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"Rise Up" by Barabajaba.

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This is an amazing audio and notation encyclopedia of every djembe and dun dun part for 50 Rhythms!

“Music In Mali: Life Is Hard, Music Is Good” Movie preview

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I am very happy and excited to tell you about an amazing new film documentary by Aja Salvatore called “Music In Mali: Life Is Hard, Music Is Good”. This feature-length documentary is about the musicians, dancers and everyday people of Mali who are creating inspiring heartfelt music in some of the most difficult living conditions of West Africa. [...]

Mali Djembe Master Drummer Aruna SIdibe & Brulye Doumbia

Aruna Sidibe and Brulye, my two teachers in Mali West Africa

Mali Djembe Master Drummer Aruna SIdibe & Brulye Doumbia *(Dununs) perform traditional West African djembe rhythms from the world drumming recording session for the Old Master CD on www.earthcds.com

Mali Grand Masters!!! Djembe class with Brulye and Aruna: Mendiani

Aruna Sidibe and Brulye, my two teachers in Mali West Africa

Aruna and Brulye teach Michael P Mendiani solo technique at a djembe class at Centre Togola in the Sabalibougou district of Bamako Mali. Drum class and djembe class is held here every day of the week. If you want to study djembe in Mali, this is the place to go for a djembe lesson or african dance class. These guys and their students really play djembe well! Very inspiring drumming!

Super hot Mali djembe and drums, live recording and video!

“Young Guns” #2 recording session. Some of Bamako , Mali’s finest young musicians perform live djembe music. This piece is “Danza” (Mali) also known as Diansa in Guinee. This group is led by Siaka Doumbia on lead with Sekou on 2nd djembe , “MC” on konkoni and Morike on dunun.

African dance: Mali, “SUNU” Djembe Drums Dance and Chants

African dance class by Michael Pluznick. Djembe music with Dancers Ami Doumbia left and Malodone right) from the award winning Santogoola community center and local group in the Sabaliboogou district of Bamako chant traditional songs and perform traditional based djembe muisc and dance choreography to the Sunu djembe rhythym in Bamako Mali while accompanied by djembe grandmaster Aruna, djembe master Brulye, djembe fola Siaka and dunun fola Kaliefa, 4 different generations of Mali [...]

BOBO MUSIC OF MALI Released by earthcds

BOBO MUSIC OF MALI Released by earthcds partners. Recorded and produced by Michael Pluznick Audio CD: 74 minutes – 13 tracks

The music for this CD was made at Centre Togola, the local community center, outside Sabalibougou. It is run by by director Kareem Togola. ‘Bougou’ means ‘village’ in Bombara language, although it is located in a city district inside a bustling marketplace on the outskirts of Bamako, Mali, West Africa.

The community [...]

All about Mali Didadi (Didadee) music: dance to the drum!

The music for this CD was made at Centre Togola, the local community center, run by director Kareem Togola. It is located outside Sabalibougou. ‘Bougou’ means ‘village’ in Bambara language, although it is located in a city district inside a bustling market place on the outskirts of Bamako, Mali, West Africa.

The community center houses local dancers, drummers and musicians, most of whom play in the center’s award-winning group. Many famous district groups [...]

All about “Didadi (Didadee) Music of Mali”

MUSIC OF MALI: DIDADEE Featuring Sumba Togola and Friends Released by earthcds partners. Recorded and produced by Michael Pluznick Audio CD: 62 minutes – 7 tracks

Didadee singer Sumba Togala

The music for this CD was made at Centre Togola, the local community center, run by director Kareem Togola. It is located outside Sabalibougou. ‘Bougou’ means ‘village’ in Bambara language, although it is located in a city district inside a bustling market place [...]

Mali Suku (Soli) djembe solo technique class

Here is my Mali Suku (Soli) djembe solo technique class with master Aruna Sidibe in Bamako Mali, West Africa. I am reciting  back to my teacher specific djembe phrases or “techniques” which are age old, and played by all drummers who play traditional Mali west african djembe drums.

djembe drum facebook

I have started a Djembe Drum group on Facebook!

Daily practice

A good friend and long time drummer recommends that students play every day. Some people think that means they have to sit around for hours at a time but he say’s even five minutes to connect with your instrument (in this case the djembe drum) makes all the difference in the world. You are building a relationship!

Another teacher from long ago, Les Lumley from the group, “Ghetto Mysticism” in Boston say’s, “if you [...]