Moribayassa is a rhythm & song from the Malinke people of northeast Guinea in West Africa. It is a celebration of a woman’s solving of a major problem in her life, during which she will dress in old, ragged clothing and dance around her village a number of times. She will be accompanied by other villagers, with drummers playing this rhythm. When her dance is finished, she will change her clothing and bury the rags under a Moribayassa tree in acknowledgement that the past is behind her.
This is such a significant event that traditionally a woman will only dance the Moribayassa once in her life.
This song accompanies the dance and rhythm:
Moribayassa he Moribayassa,
Moribayassa “name” nada,
Moribayassa ka yassa ko,
Moribayassa ka yassa mu,
Moribayassa ka yassa don,
Moribayassa ka yassa fo.
Moribayassa he Moribayassa,
“name” has come to play the Moribayassa,
we have to wash the Moribayassa,
we have to dress the Moribayassa,
we have to dance the Moribayassa,
we have to play the Moribayassa.
A group led by Bolokada Conde plays Moribayassa.
Moribayassa PartsDownload the Moribayassa sheet.