In the early 60s, this group played ‘unplugged’: mandolin, violins, double-bass, bongos and congas were the tools of their trade… that is, when they weren’t carrying rifles, pistols and machine guns. Because ‘Les Amazones de Guinee’ were originally ‘l’Orchestre feminin de la Gendarmerie de Guinee’ and as such were all serving officers and soldiers of the Guinean militia. They still are.
By the late 60s they had added electric guitars, kit drums and a horn section and, now officially known as ‘Les Amazones de Guinée’, were touring all over Africa bringing their particular brand of joy to the cause of African women’s emancipation. They triumphed at the legendary ‘Festac’ of 1977 held in Lagos and, five years later, recorded their 2nd album (1st as ‘Les Amazones’), ‘Au cœur de Paris’.
Between that and ‘Wamato’ is a cool 25 years but things move slowly in Guinea and, as is the way of these things, there have been retirements and deaths, notably of original saxophonist Fatou Soumah and ‘La Reine des Amazones’, guitarist Nyepou Haba. But ‘Les Amazones’ are nothing if not tenacious and bolstered by new blood and under the direction of bass-player, Commandant Salematou Diallo, the surviving members took the long mini-bus trek from Conakry in Guinea to Bamako in Mali, there to lay down their guns and record in the same studio as Ali Farka Toure, Damon Albarn, Oumou Sangare and many more.
The flowing, loping rhythms so particular to Guinea; the harmonic cycles that mesmerise and seduce; the vocals, sometimes sweet, sometimes strident but always full of conviction; is there any other band like ‘Les Amazones’? As the cry at the beginning of this album attests - ‘Retour en force des Amazones!’ (The Amazones - back with a vengeance!) – these women demand to be heard.
via www.circulabema.com
No comments:
Post a Comment