Djelidon, Djelifoli, Lamba or Sanja (the last one means Happy New Year in the Bambara language) are all designations for dance wit Malian origin, that was traditionally performed by the djeli, the griot (don is dance). .It was accompanied by the balafon or kora. Nowadays more drums are used and also played by the djembé ensemble.
In Mali normally is played with only two douns. In Guinea sometimes a third (doun) pattern is added for kenkeni or another instrument.
Malian rhythms often start slowly (with a song) and speed up to accompany the dance. In the slow part there is time for micro timing; ‘to pull some of the pulses together’ (Read more about micro timing on the Djembémande website.). The solo-phrases are short and with an accent op de 7th puls, within the second measure (in the Lamba-variant that is). Two songs to sing with Djelidon:
Ee, dja lia aa aa aa, ahla leke dje lia aa
tama filatara a djaliam, tama filatara a djalia
tama filatara a djalia, tama filatara a djalia
nemani fourou sakungdong, nemani kanou sakungdong, djeliajéé kobajéé