Chants et danses de Guinée-Keita Fodeba introduces Casamance

Les Ballets Africains was formed in 1954 by Keita Fodeba in Guinea, the former French Guinée, sometimes called Guinée-Conakry. See also my previous post on Bakary Sissoko and Daouda Diabaté .

Dance was the primary attraction of the troupe because it allowed Keita Fodeba to express many aspects of African life style by using original rhythms created by numerous unique instruments. Many folk singers and players of the traditional music were brought into the group and presented to the world during their numerous European tours.

The success these t0urs generated brought also numerous recording sessions, often registering for the first time African folk music from different parts of the continent.

On this French EP  “Chants et danses de Guinée” Keita Fodeba introduces  the Créole Portuguese dialect Casamance, in which most of the songs are sung. This rare EP features a selection of popular folk material, songs centuries old, often with a humorous undertone, sometimes mocking modern technology, like the song ‘Téléphonista’, a declaration of love by the telephone.

Side 1 -Couri-Couri/Aloa/Carolina

Side 2 –Téléphonista/Laïla/Saidouba

Ensemble Keita Fodeba   ‘Chants et danses de Guinée’
Le chant du monde  LDY 4048 -French pressing 1958

Kouyate Kandia -Des Ballets Africains De Keita Fodéba. Vogue EPL 7257

my previous post on Sissoko Bakary & Daouda Diabaté -Des Ballets Africains De Keita Fodéba featured an EP that was part of a series of French recordings.

Today’s post is about another record in the same series with catalog nr. EPL 7257, released in the late 50’s.

Kouyate Kandia is a singer and guitarist, from the mountainous region of Fouta-Djallon in Guinea, the former French Guinee, sometimes called Guinee-Conakry. He was discovered by Keita Fodéba who added him to the cast of Les Ballets Africains,  an all African-star performance that premiered at  Theatre Etoile de Paris on November of 1952 in Paris. It was an instant success. Keita Fodéba moved the production to Africa in 1955 and toured the continent for six years to become the national dance company of Guinea. His life is as spectacular as it is tragic. After he became Minister of Defense in Guinea in 1961 his life ended in jail, where he was murdered.

Musician sensitive and delicate,  guitarist Kandia Kouyate is equally blessed with an exceptional voice, a mezzo-soprano. He sings about love and the virtues of tradional African society in traditional songs from Soudan and Guinee.

Kouyate Kandia -Des Ballets Africains De Keita Fodéba

Vogue EPL 7257 France

side 1

1. Nina (Haute Guinee)

2. Toubaka (Guinee)

side 2

3. Malissadio (Soudan)

4. Chant De Rejouissance w/ choir of men and women

*

guitar; Koyah Marof, Kante Facelli

tam tam; Raphael Wigbert

maracas; Maninka

choir of men and women

Sissoko Bakary & Daouda Diabaté -Des Ballets Africains De Keita Fodéba. Vogue EPL 7256

Bakary Sissoko and Daouda Diabaté, two griots  fed to the purest traditions of Africa. The first is from Senegal, the second came from Sudan.

Bakary and Daouda  met under the aegis of Keita Fodéba, the Guinean poet  who became the first to explore  black folklore in his famous Ballets Africains, formed in Paris in 1952

The music of the Mandinke people of the southern part of Senegal is being presented on this 4-track EP.

Sissoko Bakary et Daouda Diabaté  -des ballets Africains de Keita Fodéba.  Seven-inch 45 rpm EP disc. Vogue EPL 7256

A1 Boundessa with choir of men and women

A2 Sidiyela with choir of men and women

B1 -Alalake with choir of men and women

B2 Diaka

*

Composed By – Keita Fodéba

Cora – Daouda Diabaté

Maracas – Ambroise

Tom Tom [Tam-tam] – Raphaël Wigbert

Vocals, Cora – Bakary Sissoko