SOAS Musicology Ser. : Mande Music in Contemporary Mali

Lucy Durn explores three main developments in Mande music in Mali since the 1980s: firstly the rise of the female jeli (jelimuso) as 'star' performer and musical innovator; secondly the emergence of wassoulou music as a new Mande tradition with ancient roots, performed by non-hereditary musicians calling themselves 'songbirds', and thirdly 'art-jeliya' (virtuoso jeli music arranged for the 'cultural spaces' of Bamako) performed by semi-acoustic groups using traditional instruments. Durn explores how song has always been genderized as female in Mande culture and so women have been the designated singers, while men play instruments and recite through the spoken word. The role of women as bearers of the tradition and as innovators of popular culture is made clear.