GUIDE OF SÉDHIOU - Cesie

MUSIC AND DANCING
"Allahu akbar", sing the Talibe, the religious students, during
the religious singing, praising the uniqueness of God
"Everything's gonna be allright", sings Bob Marley out of the
speakers of a passing motortaxi.
"L'Afrique, c'est mon pays..", sings a local visitor of a popular
bar called Mancedou.
Sédhiou without music would be like a rainbow without its
colours, representing the very mixed and contradictory society
itself. Music is simply everywhere and not only as a nice
background entertainment, but as an essential part of every
single social activity. And this has nothing to do with passive
listening or watching: people make music and dance
themselves. And they don't hesitate to invite you to sing and
dance with them. So you better be ready!
The origins of Senegalese music root in the singing of the
griots, praise singers, who used to glorify kings and princes.
They used to be the only ones to perform music and
transported history, genealogies and stories with its help.
Nowadays they are invited to occasions like marriages, where
they shout and sing out the last pieces of advice to the just
married couple, usually accompanied by the Kora, a harp-lute
with 21 strings and a big hole in the middle where people
throw money in.
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