|
|
 The sabar is by far the most common instrument in Senegal. It belongs to the Wolof Tribe. The sabar has become the backbone of almost every Senegalese music group. Contemporary Senegalese popular and semi-traditional music is generally designated as "mballax," named for a family of traditional sabar dance rhythms ubiquitous in Senegalese music. You can hear it at all most every family gathering, Catholic Church meetings, political rallies, Baay-Fall Islamic meetings, and marketplaces. Most all sabar drumming is accompanied by dancing and usually takes place for special occasions and festivals including births, baby naming ceremonies, weddings, holidays and other special celebrations. In addition, sabar drumming is often played for wrestling matches with each wrestler having his own special rhythm.
A group of sabars is an essential ingredient in all such music. The sabar familty is composed of Nder, Mbengmbeng, Gorong Yegeul, gorong Talmbat and the Lamb. Each of them has a particular sound different from the others. The Wolof took the sabar from The Serer who copied it from the Mandinko. |
|
