GUINEA'S PRIDE & SUPERSTAR

Standing in the presence of greatness is exactly where I was last Sunday night at Afrofest's final and breathtaking performance of SEKOUBA BAMBINO . His fans young and old pressed against the blockades with cries of excitement, appreciation and love. Wait a second, I thought, isn't this the local Toronto Afrofest ? Or have I been transported to a another land where the rich voices and melodies, backed by pulsing rhythms set to the soundstage of a country, landscape and history I've never known? Yet, instantly I understand the energy like something I've expected all the time.

It was truly an honour to speak with Sekouba. I was fascinated that he could bring so many musicians together from France, USA and Canada for one fabulous show, he says "the music has no barriers, it is universal". And that night we felt it !

Sekouba Bambino is soulful, and graceful.> His fine tuned tenor pipes since the Golden Age of Guinean music and since early teens, still rings out in griots fashion to melodies of ancestral heritage from both his parents direct lineage. You see, Sekouba belongs to a majestic family of griots, the storytellers, historians, and legend keepers of his heritage. At only 14, the president of Guinea commissioned him to sing the lead in the National Jazz Ensemble Bembeya. Still a baby indeed his country embraced him their "Bambino", their biggest star ever, who continues to produce the Manding music with exceptional brilliance and provocative diversity.

Photos by Sherlon Charles

Together with producer Ibrahim Sylla, Sekouba delivers a dynamic and powerful performance combining the traditional Manding instruments like the balafon, kora and n'gonit, with xylophone and even harmonica, then fuses them with vivacious harmonies and a powerful pulsing rhythm section. The beauty of the energy one experiences from just a few feet away is extremely humbling yet elevating in the same instant. Many music critics in the west paid attention to his version ofJames Brown's "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" on Sekouba's album Sinikin,> where his vocals weave a griots style melody over a rather haunting background of winds, strings and bass kick.

The two amazing chorus singers,one with whom I spoke is Candé Dioubedé from Paris, took a moment to delight us with their elaborate dance of swinging limbs, dodging head movements and gyrating torsos. After creating the ambiance that got us all involved Sekouba thanked them, then challanged members of the Toronto audience to dance on stage with him. Two such courageious women did their bounce, groove, shake and wind for brief moments to the uprise of approval from the crowd.

When asked what is the most important goal we must strive for Africa, he reminds me its "peace" & "health care". Let's not forget !

After the finale of his performance I found myself infused with tremendous emotion. I felt a transcendance as if the blending of sounds could make me float on air and spiral me into a calm ether. I could still here the spritely tinkling of xylophone and laughing guitar licks between taunting strings all layered on a bed of trancing pulses in the rhythm sections heavy heartbeat. On top of all that is Guinea's "Bambino" voice, Sekouba pleading, charming, swirling, and weaving through the notes as effortlessly as breathing. A transforming experience !

Thank you Sekouba for enriching us with your energy and taking a moment to talk.
Eryn Rene Vogn