Radio Africa

African classics
Reviews of classic African recordings
 

Ernesto Djedje
"Le Roi du Ziglibithy"

Ernesto Djedje was one of the leading musicians in Côte d'Ivoire during the 1970s. He released at least four LPs - "Le Roi du Ziglibithy" - pictured above, recorded in ca 1977; "Tizere"; "Zouzoup Ale"; and one other.  "Ziglibithy" was the name for both a popular dance style and a rhythm, and Ernesto Djedje was its undisputed "king". He was an excellent vocalist, guitarist, and arranger. The brass sections in particular are well-crafted and the overall musicianship first rate. This cassette still sells like hot cakes in West Africa after 25 years. It's available everywhere - I've seen it in Mali, The Gambia and Ghana. Why it has never been released internationally remains a mystery and a great disappointment.

***STOP PRESS***
This LP by Ernesto Djedje is now available on CD - contact Popular African Music.

Graeme Counsel © Copyright

 

→ More African classics
 
Kanté Manfila & Salif Keita "Dans l'authenticité vol 1" Les Ambassadeurs du Motel
Kanté Manfila & Salif Keita "Dans l'authenticité vol 2" Doura Barry "Laureat de Guinea"
L'arbre éternel - Syliphone LP 28 Djali Madi Tounkara and The Rail Band
Guinée an XII - Syliphone LP 21 Keletigui et ses Tambourinis - Syliphone LP 30
Orchestre Régional de Kayes Mamadi Diabaté et Les Ambassadeurs
Victoire à la Révolution - Syliphone LP 29 Souleymané Traoré dit Neba Solo
Orchestre Régional de Mopti Rail Band "Soundiata"
Teningnini Damba A Search for the Roots of the Blues vols 1 & 2
Ernesto Djedje "Le roi du ziglibithy" L'Orchestre National "A" de la République du Mali
Ami Koita "Pour le collectionneur vol 3" Kanaga de Mopti

 

→ Discographies

by record label -   • Syliphone     • Club Voltaïque du Disque     • Tempo International     • Mali Kunkan     • Société Ivoirienne du Disque     • Safie Deen      • Volta Discobel     • N'Dardisc     • L.G.V.D.     • Music Hall 

by group -             • Bembeya Jazz     • Les Ambassadeurs     • Rail Band     • Salif Keita     • Keletigui et ses Tambourinis

 by nation -            • Guinea Bissau     • Mali     • Guinea     • Mauritania     • The Gambia     • Burkina Faso     • Senegal - coming soon

 other -                   • Guinean orchestras of the 1st republic      • Malian orchestras 1960-1980      • Rail Band & Les Ambassadeurs family tree


 

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