance, in which a mask of an animal or scary will essentially be borne. It is an initiation - ritual in Gambia and Senegal. According to tradition, the origin of Kankurang found in Komo, a secret society of hunters whose organization and esoteric practices contributed to the emergence of the Mandinka.

The masks are made of cloth, paper, leaves, bark , grass, animal horns, and combinations thereof. Also, a machete and a stick in the hands worn and the body is colored with vegetable dyes. The masquerades of the Mandinka and Diola are very traditional.

The masked speak in deep voices, proverbs and riddles he communicates with the community. This serves as entertainment for the general public. It also helps in maintaining discipline and protecting members of society from evil spirits and witches .
Moreover masquerade as a link between the human world and the spiritual world. The members of the society show to have the spiritual world through deep respect libations to offer.
There are different forms of Kankurang;
• Ifangbondi: is very dangerous, an invisible spirit can damage culprits, comes only at night;
• Wulengo: protects circumcised youths may not see, against witches, evil spirits and evildoers, children, women and the uninitiated a woman who sees this is barren;
• Jamster: maintaining discipline of the members of society, is performed during weddings, graduations and other ceremonies.

There will be a vigil place and there is a procession through the village. The ritual usually takes place in August and September. Follow Kankurang villagers, they look at his behavior and gestures and perform dances and songs on.

The Kankurang dances staccato and fight with two machetes. The followers are armed with sticks and palm leaves, they beat the rhythm of tom-toms.

The Kankurang teaches young people's cultural identity. The secrets of plants and their medicinal values and hunting techniques are passed.

Since 2005 Kankurang is listed on the list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity."

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From http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/kankouran-show-proves-west-african-dance-company-is-evolving/2012/09/02/98e380ce-f529-11e1-a126-fc5f423715b5_story.html
KanKouran show proves West African dance company is evolving By Pamela Squires, Published: September 2, 2012
"KanKouran West African Dance Company...was formed in 1983 by [artistic director Assane] Konte and former music director Abdou Kounta, who grew up together in Dakar, Senegal. The company takes its name from the Mandingo word “kankouran,” meaning a guide who assists boys’ and girls’ transition into adulthood. Today, the company and its vision of keeping African Americans grounded in their ancestral culture is an important contributor to the District’s unique dance footprint."
-snip-
Italics added to highlight this sentence. Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EysB76SNI8w for a video of this dance company that includes a lengthy summary statement about that group. The dance shown doesn't include the Kankouran masquerade.

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From http://ourforeignserviceadventure.blogspot.com/2013/02/janjanbureh-hippos-crocodiles-and.html [This is an excerpt from a blog about a Westerner traveling in Gambia]
"Around noon we crossed the bridge to the island and soon encountered one very enthusiastic Kankurang. For those of you not familiar, a Kankurang is a man dressed up in a fancy full body suit of dried grass with a creepy looking mask and horns who scares away evil spirits during naming ceremonies (aka circumcision ceremonies for young boys). They generally are seen dancing in the middle of the road and waving machetes, occasionally pretending to stab your car as you drive by. Good times, right?

This particular Kankurang was no different except his tenacity to stay in the road and refuse us passage. Money would have been a suitable option for our freedom but D took the more indignant approach and lightly nudged him with the car until bits of his grass dress came off in the grill. Still waving the machete and momentarily occupied by the car behind us, D was able to make his escape.

After brushing off our run-in because, hey, this is somewhat of a normal occurrence, we made our way to the middle of town and our hotel."

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE HEALTH RISKS OF FEMALE CIRCUMCISION & LINK TO AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE HEALTH RISKS OF MALE CIRCUMCISIONS WHEN DONE IN CERTAIN TRADITIONAL WAYS
http://reproductiverights.org/en/document/female-genital-mutilation-fgm-legal-prohibitions-worldwide
"12.11.08 - What is FGM?
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is the collective name given to a number of cultural practices that involve the partial or total cutting of female genitals. FGM can be performed as early as infancy and as late as age thirty. However, most commonly, girls experience FGM between four and twelve years of age. The origins of FGM remain unclear.

FGM is a Human Rights Violation
FGM violates a number of human rights of women and girls. Since FGM involves the removal of healthy sexual organs without medical necessity and is usually performed on adolescents and girls, often with harmful physical and psychological consequences, it violates the rights to non-discrimination, health, and bodily integrity. Although FGM is not undertaken with the intention of inflicting harm, its damaging physical, sexual, and psychological effects make it an act of violence against women and children. Finally, FGM sometimes threatens the lives"...

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http://goaskalice.columbia.edu/distinction-between-male-and-female-circumcision
"While medical complications are generally rare for boys who experience foreskin circumcision especially in more developed countries, health consequences for all types of FGM are generally more severe for girls. Girls may experience severe pain, shock, hemorrhage, urinary track complications or infections, fever, wound infection, or septicemia as short-term consequences of female circumcision procedures. In the long-term, women may face urethra damage, incontinence, painful sexual intercourse, and/or sexual dysfunction. Infibulation (type III) is considered the worst offender for long-term consequences in the life of the woman, particularly if an infibulated woman attempts vaginal childbirth."

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http://scienceblogs.com/denialism/2008/11/12/why-male-circumcision-and-fema/
“Independent of how you may feel about male circumcision, it does not normally, or even more than very rarely, lead to long-term medical consequences. FGM nearly always does..."

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http://www.theatlantic.com/past/unbound/flashbks/fgm/fgm.htm October 1995 "Female Circumcision Comes to America"

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http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/world/maasai-women-end-traditional-female-circumcision-299742.html Maasai Women End Traditional Female Circumcision By Denise Darcel Epoch Times Staff Created: October 3, 2012 Last Updated: March 13, 2013
[This article provides information about an alternative ceremony for Maasi females that does not involve cutting. Information about female genital circumcision experiences in USA is also included in this article. Here are two quotes from that portion of that article: "New York State has the second largest population of FGM [Female Genital Mutilation] victims next to California, according to the CAGeM website...With the influx of immigrants that come to the United States from countries that continue the practice, girls who become United States citizens are at risk of family pressure to perform their native cultural rites of passage."

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http://2001-2009.state.gov/g/wi/rls/rep/crfgm/10099.htm "The Gambia: Report on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) or Female Genital Cutting (FGC)"
...."Founded in 1991, BAFFROW was established to carry out projects and research in the health and environment areas. It is aimed at community health promotion, along with changing many of the puberty rituals. It also focuses at providing alternate sources of income for excisors.

BAFFROW aims at 100 percent eradication of FGM/FGC while respecting the importance of the social and cultural traditions associated with the rites of passage to womanhood.""
-snip-
Italics are added to highlight this statement as one I absolutely concur with.
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http://www.mrc.ac.za/public/facts19.htm
[This South African article lists the health risks of male circumcision]
..."There are definite risks involved in the surgical procedure of circumcision8. The following complications have been reported:
•Serious infection;
•Severe loss of blood;
•Mutilation;
•Penile amputation; and
•Possible death in extreme cases.

The above mentioned serious complications are due to:
•Poor training of the staff who performed the procedure;
•A lack of appropriate surgical equipment; and
•A lack of patient follow-up."

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FEATURED VIDEOS OF KANKOURAN MASQUERADE:

Video Example #1: Kankouran et couleur au sud du Sénégal [Kankouran and color in southern Senegal]



layeprostudiombour, Published on Dec 22, 2012


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Video Example #2: LE KANKURANG RITE D'INITIATION MANDING [The Manding Initiation Rite]

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CULTURESN, Published on May 2, 2013

Ministère de la Culture et du Patrimoine Historique Classé
Direction du Patrimoine Culturel , République de Gambie
National Concil for Arts and Culture [Ministry of Culture and Historical Heritage
Directorate of Cultural Heritage, Republic of The Gambia
National Concil for Arts and Culture]

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RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/05/mendiani-menjani-manjani-dance-drum.html
"Manjani" is a rites of passage dance in Guinea and Mali that is traditionally associated with female genital circumcision. This dance is very popular among dance troupes in the United States that perform West African dances, although few know about its connection to female circumcision.

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