I present to you the rhythm Donba / Soli Rapide. #1 of a three part series ✊ ❤️
Right of Passage
Take your life by the reins and manifest the reality you’ve been dreaming of !
•Courage
•Determination
•Excitement
•Faith
•Devotion
These are just some of the virtues you will need to forge your way through the mystery which is life. Domba shines out like a lighthouse guiding your way.
Who is this rhythm for?
Anyone who wishes to pass from where they are to where they want to be. From weakness to strength, from distress to surety, from confusion to clarity. Donba is the ferryman who can take you to the far shore however you must pay him. With what? With your concentration and devotion, faith and determination.
Only you can decide if you have the right of passage, the choice is yours to make.
Origin:
Sikasso Region
Sikasso Region (Bambara: Sikaso Dineja) is the southernmost region of Mali. The region’s capital city, Sikasso, is the country’s second-largest city and is growing rapidly due to people fleeing the violence in Côte d’Ivoire to the south. Major ethnic groups include the Senoufo, known for masks and reverence for animals, the Samago, known for being Mali’s best farmers, and the main ethnic group in Mali, the Bambara people. The local economy is based on farming and the Sikasso, which receives more rain than any other Malian region, is known for its fruits and vegetables.
About the rhythm Donba / Soli Rapide
Donba inspires courage, determination and fortitude. The fundamental rhythm is in 6/8 timing with a straight forward stickado feeling. The solo varies between a standard triplet feeling into a 12 beat cross-rhythm which cuts across the time creating tension in its apparent contradiction to the main beat.
Traditional Context:
Soli Family 1 : (see above Mali: Sikasso region) originates from the Faranah , Mandiana and Kankan regions in Guinea . It is played to accompany circumcision. Many different regions have their own version of Soli and it is not always played for circumcision. (Related to Soukou and Balasonde’ )
Soli 2 [ Maninka ]: played throughout the Maninka country. The soli is specifically for all circumcision or excision events. Circumcision is a ritual operation performed when boys are about seven years old. When the family councils in a given village have posted the list of candidates to be promoted that year and set the date of the ceremonies, the preparations can begin. The mothers prepare the traditional dress. The fathers proceed with consultations to elect the wise man who will watch over the circumcised boys throughout their initiation, which lasts four weeks. In the public gathering area, singing and drums call people to dance the very popular solisi or furasi . In Mali , this rhythm is also called suku or fura .
Soukou 3 [ Bamana ]: similar to Soli in Guinea , [this rhythm originating in lower] Mali is played prior to the rite of circumcision, which begins the male initiation process.
What is included:
Intro to ternary timing, and the three placements. In this video I carefully break down and explain these important rudiments and how they support your playing
•1st of the three placements.
•2nd of the three placements
•3rd of the three placements
Intro to Pa Ti Pa. 5 ways to play the central djembe accompaniment. In this video I offer a step by step guide on how to play each version of Pa Ti Pa
•1st version
•2nd version
•3rd version
•4th version
•5th version
Intro to the two Bass djembe parts. In this video I explain a bit about why you would want djembes which have different tuning and show 2 versions of the bass djembe part. A simple version and a advanced
•1st version
•2nd version
Intro to the primary sangbon part with bell. In this video I offer careful instruction on how to play the central bass drum part and bell. Sangbon speaks the the rhythm offering guidance to the dancers, accompaniment and soloists.
•Sangbon part
40 minute group lesson summing up all parts taught in the course with questions. Test your skills, can you follow along at a brisk pace? Have you practiced and memorized all parts? Use this lesson as a yardstick to check your progress
All videos are downloadable for easy access and practice. The intros are designed to offer the student a in depth study and explanation of each part wile the following 5 min videos are there for quick access to each part which was taught in the intro. For best results sit in a quiet place and watch the intro for each section. Carefully study the tablature which is included. Match the tab with each part shown in the video. Gain intellectual understanding than bring that understanding into your body through practicing on the drum. Keep yourself honest by playing with a metronome. Once you’ve gained a fair amount of confidence download the 5min versions of each rhythm, go somewhere you can be loud to practice on your djembe full force.
Further thoughts:
You never know what life is going to throw at you. Will you have the courage and faith to foray into unknown territories ? When faced with the mystery will you retract in fear ever clinging to your comfort zone or take the leap ? When playing Donba we have a opportunity to express the complex of feelings which may arise from such encounters and engage with them in a playful, exploratory way so that when unexpected events happen in life we recognize the signs and signals. Being more fully informed we can act directly with confidence, never skipping a beat or perhaps skipping a beat or even overlaying our own cycle over the primary rhythm creating a sub-cycle within the primary meter. The point I’m trying to make here is what you learn in drumming, you also learn for life ❤️
My story:
I was about to buy a gun. I was living in Ohio at the time, the year was 2000.
Consumed by depression my life felt like a burden, the outer world was full of peril, walking down the street felt like a risk. It had been like this since I was young.
Only recent was my initial awakening. To little, to late so it seemed. That outpouring of white light had swept away the darkness and yet the thick clouds had rolled back in suffocating and dampening my spirit.
Perhaps it was just a dream. One more of lives cruel jokes. I was a lonesome traveler seeking to hitch a ride on that elusive upward spiral.
My dear friend Dave said to me; “ come to Boulder ! Just come. Ohio is not healthy for you.”
I was locked in a state of trauma induced panic which spanned years. Frozen; faith and trust were foreign concepts to me. Drumming was the only practice I had which offered me periodic solace.
Dave; talented and musical seemed to float just a few inches above the dark heaviness which was my usual reality. Always linked into that upward spiral he would reach down and give me a lift.
He said many things about mountains, flowing streams, rivers and breathtaking views.
Accustomed to my sickness I was hesitant to go. Then he said “ Tim; you can play drums on pearl street anytime of day or night “ I lit up ? met his gaze and said “ let’s go! “
Wow! Boulder was indeed everything Dave had said it was. Sure my life still sucked but at least I got to suffer in a beautiful place. Working full time at 7-11 wasn’t so bad when you had a view of the Rocky Mountains ? ☀️
Every once in a wile this dude would come strolling into 7-11. Dready cat by the name of Jason. With his djembe on his shoulder he’d be in there looking for evening snacks.
I’d always hook him up with free stuff. We would chat some and he’d be on his way. I was inspired by this guy ✨
He was a one man band and would have crowds of people gathered round on pearl street losing themselves to his djembe rhythms ? ?
I, a novice was hungry for knowledge.
He said he’d teach me. The agreement was simple; meet him everyday at 12pm, we play and he keeps the tips ? ?
One sunny weekend I had a couple days off. We were hanging out arguing about the meaning of life as we often did.
Backed against a brick wall literally and figuratively I had no retort to his query; “ your not happy bro! You work full time at a job you hate just so you can afford a tiny apartment on the hill. I live on my own terms embracing the rhythm of life, wrapped in its dynamic flow, held and supported. There is no comparison. You are a fool, living a meaningless existence. Do you deny it ?”
It was a harsh thing to say but he was right and I knew it. I stopped arguing and humbly stated “ you are right. I’m done arguing. Honestly I don’t know what to do. I see you living homeless but never worried about where you may sleep. Jobless but never hungry. Apparently directionless but people are following you. It’s irrational, it doesn’t make sense but I’m done with the sensible way. It makes promises but never delivers and offers a false sense of security in exchange for my soul. I am not happy. If you would please tip me off. What can I do to unburden myself ?” ?♂️
He said “ quit your job, give away everything you own. Reducing your belongings to a single backpack, take your drum on your shoulder and be free. Humble yourself to the flow of life and it will never lead you astray “
I was faced with a choice: keep on with the standard of mediocrity or change the beat all together.
There was no hesitation for me. It was clear that continuing down the usual path brought me only suffering and despair. The energy behind the choice was electric ⚡️ , I felt as though I was on the precipice of some grand adventure ?. I didn’t know what would happen but I recognized this feeling. It was the feeling of being alive.
I gave everything away, even my money. I apologized tearfully to my landlord and supervisor. With a look of confusion on their face I tried to explain that I needed to leave this place. Keep the deposit, forget my last check. Each item given was a release from this mess, take it ! Take it all ! I’m done, so very done. Thankfully ? . 48hrs later I was light as a feather, free
This isn’t your typical get rich quick story and I’m not advocating charity. This is a story of one man’s quest to release himself from the burden of a life half lived. An awakening from a deep slumber
A reevaluation of value
What is gold in comparison to friendship ? Security compared to faith ? Mediocrity compared to creativity ?
I was just a number, a nobody.
The drum called to me and I followed. Listening to her call I was able to step more fully into myself.
Djembe brought me back into my body from years of dissociation. The instruction was simply to be present and strike the drum. So simple. So effective. So necessary
Do you hear the call ? I welcome and urge you to step out, step up and explore your creative potential ✨
– Timothy
