Reviews for Chippewa Music

The average rating for Chippewa Music based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2009-05-04 00:00:00 John Keefe Unpretentious memoir of white American journalist/guitarist's 7-month stay in Mali. Author tells it straight, has deep regard for Malian music, but doesn't let that overwhelm the narrative. Still, book is a juicy meal for African music geeks, not the least because it's half a gossip rag on a griot family from the suburbs of Bamako. Turns out that's the way you want to read about Africa, as its literary reputation for otherness proceeds it and a metric shit-ton of books like this have the author's disorientation on full display with only nominal attempts at characterization or real narrative drive. Author has different take on the deal. He moved to Lafiabougou to learn Manding guitar from Djelimady Tounkara, lead guitarist for Bamako's big deal Rail Band. What you're hearing about is his nightly guitar lessons with Djelimady and level-headed excursions into Bamako's music scene. This is reportage, which isn't to say author doesn't have a colorful, and wicked informative, story to tell. Immersed in the world of the praise-singing (jeliya) griot clans of Bamako, author's moral antennae gets traffic when he tries to parse the relationship the griot, who makes his/her banks praising wealthy noblemen by tying them and their ancestors to the proud history of Mali, and his/her patron. The most renowned of these patrons is the astonishing Babani Sissoko, who is actually of the griot caste, but plays the role of nobleman when he surrounds himself with more talented griots who all sing his praise. One of these griots, author takes some time to point out, is Salif Keita, a member of Mali's noble caste who found his way to music as the front man for the Rail Band. Author is at pains to choose sides when he considers the march of modernity in Mali, but he doesn't let this turn into a wankfest about musical or cultural "authenticty," praises be. His most astute bit of analysis comes when he adopts a Bambara proverb as a metaphor for an American who decides to step outside his culture and learn the technical, superficial aspects of another: No matter how long a piece of wood floats in the river, it will never be a crocodile. In lesser hands, this would be a wooden book about trying, and failing, to become an amphibious reptile.

Review # 2 was written on 2019-12-27 00:00:00 Bryan Beurskens Yes! A book that sounds like it stems from diligent journal keeping whilst spending 6 months with heavy Malian guitarists and musicians. Not an all positivity-glazed report but an educating and engaging sharing of a unique experience.