November 23, 2009

Donso 2: Yaya Sangaré

Compared to the amount of words in print about the hunters' music of the Wassoulou there is sadly little of this music available in the shops. This is regrettable, because it is the music itself that has given rise to its fame, and not all the various music styles which (claim to) have been derived from it.

This is only one of the reasons why I am posting another cassette by a donso n'goni artist. The main reason is, of course, that it is just plain great music.

This cassette by Yaya Sangaré is (again) one of the many produced by Siriman Diallo, who is the number one specialist and authority when it comes to hunters' music. His cassettes are strictly legitimate, with all copyrights paid.

Like many of the great donso n'goni artists Yaya Sangaré is a man with a strong personality. The force of this can be sensed in his music. He is perhaps not as spectacular as Yoro Sidibé, and certainly not as extreme as that young lion Sekouba Traoré (who will the subject of a later post), but he has enough depth to compensate for what he lacks in ardour.

It seems to me this cassette was recorded in two sessions, with side A and the first two tracks of side B belonging to the - more introspective - first, and the last three tracks to the - slightly more extrovert - second. Both moods seem to fit in perfectly with the stormy wet November weather we are having here in Western Europe (but don't ask me why...).

Siriman Diallo SD 041

9 comments:

Momo said...

Great K7,I can't get enough of it...
Still Keep the great work up!

Anonymous said...

The first time I heard the hunters music ,seemed shouting too much, but now that my Western ear has become accustomed, I perceive the environment as a heartbeat that calm me and connect me with earth.

The only problem,what I can hear when the tape runs out?

Anonymous said...

thank you for my favourite african music besides haruna. Love the stuff and have this K7 already but thrilled that the good word will spread.

Anonymous said...

Hi, I've been looking all over for this record, maybe you can help me:

I.Soumaoro et l'Eclipse de l' i.j.a - LE TIOKO-TIOKO

Great blog by the way!

/thank you

koyaanisqatsi said...

donso n'goni is some of the best sound i've ever heard. thanks so much. this is a great cassette. i highly recommend Yoro Sidibe's self titled cd on Yaala Yaala records. most powerful incarnation of this music i've heard.

good day all!

Anonymous said...

sekouba traore? the youtube clip(s) was/were cool... hope you'll post a cassette for us soon. enjoyed the yoro sidibe, too....


=D

Musiques d'Afrique said...

Does anyone have an idea in which year this cassette has been released?
Great music imo

WrldServ said...

@Musiques d'Afrique: I bought the cassette in 1990.

ngoni said...

Surely you would like to observe a ceremony with Donso Yaya Sangaré in his most spectacular aspect, we can also recognize other famous hunters like Warabatiato (Seydou Diakité) with his pout and the speaker Zoumana Yoro Traoré asking about the "Marassa"ceremony, etc.
To Djimala Yaya Sangare, Madou Sangarë father.

https://youtu.be/QH4j19XjLuE

Do not miss the final apotheosis.
https://youtu.be/QH4j19XjLuE?t=730