The Horoya Band National live at the Palais de la Peuple in Conakry on
October 4 2008. All of Guinea's national orchestras performed on that
night - Bembeya Jazz, the Tambourinis, the Balladins, & Les Amazones -
and the Horoya Band blew them all away…
Teni Damba,
daughter of Ba Zoumana Sissòko, performing her classic "Yirbayo" from
her
second cassette released in circa 1993. Part of the clip appears to
be filmed in the very dark bar at the Buffet de la Gare.
Souleymane Sidibé,
the "Prince of Wassoulou",
is one of the new wave of kamelen n'goni players. Some good dancing in
the clip, especially by the young girl and the toubabou!
Ernesto Djedje, performing one of his hits from his stellar album "Le
Roi du Ziglibithy"
Oumou Sangaré
performing the title track to her second CD.
The
photos of Malick Sidibé and
the music of Oumou Sangaré
- a choice combination.
Neba Solo, aka Souleymane Traoré,
performing an early hit. Neba Solo was awarded the title of "Malian
artist of the year" in 1996. It's great to see the balafon used in this
way. Some of his earlier recordings verge on psychedelic.
Fodé Conté was one of Guinea's most
popular stars in the 1960s. He performed with Les Ballet Africains and
Ballet Djoliba before leaving Guinea due to his differences with Sékou
Touré. He was in exile in Sierra Leone and Côte d'Ivoire, returning to
Guinea only after Touré had died. Fodé Conté passed away in August 2008.
Sali Sidibé
performing for a crowd of admirers.
The Fouta Djallon is a great place to
travel, especially after the rigours of Conakry. Here is a typical Fula
ensemble from Labé.
Bembeya Jazz
National - N'gnamakoro. Fronted by the "trio bazooka" of Salifou Kaba, Moussa Touré
and Mory Kouyaté, performing one of their hits from the Parade Africaine
LP.
Miriam Makeba lived in Guinea from 1969
to 1986. Here she reminisces about her life there.
Bembeya Jazz National - Tama tama. An
unreleased-on-vinyl track, recorded in 1979 at the RTG. Sung in Maninka,
the title translates as "Travelling far", and is a message to Guineans
living abroad "not to forget the fatherland".
Bembeya Jazz - Petit Sékou.
Their classic instrumental recorded in 1979 at the RTG studios.
Syli Orchestre National - OUA.
Guinea's premier national orchestra
performing a Bembeya Jazz song at the 1st Pan-African Cultural Festival
held in Algiers in 1969. The musicians in the video are (from left to right) - Mohammed Achken Kaba - trumpet (Bembeya Jazz); Mamadou Niaissa - trumpet (Super
Boiro Band); Sékou "Le Growl" Camara - trumpet (Bembeya Jazz); Siaka
Diabaté - congas (Bembeya Jazz); Mory
Mangala - drums (Bembeya Jazz); Pivi Moriba - trombone (Balla et ses
Balladins); Fodé Ndiaye
Soumah - tenor sax (Bembeya Jazz); Momo Wandel Soumah - alto sax
(Kakilambé Jazz, Keletigui et ses Tambourinis); Kélétigui Traoré (chef d'orchestre, in
white jacket) - tenor sax (Keletigui et ses Tambourinis); Demba Camara -
vocals (Bembeya Jazz); Sékou "Diamond Fingers" Diabaté - lead guitar (Bembeya
Jazz); Kemo Kouyaté - rhythm guitar (Balla et ses Balladins, Quintette
Guinéenne); Famoro Kouyaté - bass guitar (Balla et ses Balladins,
Quintette Guinéenne).
Syli Orchestre National - Sara.
Guinea's premier national orchestra
performing a Balla et ses Balladins song at the 1st Pan-African Cultural
Festival held in Algiers in 1969. The musicians are (left to right) -
Mohammed Achken Kaba - trumpet (Bembeya Jazz); Mamadou Niaissa - trumpet
(Super Boiro Band); Sékou "Le Growl" Camara - trumpet (Bembeya Jazz); Momo
Wandel Soumah - alto sax (Kakilambé Jazz, Keletigui et ses Tambourinis); Siaka
Diabaté - congas (Bembeya Jazz); Mory Mangala - drums (Bembeya Jazz); Pivi Moriba - alto sax (Balla et ses Balladins); Fodé Ndiaye
Soumah - tenor sax (Bembeya Jazz); Kélétigui Traoré (chef d'orchestre, in
white jacket) - tenor sax (Keletigui et ses Tambourinis); "Petit" Fodé
Diabaté - vocals (Horoya Band); Demba Camara - vocals (Bembeya Jazz);
Sékou "Diamond Fingers" Diabaté - lead guitar (Bembeya Jazz); Kemo Kouyaté -
rhythm guitar (Balla et ses Balladins, Quintette Guinéenne); Famoro
Kouyaté - bass guitar (Balla et ses Balladins, Quintette Guinéenne).
The Super Djata Band - featuring Daouda "Flani"
Sangaré on vocals and Zani Diabaté
on lead guitar. Truly the hottest band in Mali. The
Worldservice site has more videos of this great group. From the BBC
documentary "Under African skies".
L'Orchestre National "A" de la République du Mali - soundtrack to "Janfa",
from the BBC documentary "Under African skies".
Super Biton de Ségou. After a brief history of the group, this clip
launches into their live version of "Se se wa bena". One of the
best. From the BBC documentary "Under African skies".
A second Fodé Conté RTG video.
A third Fodé Conté RTG video.
This page was created on April 28 2009 and was last updated on November 18 2010.