Hanzounou

H Hanzounou is een Bwaba balafon piece about the young woman (Hanzounou) who is approached by a boy. The young woman firmly rejects his advances. Is it a life lesson that women can say “no” in such situations?

Hanzounou bwe wa vè da
Mè hini ma bwa yira lé

Hanzounou bwe wa le yo
Mè to hini ma bwa yaro wo

Boy says, “Young woman! Come to me’
Girl says, “No boy! I’m not coming to you! “

Boy says, “Young woman come on, let’s dance”
Girl says, “No! I’m not following that boy because he’s not serious “

For the melody line I wrote out several variations that I came across to a line of four columns. The basis is actually one column, in which variations in the timing of harmony beats by the soloist (▲ and ✱) are performed. Make your own variation changes!

Demonstration during workshop in Konsankuy, Mali 2012 

152 bpm Pattern A

152 bpm Arrangement

189 bpm Pattern A

189 bpm Arrangement

201 bpm Pattern A

201 bpm Arrangement

Sources:

Youssouf & Kassoum Keita, Konsankuy, Mali 2012..