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 (The Time Has Come to Rest) Musa Diatta	03:04
2	Ami Kolle / Salymane / Alassane Abdoulaye Diallo	03:24
3	Mamba Sambou Sijam Bukan	01:59
4	Colobane Yolooli (Our Colobane) Adama Sambou and Ejam Kasa	02:06
5	Diego Sijam Bukan	03:02
6	Elenbeja Jean "Kangaben" Djibalen	02:33
7	Bapaalaay (Friendship) Esukolaal	03:23
8	Aline Sitoe Elisa Diedhiou	02:33
9	Sijam Bukan (Ears of the People) Sijam Bukan	02:22
10	Kunaare Kati Gambi (Women of Gambia) Daniel Laemou-Ahuma Jatta	02:23
11	Aduna Esore (The World is Dispersed) Bouba Diedhiou	02:32
12	Adiatta Ubonketom (Adiatta Pray for Me) Elisa Diedhiou	02:42
13	Ajeme Adama Sambou and Ejam Kasa	03:18
14	Celestine Musa Diatta	03:00
15	Aliinom (My Sister) Daniel Laemou-Ahuma Jatta	01:06
16	Koriye Esukolaal	02:48
17	Ahan Bokin (Elder of the Shrine) Adama Sambou and Ejam Kasa	03:56
18	Asum Bunuk (Good Palm Wine Collector) Sijam Bukan	03:00
19	Kanyalen Rosalie Bouba Diedhiou	02:29
20	Aguene Diambone Adama Sambou and Ejam Kasa	08:02
21	Aliinom (Ballanta) - My Sister Musa Diatta	02:50
22	Asunge (Graceful Woman) Esukolaal	01:54
23	Inje Mama Oomei? (My Mother, Where Are You?) Abdoulaye Diallo	01:23
24	Madu Jean "Kangaben" Djibalen	08:37
25	Ayinga Bañiil Dane Dibuke Ban (Ayinga Bañiil is Already Born) Abdoulaye Diallo	03:07