The Living History Book - Griot Tradition

The word "Griot" appears often in the sleeve notes of some of the albums featured on the TT in this first month. So, an explanation of this important character and their position in West African society is worthy of some further investigation.

In the days of the great Malian empire in the middle of the 14th Century the Griot's role was fundamental. They were the wise men who at the very senior level provided advice to kings and guidance on present-day dilemmas and problems, while at the grass-roots level mediated marriage rites or disputes that arose between families.

On top of this their hereditary linage meant that could lay claim to being living, breathing history books of the era and their position was elevated by this fact.

In the Epic of Sundjata, King Naré Maghann Konaté offered his son Sundiata a griot, Balla Fasséké, to advise him in his reign. Balla Fasséké is thus considered the first griot and the founder of the Kouyaté line of griots that exists to this day.

Over time the griot also became official musicians of society and would be called on to entertain the king and his entourage, as well as help to prepare warriors for battle with rousing stories - in fact a warrior king (jatigi) could not be without his griot.

Today the griot is still a revered character in West-African society.

Griot artists include: Mory Kanté (Guinea), Ba Cissoko (Guinea), Kasse Mady Diabate (Mali), Toumani Diabaté (Mali), Baba Sissoko (Mali).

(Picture featured: Fernand Allard L’Olivier, 1883–1933 Belgian, Kiyu Agricole date unknown, Oil on canvas)

African All Stars - TT Collective Mix

The TT collective mix brings together some of the major artists that have been featured in this first month of musical exploration (and shows off other faces that still have to have their own unique spotlight on these pages).

I hope that I've been able to share with you a taste of West Africa's contribution to global rhythm, extending to a depth only surpassed by Captain Nemo. Musical styles which borrow from Cuba, such as those from Kekele and Africando, melodies with their roots in Senegal and Mali copied and served up by the latest elected 24-hour pop sensation, and finally instruments such as the Cora that transcend rhythmic boundaries to offer something completely new and fresh

The African All Stars...(130MB download, 68 mins)

Track Listing: Cheikh Lo - Sou, Ba Cissoko - Allah Lake, Daby Balde - Mido Waino, Dianeba Seck - Bolokolonia, Kekele - Mace, Orchestra Baobab - Dee Moo Wer, Toumani Diabate - Mali Sadio, Tony Allen - One Tree, Tinariwen - Cler Achel, Mory Kante - Nafiya, Africando - Fatalikou, Nuru Kane - Talibe, Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabate - Kala, Amadou & Miriam - La Realite, Afel Bocoum - Alasida, Djeli Mouse Diawara - Almany, Ba Cissoko – Silany.

Kekele - Rumba in the Congo

It is to the Democratic Republic of Congo that the next musical focus belongs.

The roots of Congolese Rumba can be found in the city of Kinshasa (Leopoldville at the time) where local musicians started becoming familiar with Cuban music through radio broadcasts made during the 1950s. Hearing these imported sounds artists sought to combine them with their own local rhythms.

Congolese Rumba was born out of this musical cross pollination and it went on to dominate African popular music throughout the 1960s and 70s. Fast forward to the new millennium and for todays up and coming generation it’s been relegated to musical history.

However, Kekele, whose band members musical experience exceeds one-hundred years, have resurrected the Congolese Rumba. Their latest album Kinavana (and before that Rumba Congo) has first rate production and is sonically fantastic. They prove that’s it not just Tito Puente or Buena Vista Social club that know how to work those Cuban rhythms.

Listen to the track I’ve featured on this page, close your eyes and play guess the country.

Kekele - KinTokobuta Mikuwa

We could be sitting on a beach in Hawaii, cocktail in hand watching the hula girls swaying gently in the breeze. We could in Cuba playing dominoes in the street, or we could be in Africa? No way, we can’t be in Africa! But that’s exactly where we are!

The joy of this album for me is its ability to transport you to a place that leaves you guessing, albums like this remind us that we are all part of the same whole.

All Star Global Warming

Remember Global warming? that period in the 1990s that saw Governments and its communities creating a movement for being more environmentally conscious? That’s right you remember when people started to recycle, and they invented those enormous light bulbs that used less energy. Well, it seems that since the West captured Saddam and Osama has fallen out of the media spotlight environmentalism has made a welcome return to the global agenda. Now communities are made to feel that every freak weather condition is due not to industrial pollution or the seven litre car that has just pulled up alongside them at the traffic lights, but because they put a plastic bottle into a paper recycling bin.

Whatever the politics of it all here is a musical benefit, Rhythms del Mundo is a first for ‘Artists’ Project Earth' - the climate change and disaster relief charity.

The first album features a collaboration of artists including Coldplay, U2, Dido & Faithless, Sting, as well Ibrahim Ferrer and Omara Portuondo from Buena Vista Social Club. It is the latter two stars that bring to the album the overall flavour: Buena Vista versions of the featured artists most well known songs.

The result is distinctive: Colplay's Clocks, gets a new lease of life with Cuban instruments dissolving the desperation found in the original version, and catapulting the song to a fresher, more positive level. Also Omara Portuondo’s version of the Fugees hit, Killing me Softly, is another notable performance.

Find out more about the album on their website www.rhythmsdelmundo.com

I hope that in the future APE finds a way to team up with artists such as Toumani Diabate, Vieux Farka Toure, Kelele, Africando and Tony Allen to bring these fantastic artists to the global stage.