riots a1. hamma ba a2. balankula a3. dalua a4. bantamba kuyateh
b1. jimbasengo b2. masaane siise b3. tutu jara b4. fa banta toure
another fabulous/forgotten gem of mandinka kora musique buried deep in the early virgin catalogue, bach when virgin were actually doin sumptin real. this album coincided with the fam's tour of europe that year. anyone know if these cats are related to lamine konté? it seems plausible that in gambia the surname 'konte' might be like 'khan' in india or 'smith' in the states. also it hadn't occured to me that the kora could look so phallic until i seen these fellas smiling on the cover :) anyhu, 320 thx to uzima for this easy breezy beautiful vinyl rip
Born in 1942 in Bantagnima, a district of Marsassoum, Casamance, Senegal, Lamine Konté transformed the playing of the 21-string kora thanks to his ceaseless experimentations on this complex instrument. He also contributed to film scores including a collaboration with Stevie Wonder on The Secret Life of Plants soundtrack. This gifted musician and poet died in Paris on September 29th, 2007, aged 65.
"Griots could be compared to needles that stitch together the different social tissues, and tighten the links between the families. Through them, we wake people from their torpor by reminding them of the great deeds of their families.”
The words of Lamine Konté reflect the long griot lineage he and his family have in the Casamance. Soundioulou Cissokho, Lalo Keba Dramé and Bana Cissokho are just some of the names that the Kontés are associated with in the Sédhiou region of Senegal where Lamine grew up. Added to this spiritual heritage was the traditional way of playing the Mandingo kora, and Lamine’s uncle Sédhiou was the indisputed master of this venerated instrument.
Konté was initiated young to the kora. At the age of 21 he participated in the international festival of Mexico, his first foray abroad. By then he had founded the group Waatoo Siita with Ousmane Sow Huchard and André Lô. In 1971, he moved to Paris & his open-minded curiosity allowed him to break out of the conservative heritage of his forefathers and reach a non-West African audience. In 1974, Konté and Waatoo Siita toured Quebec, where it became apparent that Konté was beginning to push back the limits of traditional kora playing and experiment with its range. This included adding strings, four in all. Back in Dakar he started collaborating with the capital’s Xalam II in 1979. Three years later, he went to Los Angeles with singing diva Aïcha Koné to record an album with the Ebony Band.
For the next decade the West African artist travelled tirelessly, bringing his Mandingo kora playing and outstanding voice to audiences in North America and Europe. In 1995 and 1996, he participated in the inaugural Printemps des Cordes festivals with his Lamine Konté Bunda group. His poetry was also beginning to spread and reflected his pursuit of peace and dialogue in his troubled homeland of the Casamance.
Lamine Konté’s art served to feed the up-and-coming generations of artists. He recorded several records that have become reference works on kora playing and its development since independence in Senegal. This included La Kora du Sénégal 1 and 2, as well as Griot Legend. Many of his compositions have become standards in the Mandingo repertoire of the Casamance. On September 29th, 2007, the master musician died of cancer in his adopted home city of Paris. He was buried on October 3rd.
hard to come by release from this legend of kora & senegalese cultural awareness. he championed many of the finest african poets by singing their prose thru his songs. most uplifting. r.i.p. Lamine Konté 1942-2007. further
Musique D'Afrique Occidentale - Collection Musée de l'Homme Music from West - Museum of Man Collection [Disques Vogue, VG 403] Recorded November & December, 1952 by Gilbert Rouget
Side A [Mandinka Musique]
01 Xylophone & women's chorus 02 Harp lute solo 03 Praise song 04 Water drum 05 Flute, women's chorus & drums 06 Song for the hunter's dance 07 Drums & women's chorus
Side B[Baule Musique]
08 Call, entrance & dance of Glau [deity] 09 Flute duet 10 Musical bow solo 11 Xylophone solo 12 Men's chorus & harp 13 Drumming & singing for medicine man's dance
we've met the marvelous mandinka before & they can do no wrong. the baule are a forest people & display a slighty weirder vocal tonality. there remains so much to learn & fortunately a decent amount of detailed lit is enclosed for our illumination. encroyable sounds & fidelity on this one. the baule forked harp sounds like it's being played underwater & the mouth bow has a roger troutman thang happenin. 320vinyl rip, skans & liners. 1001 tanx & praises to opotra vez for this amazin hook-up
