Radio Africa

Guinean Orchestras of the First Republic 

Compiled by Graeme Counsel

This information was first published in Mande popular music and cultural policies in West Africa. 2009, Germany: VDM. Available through Amazon.

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National Orchestras

• Orchestré de la Garde Républicaine
  At independence in 1958 the Orchestré de la Garde Républicaine became Guinea's first state orchestre. From November 1 1959 they were instructed to drop their European march tunes for music befitting the new nation. In later years they were split into two groups - Orchestré de la Garde Républicaine 1^ère formation, who became the Super Boiro Band (see below), and Orchestré de la Garde Républicaine 2^ème formation.

• Syli Orchestre National
  Formed on January 15 1959, the Syli Orchestre National contained Guinea's elite musicians. The orchestra represented Guinea at international festivals, including Helsinki (1962), Algiers (1969), and Tunis (1973), as well as performing in Berlin, Lagos and Cuba. The first chef d'orchestre was Kanfory Sanoussi (accordion, banjo and vibraphone), with other musicians at the time including Kerfala “Papa” Diabaté (guitar), Balla Onivogui (trumpet), Kélétigui Traoré (tenor saxophone), Clément Dorégo (tenor saxophone), Honoré Coppet (alto saxophone), Pivi Moriba (trombone), Kerfala Camara (bass), and Jean Fanga (drums).  In later years the orchestre included Demba Camara (vocals), Momo Wandel (alto saxophone), and Sékou "Bembeya" Diabaté (lead guitar). In 1962 they were disbanded though the orchestra were reformed for special occasions for many years to come. At the Premier Festival Culturel Panafricain held in Algiers in 1969 the Syli Orchestre Nationale performed "Regard sur le passé", by Bembeya Jazz, "Sara", by Balla et ses Balladins, and other material from Guinean orchestras. They were rewarded with a silver medal in the "Orchestre moderne" section. Video clips of their performances are here.

• Balla et ses Balladins (also known as “Orchestre du Jardin de Guinée”)
  Formed from the split of the Syli Orchestre National. Balla Onivogui (trumpet), was the chef d'orchestre, though Pivi Moriba (trombone) was designated leader in the early 1970s, hence the group Pivi et les Balladins. Balla was reinstated upon the order of Pres. Sékou Touré. The orchestra continues to perform, and feature a young line-up.

• Keletigui et ses Tambourinis (also known as "Orchestre de la Pailotte". Formed from “L’Orchestre de la Bonne Auberge” and “La Formation Kerfala Camara Tambourini”).
  Formed from the split of the Syli Orchestre National. Kélétigui Traoré is the chef d'orchestre. The orchestra continues to perform.

• Les Amazones de Guinée (originally "L'Orchestre Féminin de Camp Almamy Samory", "L'Orchestre Féminin de la Brigade Nationale", and “La Orchestre de la Brigade Féminine de la Gendarmerie”)
  Formed in 1961 this all-female group of policewomen were emblematic of Guinea's social policy of gender equality. In 1964 the band ceased to play banjos and other acoustic instruments, swapping them for electric guitars, brass instruments and a Western-style drum kit. The orchestra continues to perform.

• Bembeya Jazz National (also known as “Orchestre de Beyla”)
  Formed in 1961, they won the "orchestre moderne" category at the annual arts festivals, the "Quinzaine artistiques de la jeunesse", in 1964 and 1965. In October 1966 they were nationalised, the first Federal Orchestra to be awarded this honour. Hamidou Diaouné (aka "Hamidou Diawiné") was the chef d'orchestre but has now retired. The orchestra continues to perform, and are led by Sékou Diabaté). Video clips are here.

• Horoya Band National (originally “Horoya Jazz” and “Horoya Band de Kankan”)
  Formed in 1964 the Horoya Band de Kankan won the best orchestra prize in 1967, 1968 and 1971 at the Quinzaine artistiques. They were nationalised on 7 December 1971. Métoura "Papa paya-paya" Traoré was the chef d'orchestre. Unlike many other orchestras of the first republic, the Horoya Band continued to perform regularly after 1984 and released numerous cassettes, the most recent "Kooba", in 2007. Lamine Camara, the group's drummer, has assumed the role of chef d'orchestre. The group play regularly in Conakry. A live video clip is here.

• Super Boiro Band (originally “Orchestré de la Garde Républicaine 1^ère formation”)
  Formed in 1959, the orchestra were nationalised in 1972. Mamadou Niaissa, the group's trumpet player, was the chef d'orchestre. In the post Sékou Touré era the group were known as Super Flambeau.
  
  Prior to the nationalisation of all musical groups in Guinea there were a number of private orchestras:
  - L’Orchestre de la Bonne Auberge - see Keletigui et ses Tambourinis
  - La Formation Kerfala Camara Tambourini - see Keletigui et ses Tambourinis
  - L'Orchestre Honoré Coppet. An alto-saxophonist, Honoré Coppet was born in Martinique and travelled to Guinea in circa 1959. He was also a member of the Syli Orchestre Nationale. He left Guinea in circa 1964, and lived in Senegal until 1968.