37 f
hat may generate the greatest interest in the RTG archival collection, however, are the unre- leased recordings by Guinean orchestras such as Bembeya Jazz National. The RTG archive con- tained recordings of their live concerts featuring the legendary Demba Camara on vocals, plus unreleased studio recordings. Dozens of unreleased songs by several other national orchestras were also archived, but perhaps the greatest riches can be found in the recordings by the regional orchestras. Guinea had 35 administrative regions, or prefectures, and each region had its own orchestra. Syliphone released just a few songs by these groups, but the RTG archive contained much more material recorded over decades.
W
In addition to recordings by orchestras the RTG archive collec- tion features many solo artists. These are the big names of Guinean music, hugely popular in their own country but virtually unknown outside as their songs were never commercially released. Mama Kanté is one example. She was the lead singer of L’Ensem- ble Instrumental De Kissidougou, and possessed a voice with the raw power of Bessie Smith’s. Many recordings by her were archived. Another great singer was Tö Kouyaté, the lead singer of the Ensemble Instrumental National, who encapsulated the essence of the griot vocal style.
Guinea’s acoustic guitar tradition is very well represented in the archive, too, with dozens of recordings by guitar legends such as Manfila Kanté (of Les Ambassadeurs), Manfila Kanté (of Kele- tigui Et Ses Tambourinis), Kemo Kouyaté and Fodé Conté. From the Fouta Djallon region comes Binta Laaly Sow, Ilou Diohèrè, and Sory Lariya Bah, singers from the Fulbé cultural tradition from which the wassoulou music of Oumou Sangaré derives. And then there is Farba Tela (real name Oumar Seck), who is surely one of the great undiscovered talents of African music. Ali Farka Touré was influenced by him, and they share an intensity plus a love for over-amplified guitars.
The post-Touré years, when many of the orchestras struggled to survive without his funding, are also well represented, with approximately 4,000 songs recorded after 1984. Some of the names to look out for here are Super Flambeau, Atlantic Mélodie, Les Fils du Raïs, Jeanne Macauley, and Koubia Jazz. The archive col- lection also features thousands of traditional recordings by ensem- bles from all of Guinea’s regions and ethnic groups. Ethnomusicol- ogists would find a treasure trove of material here. Kadé Diawara, Kouyaté Sory Kandia, Amadou Barry, Doura Barry, Emile Tompapa, Fodé Conté... the archive features unreleased recordings by these artists and many, many more. The RTG archive will reveal the true scope of Guinean music and its influence on the development of popular music in Africa. Until now this had largely been known only through the Syliphone recordings, but there are now nearly 10,000 new songs to discover.
All songs digitised from the projects are available for listening to at the British Library’s Reading Room. They can also be accessed at Guinea’s national library which is housed in the Musée National complex in Boulbinet, Conakry. The complete catalogue of the RTG recordings is available for download from the author’s web- site –
www.radioafrica.com.au
F Bembeya Jazz National at London’s Africa Centre in 1987
Photo: Jak Kilby
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84