4.0 out of 5 stars
Captivating vocals & intriguing gurumi by an experienced Nigerian musician, August 28, 2008
This review is from: Guidan Haya (Audio CD)
From Niger, Malam Maman Barka is a teacher, musician and poet who has been performing on his 2-stringed gurumi for over 20 years. The gurumi's body is a calabash shell, and its skin head comes from an iguana. While his music is deeply rooted in the traditions of the Hausa civilization, Barka has composed over 250 new pieces that document life experiences, address contemporary issues, build bridges across cultures, make political statements, and provide optimistic direction to deal with life's struggles. It's understandable how Malam Barka's captivating vocals and intriguing gurumi have built him a strong fanbase among Nigerians. While the musical ambassador has traveled internationally, this is his first album to be released outside of Niger. Accompanied by percussionist Oumarou Adamou on douma and kalongu, Barka's music is being disseminated on the Beauty Saloon label through the efforts of the album's producer Nathaniel Berndt who collected these field recordings on location for our education and enjoyment. I may not be able to speak or understand Barka's language, but I appreciate what he's trying to acccomplish as a contemporary African bard. (Joe Ross)
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
