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In the beginning, « Soumbouyaya » was a fantasy tale. « Soumbouyaya was a mythical figure who could eat huge quantities of food (for example, two cows, 200 kilos of rice, etc) in front of his public. It is said that "jina tun b'a fe" - there were devils with him - who made it possible for him to eat as much as he did. »
Then, « Soumbouyaya » became synonymous of abundance, generosity and the tale changed in a popular song.
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from left to right, standing :
Bamba Kourouma (bass)
Abdou Camara (drums)
Pivi Moriba (trombone)
Balla Onivogui (trumpet)
Amadou Thiam (congas)
Fodé N'Diaye Soumah (tenor sax, flute)
Sankumba Diawara (guitar)
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The Balla et ses Balladins band too popularized the song, modernizing it, associating it with the politics of Modibo Keïta, first president of Mali.(1) Since that version, the song is now associated and devoted to the pioneers of the West African Independences and all of those who contributed to the panafricanist ideal.
« Soumbouyaya » is a variation of KalaIn the beginning, Kala was an old rhythm and a dance coming from Guinea, according to traditionalists...More about., an older tune that is the basis of many others folksongs like FantaThis song was composed in the 1960s in honor of a very beautiful woman named Fanta Djabi... Read more., CheriCheri (Lil Darling) is not, properly talking, a "traditional" or epic song ; but it was rather a popular folksong "in the mood" in Guinea near the 1960s... Read more., ou SalimunNear 1952, there was in Kankan a man called Salimoun who was a notorious drunken... Read more..
Famous performers of « Soumbouyaya » :
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Notes
(1) R.D.A. « Rassemblement Démocratique Africain. »
Wikipedia Note : The African Democratic Rally (French: Rassemblement Démocratique Africain, commonly known as the RDA) was a political party in French West Africa and French Equatorial Africa, led by Félix Houphouët-Boigny. Founded in Bamako in 1946, the RDA quickly became one of the most important forces for independence in the region. Initially a Pan-Africanist movement, the RDA ceased to function as a Pan-African party as Houphouët-Boigny turned hostile towards the idea of African federalism. Splinter groups of the RDA remain active in the politics of Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Chad, Niger, Senegal, and Burkina Faso.[back to text]
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