A MOSSI WHISTLE  BURKINA FASO

Provenance: Michel Koenig, Belgium

In Burkina Faso, west Africa, the Mossi play flutes to accompany the music of balafons and the rapid beat of drums during ceremonies and mask performances. They are played in groups of 5 to 7 or more men. Each flute is played in a set of notes with a complex, but very repetitive tune. Since the languages in this area are tonal, flutes can imitate the tonal patterns of spoken phrases, as well those in songs.
This flute is an exceptional one. It is made of bone and decorated with strings of kauri shells. It must have been designed for a special chief in the village.

Mossi people, Burkina Faso,

Price: € 850