The Firdu Fula drums are associated primarily with the Mandinka,
the Gambia's majority ethnic group-but according to oral history,the Firdu Fula played them first.
The Firdu Fula play the same set of the,tuned higher-to-lower, drums,as the Mandinka,
but with a completely different style of drumming and singing.
Like the Mandinka, Firdu Fula drummers play interlocking rhythms that have been crafted
over generations to weave music from the drums' different tones.The three drums are
tuned to answer each other by virtue of their size.
Two drummers create a supporting rhythm on the two smaller drums, while a third drummer
improvises a solo on a tall and strikingly slender drum, called the sabaro.
The soloist has great artistic liberty, but respects the traditional style of each rhythm.
Each drummer creates a variety of tones by striking the drum with one bare hand and a short
stick, though for some rhythms, the supporting drummers switch to using two bare hands.
In addition, each drummer wears a wrist bracelet of iron bells.
Drums of the Firdu Fula, recorded in Serekunda,the Gambia,features
a popular ensemble from Serekunda,led by Amadu Bamba.
The singers are led by Jaiteh Baldeh
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