Soundtracks from films all over the world. Djabote (Senegal, 1992).
Djabote is a 1992 documentary about Senegalese music. The film is directed by Eric Serra and revolves mainly around Doudou N’diaye Rose, one of the world’s greatest sabar players. The sabar is a typically Senegalese drum and is traditionally used by ‘griots’. Of old, griots hold the position of poet, praise singer and musician within the Senegalese culture. He is considered a repository and storyteller of oral traditions and tales. Rose is the child of a griot family as well.
The documentary films various performances on Gorée Island, where not only the drummers of Rose play, but a women’s choir also joins in on the performance. Among other things, Doudou N’diaye Rose has been important to women’s emancipation in Senegal: he was the first to teach his daughters how to play the drums as well. In Senegalese culture, drumming is a man’s prerogative but Rose formed an ensemble with his wives, daughters and granddaughters. The group The Rosettes toured around the world, together with Rose.
A beautiful joining of cultures can be seen in the last half of the documentary: the predominantly Muslim ensemble rehearses together with the Christian Julie Jouga Choir.
Time Table
In the Tropentheater in Amsterdam, classic zombie films will be shown in the months January to March as part of the Vodou exhibition at the Tropenmuseum.
