AFRICA - Djembe - Percussions D Afrique (Guinea)

Starinar Torrents: Traditional, Tribal, Ritual, Sacred and Indigenous Music. ENJoY!

TITLE: DJEMBÃ - PERCUSSION D'AFRIQUE
ARTISTS:
ENSEMBLE NATIONAL DES PERCUSSION DE GUINEE
WASSA
WOFA
LES BALLETS AFRICAINES
COUNTRY GUINEA
YEAR: 1999
FORMAT: CD
ISBN 829762
COMPANY: BUDAMUSIQUE

The "Ensemble National des Percussions de Guinee" on track

1 - Doundoumbé 08:27
3 - Bagatai 07:41
5 - Koukou Beyla 06:29

The group "Wassa" on track

2 - Borhomasi Faré 04:18
4 - Tatami Faré 04:48

The group "Wofa" on track

6 - Wassakhoumbé 04:29
7 - Wofa Gbé 06:47

And last but not least "Les Ballets Africaines" on track

8 - Célébration 19:11
a - Konkoba
b - Bannaféléko
c - Donsodon
d - Pengolaya
e - Dununba namely - Dunungbé
- Takossaba
- Kundidunun

"The CD presents different aspects of Guinean percussion and is
dedicated to Noumody Keita. The dedication is justified as
Noumody - member of "L'Ensemble National des Percussions de
Guinée" and "Les Ballets Africaines" is known for his natural
charisma, his talent and his personality".
Bailo Téliwell Diallo
Directeur national de la Culture de la République de Guinée
(freely translated from the liner notes, Johannes Schya)


Noumody Keita died too early on June, 22, 1995. The
remarks about Noumody are, unfortunately, not translated.

"The Guinean percussionists rank among the best in West
Africa. The national ballets which came with the Marxist
regime - "Ballet Djoliba" and "Les Ballets Africaines" -
have trained the djembe fola (djembe player in Maninka
language), of whom the most famous are Fadouba Olaré,
Famoudou Konaté, Mamady Keita, Noumody Keita, Gbanworo
Keita, Aboubacar Fatouabou Camara, Laurent Camara and
Lamine Soumah. Some of them have passed away, the others
are still active at the international scene."
Francois Kokelaere


Each of the four ensembles is shortly introduced, a bit
too short in my opinion: all names have been omitted,
probably to protect the innocent, with the exception of
the djembe folas mentioned in Kokelaere's introduction.
Something I don't like about this booklet is the fact
that not a single musicians name is given with the track
list. The music is outstanding, no doubt, but who is
playing?

The only thing given with the tracks, is a little background
on the music. To give you an example, "Koukou Beyla" is
introduced as follows:

"The Koukou is danced for ceremonies and celebrations in
the region of Beyla, between the Highlands and the Forest
region".

D'accord, but I've seen better liner notes from Budamusique
(for example Famoudou Konaté's CD from 1998.

Let's talk about the music and forget the notes. The CD
combines four different ensembles and quite a lot of
different music. The recordings are, btw, live recordings,
but one can only guess the place, time or event of the
recording; this is not a "nice to have" feature, but a must.


The sound quality is excellent and rather than describing
each track, I just pick up the most impressive ones from
my point of view.

"Wassa", founded in 1988 by Marcire Camara are musically
located in the coastal region of Guinea. All musicians
belong to the Sousou ethnic group. Both pieces are outstanding,
as they are different from what I am familiar with:

"Borhomasi Baré" is the dance of a snake, played on bells - "Tölönyi"
in Sousou language.

"Tatami Faré" is played on seven krin, or xylophone slit drums.
This is a truly contemporary percussion piece with a very
structured arrangement, where only the solos take on a freer form.
(from the liner notes; our translation)
... and it sounds terrific !

There's nothing to say about "Percussion de Guineé", I guess everbody
knows their style.

"Wofa" is, according to the liner notes, the most original band in
West Africa. They are independent artists creating the true spirit
of the ballets, as initiated by Fodeba Keita; the musical focus
once more the coastal region of Guinea.

"Wassakhoumbé"
Bala, jembe and a very special rattle - wassakhumba sistrium - which
requires a specific wrist technique, are ingredients of another gem.
I've never ever heard that kind of music before.

"Wofa Gbé"
Another interesting piece of music is played on krin, rattle, bala,
dunun and sikko. It starts very slow, before the music takes off.

"Les Ballets Africains" have been touring the world for forty years
and they combine the cultural heritage of the different Guinean
regions: coast, Fouta Djellon, highlands and forest region.

"Celebration"
Let me call it a 20 minute piece of fireworks from another well
known group from Guineé, a real "tour de force", played in incredible
tempi, but nevertheless enjoyable.

To summarize this new release from Budamusique:

A must for every lover of West African music and another gem for
every collector, but the liner notes could be significantly improved.

Johannes Schya, September 1999

Quality: Mp3/vbr