Secular songs from the Kumina Tradition of Jamaica
Learned from Horace Junior Gabu Wedderburn
Mahtina & Kubalay
Mahtina woy, woy, woy,
Mahtina
Mahtina woy, woy, woy,
Mahtina
Rock your body, oh
Rock your body kubalay
Rock your body, oh
Rock your body kubalay
Kubalay-ee-o
Rock your body kubalay
Kubalay-ee-o
Rock your body kubalay
Mahtina and Kubalay are secular songs from the Kumina tradition which you would hear at regular ceremonies. The Kumina in Jamaica are from the Kongo kingdom. They came in as “Indentured Servants” aka Paid slaves. In Jamaica out of all the ethnic groups they have the highest African retention and conservation, they speak a patois filled with Kikongo words. The drumming is very much like Bomba, Bambula, and other Congolese derrived drummings, but of the same specific region.
Learn more about Kumina and hear some of the traditional drum rhythms played by Horace Junior Gabu Wedderburn, Master Drummer for the Lion King: http://www.largeup.com/2011/11/04/the-lions-master-qa-with-junior-%E2%80%9Cgabu%E2%80%9D-wedderburn/
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