Moribayassa from the Malinke tribe as transcribed in Larry Morris' rhythm catalog (Originally from Mamady Keita)

If you are unfamiliar with west African Djembe drumming, it will help to know a bit about the accompanying instruments. This arrangement is for three djembes and three cylinder shaped drums (known collectively as djun djuns), each with an iron bell attached. The large drum is the dundunba, the medium sized drum is the songba, and the smallest drum is the kenkeni. These drums lay down an important foundation, and although the parts aren't flashy, they are every bit as crucial as the djembe parts.

In addition to the two djembe parts below, there is a lead djembe drummer who "floats" as it were, changing his parts to suit the demands of the moment and the requirements of the dancers.

B= Bass O=open tone S= slap M= muffled tone X= bell tone (for this page. Often it too means closed or muffled tone) O/f=open Flam

Here's the break, and lead-in pick up notes for the songba and dundunba:

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