Tansolé is a Bambara rhythm from Mali. I learned this rhythm (and accompanying dance) in a ‘Guinea-Malinke’ setting: Remember that the Malian drummers usually play with only two drums (on top of each other) and often with no bells!.
Song 1: The hair-pin is missing; everybody help to find it!
Tounouna Bandigi Tounouna, Koundigi Bandigi Tounouna
Nibin sara djonini djonina, Koundigi Bandigi Tounouna
Nibin sara ‘name’ della, Koundigi Bandigi Tounouna
Nibin sara ‘name’ della, Koundigi Bandigi Tounouna
Nibin sara ‘name’ della, etc.
Song 2: It is a song from the mountains (or a rhythm of the mountain). It is used when a leading group of young women transfer their positions to a younger group. The song that can accompany this rhythm sings about ‘a big tree; the tree of our ancestors; we respect this tree!’ The bold text is sung by the group, the cursive text is sung by the solist:
jeelieba jee ee jeelibajee ee, ee jeelibie do ma die ja
doekoema koroba dee jeelibajee, jee do mi do ja die ja
no go mi ma re djagolo ba meniri djigidie, sigidie ee, ee sigidie kobala
djoego digi djogoro ba miniri kibidi, sigidie ee, ee sigidie kobala
ma mara djogolo ba miniri kibidi, sigidie ee, ee sigidie kobala
djoego digi djogoro ba miniri kibidi, sigidie ee, ee sigidie kobala