Buba is a composer, songwriter, percussionist and musical arranger. Sometimes referred to as the spirit of rhythm or the devil of rhythm, he is both. Buba sings and records his songs in Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, Creole and English, reading poems and telling stories of his homeland and his people. Buba also plays rhythm guitar and sings lead vocal with his six-piece Barrawulo Band, made up of experienced African and European musicians.
Buba travels extensively in Europe, Asia and Africa to perform at concerts, radio and television shows. His base is Berlin, where for the past 15 years he has been thrilling fans at festivals, clubs and music cafés performing both with his band and as a solo performer.
Buba has created his own African beat. This beat is called Barrawulo, meaning farmers land in Mandinka. Singing, dancing and drumming are integral to Barrawulo and it has come to symbolise the vitality of Gambian culture. Barrawulo music is lively and uplifting. It was originally played for labourers to make their work easier. Buba draws on traditional folk rhythms and fuses them with contemporary lyrics. The music is by its nature participatory, enticing the audience to join in - one must dance on hearing it.
Buba has been leading African rhythm workshops in schools and colleges on hand, mouth and body rhythm as well as African singing for ten years.
African Acoustic Live Performances
Buba is available for performances of all kinds during Black History Month, October 2006.
Buba’s African acoustic solo performances will bring a vibrant mix of his own unique brand of West African music to audiences in small to medium sized venues across the region. Each performance will bring together songs, poetry and story telling from Buba’s home country the Gambia in West Africa.
“Direct Sound, Body and Mouth Rhythm” will leave people gasping as Buba creates music and rhythm without instrumentation, producing music with his hands, body and mouth (think of an African Bobby McFerrin!)
The rhythms Buba uses are based on the culture of the Mandingo people whose descendants can be found in many parts of Africa today. Producing sounds through the hands, body and mouth is a traditional way of making music and communicating messages among Mandinka people.
African Rhythm Workshops
Buba is available to deliver African rhythm workshops during Black History Month, October 2006 for groups of all ages and abilities.
The aim of the workshops is to have fun producing rhythms and music; to provide a spontaneous space where participants can express themselves and create music. Participants will broaden their understanding of creativity and self-expression and develop their co-operation and communication skills. We also aim to give participants in the workshops an appreciation of the role music plays in cultures different to their own.
Each workshop is tailored to suit the interests and abilities of the participants’ abilities, backgrounds and age.
Overview of workshop content:
- A discussion of West African history, culture and oral traditions.
- An introduction to traditional Mandinka songs and singing in local West African languages.
- A demonstration of hand, body and mouth percussion.
- Instruction in African rhythm using hand, body and mouth percussion.
- A short performance by Buba, playing guitar and singing. The participants will be encouraged to join.
- Opportunities to question Buba.
Each workshop will be approximately two hours long.
For a demo CD and more information about workshops and performances in October 2006 please email Paul Pryce.
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