Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique: Amadou Balaké

Frank Bessem's
Musiques d'Afrique:

Amadou Balaké
(Burkina Faso)

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Amadou Balaké's name may not ring bells right away, but he is (or should be) more famous than one would say in first instance. Born in Burkina Faso, or Haute Volta as it was called at the time, he played in Ghana before breaking through in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. In that city of musical crossroads he worked for years with producer Aboudou Lassissi who runned a successful label Sacodis in the late 1970s and early 1980s. For Sacodis, he made several albums, recording songs in various styles, many of them with a strong latin tinge in the Charanga tradition. But he also recorded songs with heavy Malian influence, highlife or afro-funk. Later albums he recorded with Lassissi in America.

Amadou Balaké (sometimes also written as Ballaké) was asked to act as guest singer for Africando's 2000 album « Betece » (also released as « Mandali »), on which he sang the title song « Betece ». He is now a full member of Africando and participates in their tours. He recorded the song « Abibou » for the 2003 album « Martina » by Africando.

International exposure of Amadou's solo work was increased when his old hit « Taximen » was featured on the much acclaimed compilation Golden Afrique Vol.1. Soon after, a reissue of the album « Taximen » came out, thus showing the rest of the world the talent and the warm voice of Balake.

[ Sources:
Muzikifan [link];
Burkina Ministry of Culture [link]];
Africambiance forum [link]];
Bolingo.org [link]]

Born: as Amadou Traoré in Ouagadougou
Style: afro-latin / charanga / highlife / afro-funk / mandingo.

Discography:

Title	Year	Label	Remarks
Senor Eclectico	2008	Oriki Music ORK005	Full title: Burkinabe dance music of the 70's
Taximen	2005	pam adc 308	Full title: dans son nouveau style Taximen et autres son
Natoma	2004	Seydoni Burkina
Amadou Balaké à Paris (Djala Songon)	1987	Sacodis LS 86	LP
Afro-Charanga	1982	Zamidou 1582	LP
Amadou Balaké à New York	1979	Sacodis LS 22	LP
Amadou Balake vol. 3	1979	Sacodis LS 11-79	LP
Vol.2: Bar Konan Mousso Bar	1978	Sacodis LS 8-78	LP
Taximen	1978	Sacodis LS 7-78	Full title: dans son nouveau style Taximen et autres son
Amadou Traoré & ses Dieux	1976	Club Voltaique du Disque CVD 008