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Balaphone music from Guinea
| NABY CAMARA was born in Boke, a village in the coastal
region of Guinea, West Africa. He is a GRIOT, or traditional oral historian, as are
(were) his father, brother, grandfather, and great grandfather. The legendary
balafon player Amadu Djabate was Nabi's first teacher. Nabi began playing music
at the age of three, and is a master of Balafon, djembe, and DounDoun. In
Africa, Nabi played for many traditional ceremonies, weddings and celebrations.
He was also a member of numerous well-known groups such as Fatala, Les Merve,
Mandeng Yahara, and Les Ballet African de Guinea. Since then, Nabi has
travelled the world performing the sweet melodies of the Mandingo People and
sharing his rich culture. |
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NEW RELEASE
!! DREAM This CD features Naby playing traditional Guinean balafone music on a 5-octave concert marimba in "standard" tempered tuning, making Naby's virtuosity even more accessible to "western" ears. His arrangements include 2 marimba tracks (overdubbed) and percussion. Songs: Fon Moneba, Tantamba, Denykemba, Super Yeye, Yankadi, Diya, Toutou Diarra, Soli, kenbendou, Konkoba, Sorsonet. |
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Price $15.00 ORDERING INFO |
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Lagni-Sussu Nabi Camara - balaphone Sylvain Leroux - flute Omoniyi - doun-doun and balaphone Morikeba Kouyate - kora and voice Christian - djembe Musical arrangement - Nabi Camara |
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NO LONGER AVAILABLE |
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| The very first BALAPHONE, the sosso bala, is over eight centuries
old. Soumaworo Kante, leader of the Sosso Kingdom, crafted the first Balaphone
after meeting with spirits who showed him the instrument. He kept his
instrument jealously guarded and allowed no one to touch it but himself. It is
said that if a fly touched it he would find it and kill it. During the time of
battle with the Mandingo Kingdom a Griot named Diakouma Dova, who was
imprisoned at Soumaworo’s court, defied the warnings and played the
sosso-bala. However enraged by the audacity, Soumaworo was impressed by the
griot’s talent. He then authorized Diakouma Doua to play the sosso-bala
and named him “Bala Fasseke Kwate” (the balaphone player). Thus Bala
Fasseke became the guardian of Soumaworo Kante’s balaphone. Since then it
has remained in the hands of the Kouyate family and the descendents of Bala
Fasseke Kwate. The balaphone has become a privileged instrument in all
important ceremonies. Today after more than 800 years, the original balaphone
is kept virtually intact in the village of Niagassola in the north of Guinea.
(from the CD liner notes) |
| For
BOOKING or to contact
Nabi, Click Here |
| Copyright © 2002 HumanSongs Records |