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I saw that instrument being used at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 2003 when Mali was the featured country. I think Smithsonian/Folkways put out a Malian sampler cd that likely includes that instrument. I'm trying to remember the name of the group I saw using that instrument.

Ali Farka Toure is Malian and plays some kind of traditional guitar on certain recordings, but I don't know if that's the instrument or not. If it's anywhere, it's probably on Radio Mali.

Actually, I just pulled out the liner notes, and another musician, Nassourou Sare is credited on the "Ngoni" which looks like it could be another spelling of the same instrument you're talking about.

I checked out the smithsonian festival and now atleast i have a name to look for (although i've already looked and found NOTHING) Sékouba Traoré are a group that play the Doussn'gouni - i believe the one you saw at the fetival.

Hurting - The n'goni is a three or four stringed lute, whereas the donso n' goni (yet another spelling), is a seven-string harp reserved for hunters' music.

I'm always scared to go to big names in african music, because i get a bit cynical and think that they are compromising the traditional element of their music and making something more commercial.

"I'm always scared to go to big names in african music, because i get a bit cynical and think that they are compromising the traditional element of their music and making something more commercial."

Rockist.

No actually I half agree with you. I find all of the other Ali Farka Toure albums unlistenable. Only Radio Mali is good. But I usually avoid the big names more because of the way they are produced (with a mystical "world music" sound) than whether they are "traditional" or not. A lot of my favorite African music (juju, afro-beat, highlife) is not really "traditional" at all.

I dug out my copy of the 2003 Smithsonian Folklife Festival program guide and you're right, I did see Sekouba Traore play the donso n'goni. There was so much great music at that free festival(I should have taken off more time from work and seen more performances as many of the groups were playing several sets a day during that summer 10 day period). I also noticed in there that several other groups used different sized ngoni's but not donso n'gonis(an n'goni is described as both a lute and a harp). Tartit had n'goni players, Salif Keita had one, as did the Ensemble Instrumental.

On the liner notes to "Mali Lolo! Stars of Mali" released in 2003 on Smithsonian/Folkways writer/musician Banning Eyre writes about "the Donso, hunter-musicians and storytellers known for their supernatural powers and their allegiance to pre-Islamic and pre-Christian animist religion. An important instrument among them is the large, six-stringed donso ngoni (hunter's harp), which is surrounded by layers of lore and secrecy. A few donso ngoni players, such as Yoro Sidibe, have recording careers in Mali, but most reserve their art for ceremonial and private settings."

Apparently, the kamele ngoni(a smaller young man's harp that's tuned higher)has been used on more afropop material--such as on Oumou Sangare music.