Muziekpublique

Courses overview

N’goni (kamélé)

Aboubakar Traoré

MABO - Lycée Maria-Boodschap - Rue de la Braie 22, 1000 Bruxelles

the course

The n’goni is the traditional Malian guitar. It has its origins in the ancient Mandingo kingdom, which now corresponds to West Africa. It is mainly played in Mali, Guinea Conakry, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire. The term n’goni actually refers to several similar instruments that are lutes or harps, all cousins of the kora.

Originally, around the 12th century, it was known as the “donso/dozo ngoni”, literally the n’goni of the hunters and was made from a gourd. The instrument was then used exclusively during ceremonies. It was only in the 20th century that local musicians decided to add strings to the donso n’goni to make it more popular and easier to play. The kamélé n’goni (“n’goni for youngsters”) was born. Today, most n’goni have between 8 and 12 strings and are tuned by voice.

These courses introduce you to the rich musical tradition from West Africa. You will not only learn to play the n’goni, but also learn more about the culture and history of the instrument.

Looking for an instrument? The teacher has several instruments available to rent. Contact us at cours@muziekpublique.be for more info.

The class will be taught by Aboubakar Traoré. If he’s on tour, Olivier Stroobant, Ngoni player from the group Safar République, will replace him.

Aboubakar Traoré

Aboubakar Traoré is from Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s second-largest city. Burkina is a country where music plays an important role in everyday life. Aboubakar taught himself to play ngoni and to sing. Today, he is recognised as a prodigy of the kamélé ngoni and an exceptional singer. He is a specialist in the traditional repertoire of the Mandingo griots, paying tribute to the elders who have left their mark on the history of Africa, and of his homeland in particular.

Aboubakar is a creative artist who has travelled extensively throughout Europe, sharing his knowledge through concerts and workshops. He regularly teaches Kamélé n’goni and traditional singing courses for beginners and advanced students. From Belgium to Italy, through France, the Netherlands and Germany, he develops his lessons and his style in a relaxed atmosphere.

Aboubakar founded the group Aboubakar Traoré & Balima with several Belgian musicians in 2016, which was nominated for the Octaves de la Musique 2021 with its debut album “Tama Tama”. The group cultivates its originality by fusing traditional music with contemporary sounds such as hip-hop and jazz, without turning its back on West African culture. Aboubakar will also share this fusion, in which he specialises, with his students.