| Summary: |
This chapter explores the layered meanings and special place in the Mande jeli (hereditary musician) repertoire of a piece of music which for sake of clarity, will be referred to either as Soliyo, or in its translation as “Calling the horses’ (though there are several regional variants of the title). In the search to understand its unique features, we link it to the world of a forgotten and little known ruler in central Mali from the time of the Mali Empire (c 1235-1469). Some recent archeological data is consulted, which provide fascinating insights that help unlock the mystery of this obscure musical artifact and its reference to horses.
The song ‘Calling the horses’ holds an important key to the way that the music of Mande jelis evokes a sense of history and identity, and has stood the test of time.
|
