Soli

Three months prior to the initiation of boys into adulthood, Soli is played regularly. The night before the ceremony, it is played from evening prayer until morning prayer. Soli roughly translates to We will not sleep tonight and refers to celebrations that play through the night. After the ceremony has finished, mothers are given the old clothes of their children to symbolise their child now becoming an adult. After this Soli is not heard until the next set of initiations.

Based on teachings of Mamady Keita from his book "A Life for The Djembe".

Soli is a rhythm of the Malinke people of Guinea, in Mali it's called Suku/Sugu and has slight differences in the solos and accompaniments. Another linked rhythm is Namani, a farming rhythm and rhythm linked with the Nama idol, a religious artifact.