"Diabate was encouraged by her family to pursue music as a child, and began singing on a local basis when the family moved to Abidjan after her father's death. She was discovered by reggae star Alpha Blondy, who strongly encouraged her and helped set up her first recording. Her music blends traditional Guinean sounds with influences such as zouk and soukous. She became a celebrity in the Ivory Coast and moved to Paris in 1984 to join her cousin, Mory Kante. Her first international release came out in 1989." (Allmusic)
"This intimate collection (on the French Sonodisc label) captures Mali's Amadou & Mariam without their propulsive band behind them. A couple of songs from Tje Ni Mousso and Sou Ni Tile have been re-recorded for this set, but the majority of numbers are new. Though these performances are passionate and worthwhile, this husband and wife's recordings with a full ensemble aren't easily surpassed." (Allmusic)|
"Ifang Bondi, meaning "be yourself" in Mandinka language, grew out of the former Gambian band the Super Eagles. Founded in the 60's the Super Eagles was the undisputed top group in Gambia and Senegal. In 1968 they toured Ghana, making an enormous impact with their very African sound in a country which was shortly to produce Osibisa. In 1970 Super Eagles was disbanded only to rise up again in 1973, as Ifang Bondi. The name was new as the sound, featuring for the first time indigenous Senegambian rhythms, melodies and instruments. They integrated traditional instruments as kora, balafon, sabar, talking drum, bugarabu and djembe with mordern instruments as the electric guitar, bass, and keyboards. As such they have been credited to be the true originators of the current "Afro-Manding" sound as extemporised by stars such as Yousou N'Dour, Salif Keïta and Mory Kante. (last.fm)
Ami Koita (1953, Djoliba - Mali) stamt uit een familie van zgn griots: de verhalenvertellers van de geschiedenis van het Mandingovolk uit West-Afrika. Haar vader en moeder waren beide griots. Van haar moeder leerde ze zingen, met die kenmerkende krachtige manier van zingen die we van meer Malinese zangers/essen kennen, zoals Kasse Mady Diabat?en Sory Kandia Kouyat? (TH - Muziekbank)|
"Kante Manfila was one of the founding members of Les Ambassadeurs du Motel Mali along with Salif Keita, cowriting many of the hits from the band. Now on his own, Manfila released his fourth solo album in 1995, Ni Kanu (Love). The songs advise in the context of every social topic possible in the range of the album: arranged marriages, materialism, lust for power, piety, truth, war, righteousness. The songs at times hold an almost Salif Keita-like sound to them in the vocals, and at times hold an almost Bruce Springsteen-like sound to them in the synthesizer work. The works are almost surreal in the quality of the production to meld electronic instrumentation with acoustic, along with the dreamy vocals and occasional guitar work that ranges almost to soukous (but only almost). For those that can bring themselves to enjoy Salif Keita's work, but perhaps find it a bit soft, or enjoy Youssou N'Dour's work, but perhaps find it a bit fast, Kante Manfila can probably fit the bill easily." (Allmusic).|
"Les Amazones de Guinée are an all-female band from Guinea, founded in 1961. All members of the group were officers of the Guinean army, or 'Gendarmerie'. The group continues to select members of its at times 15-20 strong lineup exclusively from the army. Founder members were Sona Diabaté, M'Mah Sylla, Condette Kouyate, Mama Niepo, Fatou Soumah, Nyépou Haba, and Kade Diallo. Other founder members need to be established. On 25th February 1983, Kade Diallo, the unique percussionist for Les Amazones was involved in a fatal road accident outside Conakry. It was only the day after the Amazones had returned from a well received tour of France. After this the group did not produce another record until Wamató in 2008, only the second record in their entire existence. Tracks 1 - 8 : live recorded at Theatre de la Mutualit? Paris, 6 April 1983. Tracks 9 - 11 : studio recording, 1983." (Discogs)
Een album met 2 medley's van nummers van bekende West-Afrikaanse bands en artiesten, zoals Bembeya Jazz, Horoya Band, Balla en Sory Kandia Kouyate. Het is wat eenvormig uitgevoerd maar w? goed gedaan, in de stijl van de zgn. mandingobeat. De cd duurt slechts een half uur want origineel uitgebracht op lp TH - Muziekbank)|
