Xalam
Xalam, also spelled khalam, is the Wolof name for a traditional stringed musical instrument from West Africa. The xalam is thought to have originated from modern-day Mali, but some believe that, in antiquity, the instrument may have originated from Ancient Egypt. Many believe that it is an ancestor to the American banjo.
The xalam is commonly played in Mali, Gambia, Senegal, Niger, Northern Nigeria, Northern Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Western Sahara; it is also known in other languages as bappe, diassare, hoddu (Pulaar), koliko (Gurunsi), kologo (Frafra),komsa, kontigi (Hausa), koni, konting (Mandinka), molo (Songhay/Zarma), ndere, ngoni (Bambara), and tidinit (Hassaniyya Arabic).
Someone who plays the xalam is called a xalamkat (a word composed of the verbal form of xalam, meaning "to play the xalam", and the agentive suffix -kat, thus meaning "one who xalams").
Construction and tuning
The xalam, in its standard form, is a simple lute chordophone with one to five strings. The wooden body (soundbox) membranophone of the instrument is oval-shaped and covered with the hide of cattle. The strings of the xalam are typically made of two or three tightly wound strands of low-gauge nylon fishing line; these strings are fixed to the instrument's wooden neck by long and narrow leather strips and to its wooden bridge by cotton strings. By moving these strips, the instrument's tune can be adjusted. The xalam usually has two main melody strings that are fingered by the left hand (like the strings of a guitar or banjo) and two to three supplementary strings of fixed pitch. Most xalam players construct their own xalams, although they usually call on woodworkers (lawbe) to carve the body, neck, and bridge for them.
Xalam (band)
Xalam is the name of a Senegalese musical group founded in 1969 founded by a group of friends. The band was originally called African Khalam Orchestra.
The band takes its name from the lute-like instrument the xalam. Xalam performed a mix of contemporary jazz tunes as well as African originals, usually sung in Wolof, the dominant local language. The band included sax, drums, African percussion, bass and electric guitar.
Xalam started playing dance music, such as Rock, Salsa, Bossa, and Rhythm and Blues. The group performed in Senegal and other countries in Africa. Numerous musicians have played in the group and through their collaboration, have become very popular.
In 1975 they went on an African tour with Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba. Later, the group decided it was time to find its own musical identity and left the stage for four years to look for inspiration in traditional folk music and mix it with their own modern music.
In 1979, Xalam made a guest appearance at the Berlin Horizonte Festival. That first trip to Europe was their opportunity to record their first LP: Ade.
Podcasts:
Xalam
ALBUMS
- Afro Latin via Dakar released: 2011
- Beginner's Guide to African Funk released: 2009
- Sénégal 70: Musical Effervescence released: 2008
- African Pearls, Volume 4: Senegal: The Teranga Spirit released: 2007
- L'Âme de l'Afrique released: 1997
- Spirit of Africa released:
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Aufrecht Gehen
by: SlimeDie Hand, sie zögert und greift doch rein
nur beim ersten Mal konnte der Stolz kaum verzeihen
Du tust manche Dinge, wenn Dich Hunger überkommt
und dann tust Du's immer wieder, weil auch Hunger wiederkommt
Wo Gewalt zum Prinzip wird, muss es wohl so sein
und er isst dann Dinge, in die trittst Du nichtmal rein
un ich hör' Euch alle sagen: "durch's soziale Netz gefallen"
ich frage welches Netz?
[Ref:]
DAS IST DAS ALTE, BRUTALE SPIEL DER SIEGER UND VERLIERER
NICHTS ZU REGULIEREN, ES WIEDERHOLT SICH IMMER WIEDER
FAHNEN WERDEN GEHISST, HEUTE FüR FREIHEIT UND MORGEN FASCHIST
NOCH NIE GAB ES EINE ZU SEHEN UNTER DER MENSCHEN AUFRECHT GEHEN
Die Hand, sie zögert und kriegt nie genug
die Register sind gezogen, alles voller Blut
in der Dritten Welt bricht eine Wirtschaft zusammen
er hat es gewusst und gewollt von Anfang an
Und selbst der schlimmste Mörder findet immer einen Grund
"das Problem des anderen" ist die Rechtfertigung
und er zeigt jedem hier, was man erreichen kann
Tradition ist der Motor und die Gier treibt ihn an
[Ref:]
DAS IST DAS ALTE, BRUTALE SPIEL DER SIEGER UND VERLIERER
NICHTS ZU REGULIEREN, ES WIEDERHOLT SICH IMMER WIEDER
FAHNEN WERDEN GEHISST, HEUTE FüR FREIHEIT UND MORGEN FASCHIST
NOCH NIE GAB ES EINE ZU SEHEN
UNTER DER MENSCHEN AUFRECHT GEHEN
DOCH DIESER EINE ANDERE WEG IST NOCH NIE GEGANGEN WORDEN