If you are reading this post you are probably aware of, and enjoy, the wonderful 1960s recordings of Mali's regional and national orchestras. These government-sponsored orchestras made some of the finest West African recordings of the 1960s. Less well known are the troupes folkloriques that the Malian government also sponsored. Just as each of Mali's seven regions had their modern orchestra, performing guitar-band arrangements of traditional melodies and new compositions, each region had their troupe folklorique, performing the typical 'folklore' of their region. All of these ensembles were recorded by the Radio Nationale du Mali. Unfortunately, very few of these recordings were ever commercially released (these two fabulous compilations of Malian music featured several of these ensembles).
This cassette features a dozen tracks by the Troupe Folklorique de Gao, recorded by the Radio Nationale du Mali. Gao sits on the banks of the Niger River, a 1000 km northeast of Bamako, on the left bank of the river, as it flows south towards Niger. Gao was the capital of the 15th century Songhaï empire and remains the cultural capital of the Songhaï. This cassette includes two sets of songs, all in Songhaï. The first features a choral ensemble accompanied by an acoustic guitar, the n'jarka (one-string fiddle), and percussion. In the second set of songs the electric guitar replaces the n'jarka.
The cassette J-card unfortunately doesn't provide much information, 'Générale Soumaré, Troupe de Gao. En Songhaï'. That's it. General Abdoulaye Soumaré was the first chief of staff of the Malian army, nominated by President Modibo Keïta on December 28, 1960. He died four years later on October 2, 1964. I don't think this cassette, however, is a tribute to General Soumaré but rather to the ship that bears his name. The Compagnie Malienne de Navigation inaugurated the Général Soumaré in 1964. From July to January, the Général Soumaré travels the 1380 kms from Koulikoro to Gao, and back, one-week, each way. The boat carries passengers, freight, mail, and livestock, up and down the Niger. Gao was, for centuries, an important stop on the trans-Saharan caravan-route linking Zaria, Nigeria, to Tunis. The Général Soumaré helped shift the town's economic and political orientation, reinforcing Gao's ties to Mali's other Niger-river towns, Tomboctou (not on the river, but close), Mopti, Ségou, and Bamako. Fifty-six years after it's inauguration, the Général Soumaré remains in service.
Download Troupe Folklorique de Gao (Songhai)
The deeper you get into this cassette the more enjoyable the music. Stick with it, it is worth the time.
Enjoy!!
This cassette features a dozen tracks by the Troupe Folklorique de Gao, recorded by the Radio Nationale du Mali. Gao sits on the banks of the Niger River, a 1000 km northeast of Bamako, on the left bank of the river, as it flows south towards Niger. Gao was the capital of the 15th century Songhaï empire and remains the cultural capital of the Songhaï. This cassette includes two sets of songs, all in Songhaï. The first features a choral ensemble accompanied by an acoustic guitar, the n'jarka (one-string fiddle), and percussion. In the second set of songs the electric guitar replaces the n'jarka.
The cassette J-card unfortunately doesn't provide much information, 'Générale Soumaré, Troupe de Gao. En Songhaï'. That's it. General Abdoulaye Soumaré was the first chief of staff of the Malian army, nominated by President Modibo Keïta on December 28, 1960. He died four years later on October 2, 1964. I don't think this cassette, however, is a tribute to General Soumaré but rather to the ship that bears his name. The Compagnie Malienne de Navigation inaugurated the Général Soumaré in 1964. From July to January, the Général Soumaré travels the 1380 kms from Koulikoro to Gao, and back, one-week, each way. The boat carries passengers, freight, mail, and livestock, up and down the Niger. Gao was, for centuries, an important stop on the trans-Saharan caravan-route linking Zaria, Nigeria, to Tunis. The Général Soumaré helped shift the town's economic and political orientation, reinforcing Gao's ties to Mali's other Niger-river towns, Tomboctou (not on the river, but close), Mopti, Ségou, and Bamako. Fifty-six years after it's inauguration, the Général Soumaré remains in service.
Download Troupe Folklorique de Gao (Songhai)
The deeper you get into this cassette the more enjoyable the music. Stick with it, it is worth the time.
Enjoy!!
Thank you.
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