Sisesesse

Sisesesse is a traditional musical form framed as a rhythmic pattern and call-and-response vocal style associated with the fictional cultural region of Valaya. It combines a cyclical drum motif with improvised singing, typically performed by a chorus with a lead singer or griot-like figure. The term sisesesse is believed to derive from the local language, roughly translating to "echo beat" or "tonal gathering." In performance, sisesesse is characterized by a repeated cycle—usually between eight and twelve beats—over which vocal phrases punctuate the rhythm, creating interlocking layers between percussion and voice. Instruments commonly used include a frame drum, a pair of clay rattles, and a wooden slit drum; sometimes wind or string accompaniments are added in larger ensembles. The form is frequently employed at communal ceremonies, harvest celebrations, and storytelling nights, where it serves to coordinate movements, signal transitions, and reinforce social bonds. Variants exist across villages, with regional differences in tempo, call patterns, and motto-syllables that dancers and singers weave into the performance. Scholarly references within the fictional world describe sisesesse as a living tradition that adapts to new influences while preserving its core cyclical structure.