Music of Guinea
Encyclopedia
Guinea
is a West Africa
n nation, composed of several ethnic group
s. Of these, the music of the Mandé
has been particularly popular and internationally well-known, even outside of West Africa.
Guinea's Mandé are mostly Maninka-speaking. Music is dominated by the djelis, travelling singer-historians who sing praises to their noble patrons. In modern times, the guitar
plays a very important role. Traditionally, popular instruments include the ngoni, a distant relative of the banjo
, and the balafon
. Famous balafon players include El Hadj Djeli Sory Kouyaté and, early in his career, superstar Mory Kanté
. The kora
, a cross between a harp
and a lute
, is also widespread.
, the guitar was imported to Guinea and players like Kanté Facelli and his cousin Kanté Manfila developed their own style of playing.
Independence for Guinea came in 1958, and the first major band in the Guinean popular music tradition was formed by the government soon after; this was the Syli Orchestre National, a dance orchestra which featured some of the best musicians in the land. Guinea's President, Sekou Toure, disbanded all of the private dance orchestras in the country, and created a network of state-sponsored groups throughout the countty. Some of the early dance bands included popular groups like Keletigui Et Ses Tambourinis
, Balla et ses Balladins
, and Kebendo Jazz. Many of these bands recorded on Syliphone records. Bembeya Jazz National further enriched Guinea's musical melting pot after visiting Cuba
in 1965.
As in Mali, a roots revival
occurred in the 1960s and 1970s with state support from Sekou Touré. He introduced a radical cultural policy called "authenticite", whereby musicians and artists were instructed to "look at the past" for inspiration, and to incorporate traditional practices in their arts.
Authenticite ended with the death of Sekou Toure in 1984. Later, Mory Kanté became a big star. Albums like 10 Cola Nuts saw major mainstream success in both Guinea and Mali, as well as some European success. "Yeke Yeke", however, a single from Mory Kanté à Paris, became a European chart-topper in 1988.
See also: Guinean hip hop
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
is a West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
n nation, composed of several ethnic group
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
s. Of these, the music of the Mandé
Mandé
Mandé or Manden is a large group of related ethnic groups in West Africa who speak any of the many Mande languages spread throughout the region. Various Mandé groups are found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Chad, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger,...
has been particularly popular and internationally well-known, even outside of West Africa.
Guinea's Mandé are mostly Maninka-speaking. Music is dominated by the djelis, travelling singer-historians who sing praises to their noble patrons. In modern times, the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
plays a very important role. Traditionally, popular instruments include the ngoni, a distant relative of the banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
, and the balafon
Balafon
The balafon is a resonated frame, wooden keyed percussion idiophone of West Africa; part of the idiophone family of tuned percussion instruments that includes the xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel, and the vibraphone...
. Famous balafon players include El Hadj Djeli Sory Kouyaté and, early in his career, superstar Mory Kanté
Mory Kanté
Mory Kanté is a vocalist and player of the kora harp. He was born into one of Guinea's best known families of griot musicians...
. The kora
Kora (instrument)
The kora is a 21-string bridge-harp used extensively in West Africa.-Description:A kora is built from a large calabash cut in half and covered with cow skin to make a resonator, and has a notched bridge. It does not fit well into any one category of western instruments and would have to be...
, a cross between a harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
and a lute
Lute
Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
, is also widespread.
Popular music
After World War 2World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the guitar was imported to Guinea and players like Kanté Facelli and his cousin Kanté Manfila developed their own style of playing.
Independence for Guinea came in 1958, and the first major band in the Guinean popular music tradition was formed by the government soon after; this was the Syli Orchestre National, a dance orchestra which featured some of the best musicians in the land. Guinea's President, Sekou Toure, disbanded all of the private dance orchestras in the country, and created a network of state-sponsored groups throughout the countty. Some of the early dance bands included popular groups like Keletigui Et Ses Tambourinis
Keletigui Et Ses Tambourinis
Keletigui Et Ses Tambourinis were a dance music orchestra founded by the government of the newly independent state of Guinea-Conakry. They were one of the most prominent national orchestras of the new country.-Background:...
, Balla et ses Balladins
Balla et ses Balladins
Balla et ses Balladins were a dance-music orchestra formed in Guinea-Conakry in 1962 following the break-up of the Syli Orchestre National, Guinea's first state-sponsored group...
, and Kebendo Jazz. Many of these bands recorded on Syliphone records. Bembeya Jazz National further enriched Guinea's musical melting pot after visiting Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
in 1965.
As in Mali, a roots revival
Roots revival
A roots revival is a trend which includes young performers popularizing the traditional musical styles of their ancestors. Often, roots revivals include an addition of newly-composed songs with socially and politically aware lyrics, as well as a general modernization of the folk sound.After an...
occurred in the 1960s and 1970s with state support from Sekou Touré. He introduced a radical cultural policy called "authenticite", whereby musicians and artists were instructed to "look at the past" for inspiration, and to incorporate traditional practices in their arts.
Authenticite ended with the death of Sekou Toure in 1984. Later, Mory Kanté became a big star. Albums like 10 Cola Nuts saw major mainstream success in both Guinea and Mali, as well as some European success. "Yeke Yeke", however, a single from Mory Kanté à Paris, became a European chart-topper in 1988.
See also: Guinean hip hop
Suggested listening
- BBC Radio 3 Audio clip (60 minutes): Koo Nimo and King Ayisoba. Accessed November 25, 2010.
- Audio clips - traditional music from Guinea. French National Library. Accessed November 25, 2010. Audio clips: Traditional music of Guinea. Musée d'Ethnographie de Genève. Accessed November 25, 2010.
- Authenticite - The Syliphone Years (2008) Sterns