Ears of the People: Ekonting Songs from Senegal and The Gambia

Ears of the People is a collection of sublime contemporary recordings of the ekonting, a three-stringed gourd lute played by Jola people in Gambia and the Casamance region of Senegal. The nine tradition-bearers featured on the album share stories of love, heartache, conflict, spirituality, and all that is unique and beautiful in Jola culture over the rolling lilt of the instrument. An important forebear of the American banjo, the ekonting drives lively dancing and brings these stories to life. These songs, rarely heard outside Senegambia, are a living tapestry of the Jola people and a unique interweaving of human voices and stringed instruments.

Track Listing

1	Watu Eriring bee Kaolo	Musa Diatta	03:04
2	Ami Kolle / Salymane / Alassane	Abdoulaye Diallo	03:24
3	Mamba Sambou	Sijam Bukan	01:59
4	Colobane Yolooli	Adama Sambou and Ejam Kasa	02:06
5	Diego	Sijam Bukan	03:02
6	Elenbeja	Jean "Kangaben" Djibalen	02:33
7	Bapaalaay	Esukolaal	03:23
8	Aline Sitoe	Elisa Diedhiou	02:33
9	Sijam Bukan	Sijam Bukan	02:22
10	Kunaare Kati Gambi	Daniel Laemou-Ahuma Jatta	02:23
11	Aduna Esore	Bouba Diedhiou	02:32
12	Adiatta Ubonketom	Elisa Diedhiou	02:42
13	Ajeme	Adama Sambou and Ejam Kasa	03:18
14	Celestine	Musa Diatta	03:00
15	Aliinom	Daniel Laemou-Ahuma Jatta	01:06
16	Koriye	Esukolaal	02:48
17	Ahan Bokin	Adama Sambou and Ejam Kasa	03:56
18	Asum Bunuk	Sijam Bukan	03:00
19	Kanyalen Rosalie	Bouba Diedhiou	02:29
20	Aguene Diambone	Adama Sambou and Ejam Kasa	08:02
21	Aliinom (Ballanta)	Musa Diatta	02:50
22	Asunge	Esukolaal	01:54
23	Inje Mama Oomei?	Abdoulaye Diallo	01:23
24	Madu	Jean "Kangaben" Djibalen	08:37
25	Ayinga Bañiil Dane Dibuke Ban	Abdoulaye Diallo	03:07