Sagar Sood

IB English A1 Yr.1
Final Draft
Due: 9th Dec, 08

What would life be without music and dance? Music and Dance are a direct reflection of

the picture of society. (Triquet Pg 1). It appears that even the first humans in prehistoric times

made music. The first musical instruments were probably whistles, carved out of animal bones

and were also used for communication. Music and dance are the art that appeal to the conscious

mind, but the best appeals to the subconscious. One such example is in “Camara Laye’s” life, in

his book “The Dark Child”. The story revolves around Laye’s childhood in French Guinea where

he lives his life in a Muslim society. He and his society are very bound to their religion. Like all

African societies music and dance plays a very important role in there lives. Music and dance

brings change in moods and brings back good memories to them. In their society, it is an

expression of happy and cheerfulness. Music and dance plays a vital part in Laye and his society

bringing changes in moods and their thinking.

One chief character in the novel that played an important part in Laye and his family was

the praise-singer. As the name suggests, the praise-singer praises about the person who he is

singing for. One such example can be seen where the praise-singer brings in changes in thinking

and mood in Laye’s father’s mind:

“I could sense my father’s vanity being inflamed, and I already knew that
after sipped this milk-and-honey he would lend a favorable ear to the woman’s
request” (Laye, Camara. The Dark Child. Pg 32, New York: Harper Collins, 1998.)

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 Here Laye presents a scene where the praise-singer is able to persuade his father’s mind

and he later wishes to hear the woman’s any request. It shows how the praise-singer was able to

change the mind of a person by just singing and praising about him. This is a perfect example of

the effects of music in one’s life and the fact that music does not only bring pleasure, but also has

a deep impact on one’s mind.

Laye lived all his childhood in the village of Kourassa. As he lived in a village, his

society was basically full of farmers. In a farmer’s life cycle, the most important phase of the

year is the harvest time. It is season of joy and beauty. Happiness flows everywhere and in every

heart.

“The young men threw there sickles in the air and caught them as they fell. They
shouted simply for the pleasure of shouting, and danced as they followed the tom-
tom players.”(Laye, Pg 56-57)

The above lines illustrate the happiness that surround the fields as the harvest season

begins in the Kourassa society. The farmers display their happiness by dancing and tossing there

sickles and showing off there abilities. The farmers shouted as they reaped simply because of the

fact that there was a “pleasure in shouting”. The act of shouting is usually bound with

annoyance, irritation and aggravation, but in the Kourassa society, shouting brings them pleasure

and contentment. They exhibit their happiness and ecstasy just by dancing, tossing sickles and

shouting for there own pleasure.

“The tom-tom, which had followed as we advanced into the fields, kept time with
our voices. We sang in a chorus, now very high-pitched with great bursts of song and

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 then very low, so low we could scarcely be heard. Our fatigue vanished, and the heat
became less oppressive.” (Laye, Pg. 61)

The pleasure in shouting and singing together bought them strength. This strength was the

strength in their unity that could not be destroyed by any power in the world. It also got them the

physical strength that kept them working all day long without getting tired. By doing such acts

they also stay united as a family and share emotions with each other.

In a Muslim society a very important phase in a male’s life is the process of circumcision.

It is a significant change in a male child’s life as he suddenly falls into the category of a man

with overflowing responsibilities and respect. Such a change occurred in Laye’s life as well.

Living in a Muslim society, Laye had to go through the immense change in life by undergoing

the circumcision.

“Whatever the facts, I was now at the age when I too must be reborn, must give up
childhood and become a man”. (Laye, Pg 112)

Laye believes that now he has to drop childhood and start the journey of becoming a man.

He drops the fretfulness and accepts the fact that one day or the other he has to be circumcised.

The circumcision process is carried out by a number of long ceremonies full of music and dance.

It is a joyous festival spreading happiness and only happiness. The people going through the

process are aware of the fact that it is not a pleasure; one has to go through a lot of pain, even for

a long time after the process. That’s when the deafening ceremonies kick in to bring down the

anxiety and to make it an enjoyable process. The one’s going through the process dance all week

in the dance of soli that breaks down nervousness and deflects the mind to the positive values of

the ceremony. The dance of soli is a very important ingredient in the ceremony for the one’s to be

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circumcised. Different steps displayed different emotions. For example the movement of the hips

moves the handkerchief, made by their lovers, from side to side and thus showing off.

The dances in the ceremonies were a symbol of happiness, eradicating all the negative

feelings for the ceremony. Another essential dance was the dance of the coba, just like the soli,

but takes place on the eve of the circumcision. The dance was accompanied by the coba chant

which was carried out by a high official in the society. The earsplitting ceremonies do not finish

after the circumcision, they continue on with dances and music celebrating the birth of new men.

These celebrations make the circumcised feel like a man and make them feel important. Laye

eradicates all his fears and anxiety by dancing and singing and learns the importance of the

ceremony and the fact that any kind of pain is bearable.

One big twist in the novel takes place when Laye leaves his village to study in the capital

city, Conakry. He was leaving his family and his society for further studies. On the eve of his

departure, there were celebrations accompanied by the praise-singer. These moments were some

sad but important moments of Laye’s life. There was a sudden rush of emotions in his mind.

“But I stopped listening to her and smiling at the chants of the praise-singers. My
sadness had returned.” (Laye, Pg 144)

Like a typical teenager he was not listening to his mother, even though he knew that he is

not going to meet her for a long time. But instead he was busy listening to the melodious chants

of the praise-singers. His mind was totally focused on the praises being chanted for him. These

chants brought back memories that overflowed his mind. . It made him realize that “yes, now I

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am leaving for a while.” “My sadness had returned” clearly signifies that the chants had a direct

psychological impact that made him feel depressed and lone.

Music and dance are inseparable from humans like a rose is from its thorns. Humans need

music and dance for their survival on this planet. It has been scientifically proven that music and

dance are required for the mental growth of a human. They are an endemic part of nature. Laye,

his family and his society were bound together because of it. They shared there thoughts and

feelings with the aid of music and dance. From dancing and singing in the fields to the joyous

ceremonies for the circumcision, they all worshipped music and dance. It is because of this that

the whole community lived together happily without any disputes and quarrels. Without music

and dance, one wouldn’t have survived a day in the Kourassa society

Triquet, Rousseau. Importance of Music, www.directessays.com/viewpaper/85771.html

Laye, Camara. The Dark Child., New York: Harper Collins, 1998.

Word Count: 1362