Soli Lent (Djembe & Dunun Demo)

Ethnic: Malinké
Region: Northeast Guinea
Like Soli Rapide, Soli Lent is played during the ceremony for the circumcision of the young boys. Mamady uses the words ‘lent’ and ‘rapide’ to differentiate the rhythms. In French, ‘lent’ means slow and ‘rapide’ means fast. Soli Lent is a binary rhythm and Soli Rapide is a ternary rhythm. Traditionally it is the wom- en who begin the music by starting to sing. If they sing the song for Soli Lent, it is this rhythm that is played. If they sing the song for Soli Rapide, the rhythm Soli Rapide would be played instead. Often, the singers use Soli Lent so the older women can dance. They sing Soli Rapide so the young adults (men and women) can dance.