SENEGAL – SÉNÉGAL
Chants et Rythmes Sénégalais – Ensemble Instrumental de l’A.C.A.S. – N’DARDISC 33-11 (LP)
This luminous album was released in 1974 on the legendary Senegalese record label N'Dardisc. Founded shortly after Senegal gained independence in 1960 by Louis Fourment, N'Dardisc was one of the earliest independent commercial labels dedicated to West African music.
As a heritage document, the album beautifully captures the fluid and sensuous music of Senegalese griots from a bygone era. Known as guewels in Wolof and jalis (or jelis) in Mandinka, griots form a distinct, hereditary social caste within West African societies. Traditionally, they act as vocalists, virtuoso musicians, oral historians, and praise singers, and are thus the keepers and transmitters of cultural memory at the heart of Senegalese identity.
The music is performed by the Ensemble Instrumental de l’A.C.A.S. (Association Culturelle et Artistique du Sénégal), a group that brought together some of the greatest luminaries in the country. Samba Diabare Samb (1924–2019) (B1) and Amadou N'Diaye Samb (c. 1925–1982) (A1). These cousins and masters of the Wolof and Peul (Halpulaar) traditions were renowned singers and virtuoso players of the five-string xalam (or halam) lute and famously hosted the Sénégal Demb (Senegal of Yesterday) radio show in the late 1950s. Other members of the ensemble included the great vocalist and 21-string kora lute virtuoso, Lalo Kéba Dramé (1926–1974) (A2), and the celebrated vocalists Fa Mbaye Issa Diop (A3), Astou N’Dieuguen (B2) and Talla Sané (B3).
Cet album lumineux est sorti en 1974 sur le légendaire label sénégalais N'Dardisc. Fondé peu après l'indépendance du Sénégal en 1960 par Louis Fourment, N'Dardisc fut l'un des tout premiers labels indépendants dédiés à la musique ouest-africaine.
En tant que document patrimonial, cet album illustre magnifiquement la musique fluide et sensuelle des griots sénégalais d'antan. Appelés guewels en wolof et jalis(ou jelis) en mandingue, les griots forment une caste sociale distincte et héréditaire au sein des sociétés d'Afrique de l'Ouest. Traditionnellement, ils officient en tant que chanteurs, musiciens virtuoses, historiens oraux et paroliers de louanges, affirmant ainsi leur rôle de gardiens et de passeurs de la mémoire culturelle au cœur même de l'identité sénégalaise.
La musique est interprétée par l'Ensemble instrumental de l’A.C.A.S. (Association culturelle et artistique du Sénégal), une formation qui a rassemblé quelques-unes des plus grandes figures du pays. On y trouve notamment Samba Diabare Samb (1924-2019) (B1) et Amadou N'Diaye Samb (c. 1925-1982) (A1). Ces cousins, qui étaient des maîtres des traditions wolof et peule (halpulaar), étaient des chanteurs de renom et des virtuoses du luth à cinq cordes, le xalam (ou halam), et ont ensemble animé la célèbre émission de radio Sénégal Demb (Le Sénégal d'hier) à partir de la fin des années 1950. L'ensemble comptait également le grand chanteur et virtuose de la kora à 21 cordes, Lalo Kéba Dramé (1926-1974) (A2), ainsi que les célèbres divas et chanteurs Fa Mbaye Issa Diop (A3), Astou N’Dieuguen (B2) et Talla Sané (B3).
A1 – Niani (Wolof)
Niani was a powerful Wolof/Serer kingdom located along the Gambia River that existed from the 14th century to the late 19th century;
Vocals and xalam lute by Amadou N'Diaye Samb & backing vocals;
A2 – Alalake (Mandinka)
"It is God's will,"
Vocals and kora harp by Lalo Kéba Dramé;
A3 – Diegoye (Wolof)
"The Lioness,"
Vocals by Fa M'Baye Issa Diop, backing vocal, kora, xalam, flute & percussion;
B1 – Galayabe (Wolof)
Heroic epic and praise song,
Vocals and xalam lute by Samba Diabare Samb;
B2 – Fode Diouf (Wolof / Serer)
Praise song dedicated to Fode Diouf, a traditional ruler of Saloum who died in 1969,
Vocals by Astou N’Dieuguen, backing vocals, kora, flute & percussion;
B3 – Horoya (Mandinka)
"Freedom" "Liberty" or "Dignity,"
Vocals by Talla Sané backing vocal, kora, xalam, flute & percussion.
My other Senegalese music shares:
Soundioulou Sissoko & Mahawa Kouyaté / Lalo Kéba Dramé & Samba Diabare Samb – N'Dardisc here
Lalo Keba Drame et sa Cora – N'Dardisc here
La Musique des Griots – Ocora OCR 15 here
Soundioulou Sissoko – Disques Festival FAN 9002 here
Aissa M'baye – Sonafric SAF 50 027 here
Abdoulaye Idi Seck – Folklore du Sénégal Sonafric here
My Gambian, Guinean, Malian, Mauritanian kora and xalam posts and more:
National Ensemble of The Gambia – Melodiya here
L’Ensemble Instrumental Africain de la Radiodiffusion Nationale – La République de Guinée – Tempo here
Musique d’Afrique Occidentale – LDM 30116 here
Afrique Vol. 4 – Vogue EXTP 1032 here
Sékou Batourou Kouyaté et sa Cora – Disques Kouma KLP 1041 here
Ensemble Instrumental du Mali – Syllart Production here
Saidou Ba – Commentée et interprétée à la Guitare Africaine Hodou – Sonafric here
African Journey – A search for the Roots of the Blues Vol. 2 – Sonet here
African Journey – A search for the Roots of the Blues Vol. 1 – Sonet here
Vintage postcard of a Senegalese chief and
his griot on the xalam:
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