Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique: Les Espoirs de Coronthie (Guinée)

Musiques d'Afrique Musiques de Guinée

Les Espoirs de Coronthie is the second group to become hugely popular with a music "tradi-moderne" comparable to that of Etoiles de Boulbinet. Hailing from Coronthie, a densely populated district of Guinea's capital Conakry, they sing mainly in Soussou and French, and appeal to the public for both their semi-traditional music, inspired by the coastal region's folkore, as for their lyrics. Formed by young musicians of Coronthie, they produced their first albums themselves and not without success, as their second album « Dunuya Igiri » sold 70,000 times, predominantly in Guinea. It was their breakthrough album, and was recorded in the Magson Studio in Conakry. When in Conakry, you can hear their music everywhere in the streets, in bars, shops, taxis, and on the radio. The first album won the Djembe d'or award 2002, the second album the Djembe d'or 2004 award. The three lead singers Mangue, Sanso (Sang chaud) and Machete have strong, sometimes even harsh voices, very different one from the other, and they are for a large part responsible for the success the group has met. With the help of band member and arranger Antoine Amigues the Espoirs de Coronthie toured in France in summer 2007 where they gained accclaim from the French public during 26 concerts, and they came back in summer 2008. Late 2007, they recorded a new album « Tinkhinyi » in the Bogolan studio in Bamako (Mali), which was released in Guinea in 2008 and can be ordered at Wountanara Association in France. Musicians on Tinkhinyi: "Mangue" Bouba Camara lead vocals; "Sanso" Aly Sylla lead vocals; "Machete" Sory Dondo Touré lead vocals; Djéliké Camara balafon, guitar; Kandia Kouyaté kora, backing vocals; Antoine Amigues guitar, bass and vocals; Eric Amara Camara bolon, backing vocals; Colga Nouha Camara calebash, batta, backing vocals; "Stand By" Ibrahima Sylla bongo Mohamed « Boy » Camara gongoma, backing vocals Mohamed Oularé Tarra castagnettes; Kizano djembé Laurent castagnettes; Petit Festodi backing vocals; Guests: Olivier Longre harmonica (12); Pierre Lebourgeois violoncello (1); Adama Yalomba n'goni (8); Alou Sam vocals (12). More readings: [link : www.myspace.com/espoirscoronthie]. [link : www.lesespoirs.com].

The three singers of Les Espoirs, Mangué, Sanso and Machete. Photo: courtesy Les Espoirs/A. Amigues

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