Pelengana Blo - Hunter Folk Vol II: Tribute to Bantoma Sanogo (2025)

Pah Diarra, known as Pelengana Blo, is a renowned master of donso foli (hunters' music) from the Ségou region of Mali and a member of the Donsoya brotherhood. He is regarded as the last hereditary keeper of this ancient tradition, which remains distinct from styles found in other regions. His work is deeply inspired by the legacy of master Bantoma Sanogo. The album Hunter Folk Vol II: Tribute to Bantoma Sanogo marks the musician's first solo recording, as he previously performed exclusively during ritual ceremonies.

Recorded live in 2019 without the use of direct line inputs, the album captures an authentic and mystical sound. Accompanying himself on the donso n'goni alongside percussion (keregne), Pelengana Blo performs songs that explore themes of praise for great hunters, moral parables regarding patience, the significance of fetishes, and the mystical geography of the Ségou region. Donsoya music serves not merely as entertainment but as an educational vehicle, transmitting the philosophy of the Manding people, bridging the present with the ancestral world, and helping to preserve cultural identity amidst the contemporary crisis in Mali.

Tracklist:
1-1 Pelengana Blo - Niangara [6:49]
1-2 Pelengana Blo - Makono [17:46]
1-3 Pelengana Blo - Warakoro [2:41]
1-4 Pelengana Blo - Boli [9:20]
1-5 Pelengana Blo - Terema Malo [4:26]
1-6 Pelengana Blo - Donso [13:16]