Teranga Senegal
Teranga Senegal curated by Batuki Music Society brings together some of the finest singers and instrumentalists of Senegalese heritage for their premiere concert at Habari Africa. The music performance will focus on specific traditions, songs and rhythms that draw from the vast cultural wealth of Senegalese music. The inspiration for this new creative work is a desire to explore the Senegalese music traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. The presentation will highlight the works of Senegalese-Canadian artists, musicians and composers. Though Senegal is a very traditional society, it is a modern democracy where many ethnic groups, traditions and religions coexist in a cohesive environment. The country’s music is an oasis of traditional songs, melodies, rhythms and modern beats.
There are a large number of genres. The traditional Manding compositions are performed by griots with kora and hand percussion accompaniment. Yella is the music of the Sahel region and made famous by one of Senegal’s most popular artists Baaba Maal, sung in Pulaar language. Bougarabou music features hinde drum (a special Senegalese drum), whistle, hand percussion and sung in the Khasonke language. Assiko is the fruit of several beats that have migrated to Gorée, Senegal through slavery: songs from what is today known as Congo, Cameroon, The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria made their way to this West African island. And the modern Mbalax, made popular by the star Youssou N’Dour, is a genre that emerged in the 1970’s as the distinctive sound of postcolonial Senegal. It was derived from a fusion of indigenous Wolof sabar drumming with music principally from African popular music.
Here in Montreal, there are Senegalese-Canadian emerging and established artists who share a deep connection through the language, stories and songs that define their Senegalese heritage. These artists have been inspired by Senegalese music and its evolving forms which is reflected in their own artistic work. The featured artists include:
- Kora player, percussionist, composer and vocalist Noumoucounda Cissoko, hailed as the Jimi Hendrix of the kora, who cleverly moves between genres; from blues, jazz, hip-hop, fused with his griot traditions and Senegalese mbalax. On international tours he has participated along with renowned artists such as Youssou Ndour, Ky Marley, Ira Colman, Ernest Ranglin, Alpha Blondy, Omar Pene, Red Rats, Princess Erika, MC Solaar and Stromae.
- His brothers, Sadio (JUNO winner) and Fa Sissokho are based in Montreal, they are griots and multi-instrumentalists (kora, hinde, tama, djembe, doun-doun, sabar drums, singers) who have been a fixture on the Canadian music scene performing traditional and contemporary genres of Senegalese and West African music.
- Assane Seck is the son of the griot Zale Seck, he is a guitarist, arranger and composer who has worked with the top players in the Senegalese and African music scene in Canada and around the world.
- Seydina Ndiaye is a vocalist and composer with a passion for traditional and modern Senegalese music. Before moving to Canada, he was in demand with international touring groups and one of the artists in Youssou N’Dour’s record label, a place reserved for the top vocalists and musicians in Senegal.
- Ilam is a rising star of popular Senegalese music. He is diverse in his musical repertoire that includes yella and blues of the Sahel, Fulani roots, reggae and Afropop. He was the recipient of the Radio Canada Revelation Award in 2017.
- Raphael Ojo is an expert drummer in West African rhythms, especially the difficult Senegalese beats. He is highly skilled in the various musical genres in this project.
- Pape Ndiaye is an exceptional tama player, one of the emblematic instruments of Senegalese traditional and modern music.
- Atoumane Diop is a keyboardist based in Ottawa with extensive experience in West African music.
- Congolese bassist Dauphin Mbuyi is a fixture in the African music scene in Montreal, well-experienced in various forms of African music, from traditional genres to gospel and other popular music.
All these musicians have extensive experience in Senegalese music genres in their traditional discipline, as well as its modern forms. The Teranga Senegal repertoire will include a selection of the artists’ compositions along with new arrangements for popular Senegalese songs.
