Akonting Session 1 Introduction

Discussion of History and Demonstration of Construction, Playing Style and Musical Examples for the Akonting Folk Lute of the Jola People from the Senegambian Region of West Africa. Cautionary Note: The weight of current knowledge is that many different stringed instruments, some with drone strings and even down stroking playing styles, came out of Africa along with the African slave trade to the Caribbean, West Indies, North/Central/South America and elsewhere and led to the development of the banjo as we know it today. The Jola Akonting's combination of a short top drone string with down picking playing style, while not necessarily unique, remains quite unusual and continues to strongly suggest the Akonting's important historical and ancestral relationship to the present day banjo. Unfortunately, the long and complex nature of the historical evolution of the banjo as we know it today will undoubtedly leave many unanswered questions. For more Information and videos of the Akonting playing music from West Africa and songs from the slave plantations in America, spirituals and secular songs plus contact information to schedule a performance at your school, church, festival, etc. contact Steve Levitt at [email protected]. com