Music of the Two Worlds: Arabic and Black African
Mauritania, at the crossroads of the Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa, possesses a unique music that reflects the meeting between Arabic traditions (Moors) and African ones (Soninké, Wolof, Peul). This cultural hybridization gives rise to singular musical styles.
The ghottra and tichiki: Black African heritage
The black peoples of Mauritania (Soninké, Wolof, Peul) maintain African musical traditions. The ghottra (or ghantara) is a popular festive music, played with percussion and wind instruments, accompanying weddings and major community ceremonies. The Peul use the xalam (monochord violin) and epic chants to accompany historical narratives. The Soninké communities maintain a rich tradition of djembés and balafons.
The hdhoha: music of the black desert
The hdhoha (or hadhara) is an emblematic Mauritanian musical style, characterized by its slow and deep rhythms that evoke the desert sand. This genre is accompanied by complex percussion and chants that navigate between northern Arabic and southern African influences. The instruments include cylindrical drums, lutes, and skin percussion.
The ma’roufa: poetic chants of the desert
The ma’roufa (or maerfofa) is a sung poetic form proper to the Mauritanian tradition, centered on texts in Hassani Arabic and Peul. Singers accompany their verses with the ijel (monochord violin with mane) and traditional percussion. The ma’roufa is often played during major religious festivals and community celebrations.
Traditional Mauritanian Instruments
- Xalam / Oud — monochord lute and large Mauritanian lute
- Ijel — Mauritanian monochord violin with mane
- Ghottara / Ghantara — percussion ensemble and wind instruments for festivals
- Tama / Tami — Mauritanian hourglass drum (talking drum)
- Bass / Tamim — cylindrical drum used in ceremonies
- Mauritanian Oud — long-necked Arabo-Mauritanian lute
References
[1] « Music of Mauritania », Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Mauritania. [2] « Mauritania », Afropop Worldwide, http://www.afropop.org/explore/country_info/ID/12/Mauritania/.
