Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique: Fac Alliance

Frank Bessem's
Musiques d'Afrique:

Fac Alliance
(Guinée)

Musiques d'Afrique
Musiques de Guinée

Fac Alliance are a well-known hip hop outfit from Guinea. Although created in Conakry, two of the group's members, Abdoul Kader Sylla a.k.a. Nondi K and Amadou Gueye a.k.a. Pap G started their career in the town of Kindia, in a group called Bad Boys de Kindia. In 1993, they settled in Conakry to continue their studies at University and they formed FAC Alliance (Fac is short for Faculty). For a short stint, they had a female rapper included, Miss Hot, but their cooperation didn't last. On and around the university campus they became quite popular, and in 1996, they met Doura Barry who liked their style and agreed to help Fac Alliance in their career. Through Doura Barry, they met the third member, Mista X. Together, Fac Alliance were looking for their own style, mixing (West-)African elements with American hip hop, soul, reggae and dance hall.

Through the Centre culturel franco-guinéen they teamed up with Don Lucas, a music producer. In December 1999, they entered the studio to record their first album « Lougagnyi », which succesful songs such as « Mariama », based on Baaba Maal's song. In 2002, they released a second album, « Embargo », on which they offered space to other musicians and rappers, only a part of the songs is actually by Fac Alliance. Popular songs from this album are « Pauvreté » and « Telephone Love ».

In 2004, a third album « Kakilambe » (stilt walkers in malinke), came out. It was recorded in the Seydoni studio in Ouagadougou and released by Seydoni Mali. Unfortunately, Fac Alliance has still no international contract, which is a shame since their music is of world class, and few hip hop outfits sound as "African" as Fac Alliance, through the use of African instruments such as the kora, talking drum, as well as through using an original African song, as in the case of the song « Mariama ».

Members:
Abdoul Kader Sylla a.k.a. Nondi K
Amadou Gueye a.k.a. Pap G
Mista X a.k.a. Karimanissa

Sources:
FAC Alliance website [external link...].
FAC Alliance on Myspace [external link...].

Formed: 1993, in Conakry
Style: rap / hip hop.

Discography:

Title	Year	Label	Remarks
Kakilambé	2004	Seydoni Mali
Embargo	2002	Cassette
Lougagnyi	2000	Cassette

Video Clip Fac Alliance (2004)