Rail Band
Encyclopedia
The Rail Band, formed in 1970, is one of the most popular groups in the history of Malian music
; it was later known as Super Rail Band, Bamako Rail Band or, most comprehensively and formally, Super Rail Band of the Buffet Hotel de la Gare, Bamako. Its fame was built upon the mid-20th century craze for Latin — especially Cuban — jazz music which came out of Congo
in the 1940s. The Rail Band was one of the first West African acts to combine this mature Afro-Latin sound with traditional instruments and styles. In their case, this was built upon the Mande
Griot
praise singer tradition, along with Bambara and other Malian and Guinean musical traditions. Their distinctive sound came from combining electric guitar and jazz horns with soaring Mandinka and Bamabara lyrical lines, African and western drums, and local instruments such as the kora
and the Balafon
. At their height of fame in the 1970s, the Rail Band played to sold out venues and even stadia across West Africa, and launched solo careers for many of its members, including the legendary vocalist Salif Keita
.
and the railway administration. The Malian government had, since the '60s, been sponsoring cultural events and groups to promote national traditions, the Rail Band was among those programs. The band performed as the house band at the Buffet Bar of the Station Hotel in Bamako
, from which it takes its name. Beginning as a Latin Jazz band in the style of Congolese Soukous
, it soon began integrating local Manding
musical styles and traditions, with vocals in the Bambara language
. From early on the band featured electric guitar, electric organ, saxophone, horns, and a western drum kit along side Mande music using kora
, balafon
, Ngoni, talking drums, Islamic-style, Mande hunter co-fraternity
song, and Griot
praise-singing vocals .
, who left the band to join the rival Super Ambassadeurs and then follow a successful solo career in 1982. The group soon became a training ground for many of Mali's most popular performers, like singer Mory Kanté
and guitar
ist Kante Manfila. Guitarist Djelimady Tounkara
has been a member of the band for most of its history. The band, changing personnel many times, continues to perform around the world.
Music of Mali
The Music of Mali is dominated by forms derived from the ancient Mande Empire. The Mande people make up most of the country's population, and their musicians, professional performers called jeliw , have produced a vibrant popular music scene alongside traditional folk music...
; it was later known as Super Rail Band, Bamako Rail Band or, most comprehensively and formally, Super Rail Band of the Buffet Hotel de la Gare, Bamako. Its fame was built upon the mid-20th century craze for Latin — especially Cuban — jazz music which came out of Congo
Congolese music
The term Congolese music can refer to the music of two different countries:*Music of the Republic of the Congo *Music of the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
in the 1940s. The Rail Band was one of the first West African acts to combine this mature Afro-Latin sound with traditional instruments and styles. In their case, this was built upon the Mande
Mande
Mande may refer to:* Mandé peoples of western Africa* Mande languages* Manding, a term covering a subgroup of Mande peoples, and sometimes used for one of them, Mandinka* Garo people of northeastern India and northern Bangladesh...
Griot
Griot
A griot or jeli is a West African storyteller. The griot delivers history as a poet, praise singer, and wandering musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition. As such, they are sometimes also called bards...
praise singer tradition, along with Bambara and other Malian and Guinean musical traditions. Their distinctive sound came from combining electric guitar and jazz horns with soaring Mandinka and Bamabara lyrical lines, African and western drums, and local instruments such as 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...
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...
. At their height of fame in the 1970s, the Rail Band played to sold out venues and even stadia across West Africa, and launched solo careers for many of its members, including the legendary vocalist Salif Keita
Salif Keita
Salif Keïta is an internationally recognized afro-pop singer-songwriter from Mali. He is unique not only because of his reputation as the Golden Voice of Africa, but because he has albinism and is a direct descendant of the founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata Keita...
.
Innovation
The first incarnation of the Rail Band was founded in 1970, sponsored by the Ministry of InformationMinistry of Information
The term Ministry of Information may refer to the following:* Ministry of Information , part of the Cabinet of Egypt* Ministry of Information , part of the Cabinet of Equatorial Guinea...
and the railway administration. The Malian government had, since the '60s, been sponsoring cultural events and groups to promote national traditions, the Rail Band was among those programs. The band performed as the house band at the Buffet Bar of the Station Hotel in Bamako
Bamako
Bamako is the capital of Mali and its largest city with a population of 1.8 million . Currently, it is estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and sixth fastest in the world...
, from which it takes its name. Beginning as a Latin Jazz band in the style of Congolese Soukous
Soukous
Soukous is a dance music genre that originated in the two neighbouring countries of Belgian Congo and French Congo during the 1930s and early 1940s, and which has gained popularity throughout Africa...
, it soon began integrating local Manding
Mandinka people
The Mandinka, Malinke are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa with an estimated population of eleven million ....
musical styles and traditions, with vocals in the Bambara language
Bambara language
Bambara, more correctly known as Bamanankan , its designation in the language itself , is a language spoken in Mali by as many as six million people...
. From early on the band featured electric guitar, electric organ, saxophone, horns, and a western drum kit along side Mande music using 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...
, 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...
, Ngoni, talking drums, Islamic-style, Mande hunter co-fraternity
Dozo
The Dozo are traditional hunters in northern Ivory Coast, southeast Mali, and Burkina Faso, and members of a co-fraternity containing initiated hunters and sons of Dozo, called a Donzo Ton...
song, and Griot
Griot
A griot or jeli is a West African storyteller. The griot delivers history as a poet, praise singer, and wandering musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition. As such, they are sometimes also called bards...
praise-singing vocals .
Personnel
The Rail Band's lead singer in the 1970s was Salif KeitaSalif Keita
Salif Keïta is an internationally recognized afro-pop singer-songwriter from Mali. He is unique not only because of his reputation as the Golden Voice of Africa, but because he has albinism and is a direct descendant of the founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata Keita...
, who left the band to join the rival Super Ambassadeurs and then follow a successful solo career in 1982. The group soon became a training ground for many of Mali's most popular performers, like singer 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...
and 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...
ist Kante Manfila. Guitarist Djelimady Tounkara
Djelimady Tounkara
Djelimady Tounkara is a Malian musician and one of the foremost guitarists in Africa.Born in the culturally rich town of Kita, west of the Malian capital, Bamako, Djelimady grew up surrounded with traditional music played by members of his family, griots, musicians and historians by birth....
has been a member of the band for most of its history. The band, changing personnel many times, continues to perform around the world.
Discography
- 1970 : Sunjata (Bärenreiter-Musicaphon )
- 1976 : Melodias Rail Band du Mali (Kouma)
- 1976 : Concert "Rail Band" du Mali (Kouma)
- 1976 : Melodias "Rail Band" du Mali (Kouma)
- 1977 : Orchestre du Buffet Hôtel de la Gare de Bamako (HNLX 5179)
- 1979 : Affair Social (Sacodis LS-25)
- 1985 : New Dimensions in Rail Culture (Globestyle)
- 1994 : Super Rail Band de Bamako/ Djougouya Magni (Indigo)
- 1996 : Mansa (Indigo)
- 2003 : Kongo Sigui (Indigo)