Here is Kankan’s famous group, the Horoya Band National, appearing on Yugoslavian television in the series “Africa: between yesterday and tomorrow”. It represents a very rare video of one of the great Guinean orchestras recorded in concert during the Sékou Touré era.

The Horoya Band were formed in 1960 and were originally named "Milo Jazz", after the tributary of the Niger river which flows through Kankan. Shortly thereafter they changed their name to the "Horoya Band" to reflect the new political climate of the independence era ("horoya" means "freedom" in the local Maninka language). The Horoya Band commenced recording for Guinea's Syliphone recording label in the mid 1960s and won the best orchestra prize at Guinea's National Arts Festivals in 1967, 1968 and 1971. In December 1971 they were bestowed the title of “National” orchestra, and were one of only seven orchestras to receive that honour during Guinea’s 1st Republic (1958-1984).

The Horoya Band National recorded extensively for the Syliphone label in the 1970s and toured Russia, Cuba, China and the Philippines. In the video, the group are performing in Conakry, at their venue “la Minière”.

I was fortunate to meet and interview Métoura Traoré, the chef d'orchestre of the Horoya Band National, whose encouragement and knowledge set me forth on my research journey. A few years later I met Lamine Camara, the orchestra's conga player and now chef d'orchestre, who is focused on keeping the orchestra going into the 21st century.

A discography of the Horoya Band National is found within the Syliphone discography.