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Name: Mande jeli ensemble

Geographic Region: Africa

Country of origin: Mali

Subregion: western Africa

Climatic type: Savannah

Classification: Multi Classed Ensemble

Ensembles:

• Mande drumming

Related Instruments:

• Kora

Author: Eric Charry
           

Jeli | References | Discography

Jeli

"Jeli" refers to Maninka hereditary professional musicians and oral historians in Mali and Guinea (in the Senegambia Mandinka dialect they are known as "jali"). They have the exclusive right to play three melodic instruments: kora, bala, and ngoni (pronounced nkoni or koni in related dialects). Jelis are also known as "griot," although they believe this to be a French term, and it can take on pejorative connotations referring to begging or empty praise for money.

References

Charry, Eric. 2000. Mande Music: Traditional and Modern Music of the Maninka and Mandinka of Western Africa. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Discography

Kouyate, Kandia. 2002. Biriko. Stern's Africa, STCD 1095.

Diabate, Kasse Mady. 2003. Kassi Kasse: Mande Music from Mali. Hemisphere, 7243 543713 2 5.

Last Modified: 05-May-2005