Landa

L (Tonou Bwa) Landa is a rhythm and song from Burkina Faso; from the Bwaba (part of the Bobo population). It is about the culture, the customs.

Ho Sam ba Njou be – e awa Landa le min ya mou – ou lee
Ho Sam ba Njou be – e awa Landa le mi bene
Ho Sam ba Njou be – e awa Landa le
A min sabere ne awa tjien ho ma pa rie

Ho Sam ba Njou be – e awa wabara le min ya mou – ou lee
Ho Sam ba Njou be – e awa wabara le mi bene
Ho Sam ba Njou be – e awa wabara le
A min sabere ne awa tjien ho ma pa rie

Ho ennine ounou be awa hanna le min ya mou – ou lee
Ho ennine ounou be awa hanna le mi bene
Ho ennine ounou be awa hanna le min be ne
A min sabere ne awa tjien ho ma pa rie

The Daba (heel) is part of our culture; do you understand?
The Daba is part of our culture; do you understand?
The Daba is part of our culture
Recognise its value and show solidarity

(The second and third stanzas, instead of the Daba, talk about ‘spinning cotton’ and ‘…..’ respectively.

132 bpm Arrangement

132 bpm Pattern A

148 bpm Arrangement

148 bpm Pattern A

164 bpm Arrangement

164 bpm Pattern A

180 bpm Arrangement

180 bpm Pattern A

Sources:

Youssouf Keita, Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, January 2013 and 2022.
(For Pattern D, I was inspired by a video recording of Youssouf’s playing, in which he improvised a new pattern).