In Griot Time

Posted by Rikki Dynamite Sun, 24 Jun 2007 07:17:00 GMT

I've been listening to this CD for about 5 years now. One day a couple weeks ago a live track by Lobi Traore suddenly lodged itself in my head and I decided to finally read the book.

I've been wanting to get a better understanding of the music of Africa as well as the culture and history in general, and this book seemed like a good way to get started. Banning Eyre is a guitar player who lived and studied guitar for several months with Djelimady Tonkara in Bamako, Mali. Djelimady is one of the greatest guitarists in Africa and has played with the Super Rail Band in Bamako for decades.

In Griot Time gives an intimate look at the life of one musician family in Bamako. Even though it takes place during some extraordinary circumstances (an exceptionally wealthy Malian returns to Bamako while Eyre is there and causes enormous disturbance to everyone's lives) it feels like you really get under people's skin a bit and understand their daily lives and the world they live in. Very highly recommended. I guarantee you'll want more of the music on the CD once you give the music a listen.