Pivi et les Balladins

about

Ahmed Sékou Touré became President after Guinea's independence in 1958, establishing a one-party dictatorship, with a closed, socialized economy & no tolerance for human rights, free expression, or political opposition. The country was named the People's Revolutionary Republic of Guinea. The newly independent Guinea was, however, concerned with the national musical heritage. The government set up the Syliphone label to record music, to help preserve & strengthen the culture of the new nation. Balla et ses Balladins was one of the most popular bands from these initiatives. The group was named after their leader, trumpeter Balla Onivogui, who was born in 1938 in Macenta, a small town in south-eastern Guinea. Bala had been a student at the Music Academy in Senegal before being recruited to play in the celebrations of the Independence of Guinea in 1959. He quickly became a member & leader of the Syli Orchestre National. One of the Orchestre National responsibilities was working with musicians throughout Guinea to train young bands playing traditional Guineén music. In 1962, to expand this program, the government split the Orchestre National into smaller units. One was under the direction of Balla Onivogui. This band became known as Balla et ses Balladins. They took up residency at Conakry Jardin de Guinée. (The other group resulting from the division was the famous Kélétigui et ses Tambourinis.) Much of ses & les Balladins' success lies in the instrumentation: both leaders, B

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albums

Authenticité - The Syliphone Years

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African Pearls - Guinée 70 : The Discotheque Years

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Authenticite - The Syliphone Years: Guinea's Orchestres Nationaux and Federaux 1965-1980

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Pivi Et Les Balladins

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Authenticité: The Syliphone Years 1965-80 (Disc 2)

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Authenticité: The Syliphone Years 1965-80

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Discothèque 72

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Afro Jazz du Mali (Bolibana Collection)

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Discotheque 72 (Guinée)

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Discotheque 72

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The Syliphone Years

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Guiné 70 - The Discotheque Years

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