Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique: Fodé Baro

Frank Bessem's
Musiques d'Afrique:

Fodé Baro
(Guinée)

Musiques d'Afrique
Musiques de Guinée

Fodé Baro was born in Kissidougou in the Kankan region of Guinea. His father, Ibrahim Khalil Baro, was a prominent islamic teacher (marabout) and his mother, Samatenin Touré, nurtured him with her fula (peul) culture. Fodé's mixed origin (his father being malinké) broadened his horizon, but his first interest in music, inspired by the great and late Aboubacar Demba Camara (of Bembeya), was stopped by his family as both parents are of noble descent, who are not supposed to sing or make music. In addition, the long tradition of his father's family in engaging in islamic teaching played a significant role in rejecting his musical activities that already took off when he was a teenager and he played percussion, n'goni and guitar at various occasions including cocktail parties at the presidential palace. Because of the difficulties with his family, Fodé quit school and left for Sierra Leone and Liberia. During those difficult years, a French priest helped him out and teached him to read musical notes, and he even sang in the church choir.
In 1985, Fodé Baro returns to Guinea where he met Myriam Makeba, who introduced him to her daughter Bongi Makeba who was looking for a bass player in her band. For a period of 8 months, Fodé played with Bongi during their European tour, and they made an album together. The untimely death of Bongi put an end to this fruitful cooperation, and Fodé entered the band Les Messagers of Mory Findian.

Looking for an international career, he settled in Paris in 1990. He entered the Bastille school of music and starts creating his own style, afro-zouk-mandingue. Together with musical arranger Philippe Guez he records a first solo album, « Donsoké » (hunter) 1992. During the mid-1990s, Fodé Baro was an important participant in the « Sans Papiers » compilation albums, produced by Ibrahima Sylla. Fodé was involved in the first three out of the series of four albums, either as singer, arranger or bass player.

His second album « Aventurier » has been an even bigger success as major African radio stations such as Africa No.1, RFI, MCM Africa aired his song « Yirikikiki » extensively. Both this, and his Sans Papiers contributions, have turned him into the best-known Guinean artist in other parts of Africa outside his home country.
The latest album « Foufafou » (meaning "nothing" in Susu) has been partly recorded in Senegal (with the help of Philippe Monteiro), and some songs have been recorded in Abidjan (with featurings by DJ Lewis, DJ Bordo and Soum Bill). In late 2008, Fodé Baro received the Djembe d'or award in Conakry for the first cassette volume, « Foufafou, Acte I ».

Sources:
Fode Baro website [external link];
Article Le Grand Soir [external link];
Lydia's Musikseite [external link].
Interview with GuineeConakryInfo [external link].

Musicians on the "Aventurier" album:
Fodé Baro lead vocals;
Sekouba Bambino lead vocal on « Mami Wata »;
Hadja Maningbe, Amy Bamba, Monique Lesueur backing vocals;
Marie Celine Crone backing vocal;
Herman Fleuret guitar " zouk";
Lenke Conde guitar;
Ibrahima Soumano solo guitar;
Guy Nsangue bass;
Adama Conde balafon;
Yeye Kante percussion;
Sekou Bembeya guitar on « Mami Wata »;
Syran Mbenza guitar « Camara Ami »;
Alain Hatot saxophone;
Philippe Slominsky trumpet;
Jacques Bolognesi trombone;
Jeannot Zabulon keyboards, programming & arrangements on « Yirikikiki », « Mon amour » and « Mami Wata »;
Philippe Guez keyboards, programming & arrangements.

Born: in Kissidougou (Kankan region)
Style: mandingo music / afro-zouk.

Discography:

Title	Year	Label	Remarks
Foufafou	2008	Syllart	In Guinea, released on 2 cassettes, Foufafou Acte I and Acte II (Guibel Music)
Débrouillons-nous	2006	Syllart
Sangali - l'Agitateur	2003	Self-produced/Syllart
Aventurier	2000	Syllart SYLAF 96085	The African cassette release was named "Junior"
Donsoke	1992	Syllart 38136-2	Release in 1996 by Stern's Music (STCD 1067)
Urgence	199?	Mali K7	African release of Donsoke