Woro Ma Bwe

W(Shakara) Woro Ma Bwe is a rhythm of the Bwa or Bwaba from Burkina Faso / Mali. The titel sais: ‘Moment of happiness’ because it is raining. It is a rhythm that fits the harvest festival. The song is old, but the balafon accompaniment is from the end of the 20th century (by Zouratié and Daga Coulibali).
The song is an interpretation of a song from the Nigerian Fela Kuti (Shakara). First the “traditional” version of the song. Iba Diabaté has made a “modern” version with the same song. The song tells that it is a good evening (“mi ma domè“) because the rain is (has been) good for the harvest. In the second line you are told that the way in which the “shakara” dance is danced, that the bellies are well filled (otherwise it would not be possible to dance so exuberantly / nicely). In the third line a woman says: “Hey you young guy, you look at me, do you want me?

e-yo-o wa wa woro ma bwé, mi [balafon answers: ✱ . ✱ . ✱ ]
e-yo-o wa wa woro ma bwé mi ma do-mè
e-yo-o o ji ma a wa yo shakara to wa you be dou
e-yo-o o ji ma a wa yo shakara to wa you be tsja
e-yo-o o ji ma a wa yei te ke to fa na wa
e-yo-o o ji ma a wa yei te kri to fa na wa
e-yo-o ja ro zo o den a ta o mi ni lee

Youssouf Keita plays

on a penta-balafon in A-major

176 bpm Arrangement

176 bpm Pattern A

205 bpm Arrangement

205 bpm Pattern A

217 bpm Arrangement

217 bpm Pattern A

Lied

Sources:

Youssouf & Kassoum Keita, Konsankuy, Mali 2011.
Youssouf Keita, Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, January 2016 / 2017.