Guinea

Ahmed Sékou Touré became President after Guinea's independence in 1958, establishing a one-party dictatorship, with a closed, socialized economy & no tolerance for human rights, free expression, or political opposition. The country was named the People's Revolutionary Republic of Guinea. The newly independent Guinea was, however, concerned with the national musical heritage. The government set up the Syliphone label to record music, to help preserve & strengthen the culture of the new nation. Balla et ses Balladins was one of the most popular bands from these initiatives.

The group was named after their leader, trumpeter Balla Onivogui, who was born in 1938 in Macenta, a small town in south-eastern Guinea. Bala had been a student at the Music Academy in Senegal before being recruited to play in the celebrations of the Independence of Guinea in 1959. He quickly became a member & leader of the Syli Orchestre National. One of the Orchestre National responsibilities was working with musicians throughout Guinea to train young bands playing traditional Guineén music.

In 1962, to expand this program, the government split the Orchestre National into smaller units. One was under the direction of Balla Onivogui. This band became known as Balla et ses Balladins. They took up residency at Conakry Jardin de Guinée. (The other group resulting from the division was the famous Kélétigui et ses Tambourinis.)

Much of ses & les Balladins' success lies in the instrumentation: both leaders, Balla & Pivi are horn players rather than guitarists or singers. They were both serious musicologists, deeply into folkloric research. In 1970, government interference with the bands personnel forced the transfer of several band members to be part of Miriam Makeba’s back-up band while she was living in Guinea. A new singer was assigned to the band. Balla had a falling-out with some government officials over their interference. He was briefly replaced as leader by his friend & trombone player Pivi Moriba, to be restored following the intervention of President Ahned Sékou Touré himself.

Following the death of President Ahmed Sékou Touré in 1984, the Syliphone record label closed down. Balla continued with the band until his retirement in the late 90s. Although they have an all new line-up, the band still performs in Conarky to this day. Balla Onivogui died from a heart attack on March 15, 2011 in Conakry at the age of 75.

Pictured on front cover, from left to right:  Fodé N'Diaye Soumah - tenor sax & flute; David Condé (aka Daouda Condé) - drums; Mbemba Diakité - bass; Morciré 'Lopez' Camara - congas; Manfila 'Soba' Kanté - vocals; Emile 'Benny' Soumah - vocals; Ibrahima Kouyaté - guitar; & Pivi Moriba – trombone & alto sax.

 Pivi et Les Balladins – self-titled, Syliphone SLP 31, 1972.

decryption code in comments

     

Face A –

Yahadi géré

Fi sama

Fon n'tan siga

Keba mirima

Face B –

Sankaran ka

Ka noutea

Sakha a firma

Responsable Suprême

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We’ve been encountering many new musical styles here in Africa. Here’s one I haven’t posted yet…it’s called rap. Sooner or later it had to rear its ugly head. This is rap Guineé from the early aughties, chock full of Guinea traditional instruments & loads of modern bad attitude.

 M.C. N’Djoll – Djeliya cassette, BGDA, 200?. 

decryption code in comments

Face A –

Djeliya

Bonga

Rap Guineén

Le Bon

N’na Fanta

Face B –

Nimakénama

Fria Kira

Rap Guineén remix

I Kanawa

Enjoy,

NØ