Gnasso

G Gnasso is a balafon rhythm of the Bwa or Bwaba from Mali / Burkina Faso. Gnasso (also found as: Gnjasso, pronunciation ‘njasso’) is the brewer and pourer of the locally brewed beer; “Dolo” also called “Tjappallo“. The “Dolotière” is a Djoula-French word for the female brewer. Gnasso is the Bwaba word for “dolotière”. Gna = beer.
A rich client of the cabaret (café) normally gives away many rounds. However, one day he has no money. The Gnasso decides to give it for free that day. However, this makes the customer so tipsy that he becomes annoying and seriously insults her. (French expression: “moi, j’ai m’en fou”). The “dolotière” does not respond because the next day he returns – with money – to her. The song says:

Hey female beer brewer; what you say to me; I don’t care!
even if you give me free “dolo”; It makes no difference!
even the whole audience insults me; I don’t care!
(moi, j’ai m’en fou)

Gnasso -o mè ma omana gnasso na
Gnasso -o mè ma omana gnasso na
Ha dee ba tou-a a-mè
mè ma omana gnasso na

There are seven exercises to work towards the (tricky) pattern A. The simplified pattern A1 can be used to familiarize yourself with the number before starting with A2. (Pattern A1 by myself)

136 bpm Pattern A

152 bpm Arrangement

152 bpm Pattern A

172 bpm Arrangement

172 bpm Pattern A

185 bpm Arrangement

185 bpm Pattern A

Sources:

Youssouf & Kassim Keita, Konsankuy, Mali 2012, Youssouf Keita, Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso,  January 2017.