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


Discographies

by record label -    Syliphone      Club Voltaïque du Disque      Tempo International      Mali Kunkan

by group -             Bembeya Jazz      Les Ambassadeurs    Rail Band    Salif Keita

by nation -            • Guinea Bissau      Mali      Guinea      Mauritania      The Gambia      Burkina Faso     
                            
other -                   • Guinean orchestras of the 1st republic      Malian orchestras 1960-1980   
                             
Rail Band & Les Ambassadeurs family tree

 

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