Bembaya Jazz National is a Guinean jazz group that gained fame in the 1960s… Read Full Bio ↴Bembaya Jazz National is a Guinean jazz group that gained fame in the 1960s for their infectious Afropop rhythms. They are considered one of the most significant bands in Guinean music. Many of their recordings are based on traditional folk music in the country and have been fused with jazz and Afropop style. Featuring guitarist Sekou 'Diamond Fingers' Diabate, who grew up in a traditional griot musical family, the band won over fans in Conakry, Guinea's capital city, during the heady days of that country's newfound independence. Bembeya Jazz fell onto harder times in the 1980s and disbanded for a number of years, but reformed in the late 1990s and has toured Europe and North America in the early 2000s.
In the aftermath of the Guinean Independence in 1958 and the encouragement of cultural pride, numerous bands sprang up throughout the African country. The first dance bands were state-supported orchestras, and included popular groups like Lanaya Jazz, Keletigui et ses Tambourins and Super Boiro. The most popular was Bembeya Jazz National, formed by vocalist Aboubacar Dembar Camara in 1961. Specializing in modern arrangements of Manding classic tunes, Bembeya Jazz National won the first two national Biennale festivals in 1962 and 1964 and was crowned National Orchestra in 1966.
Initially a seven-piece group, featuring a Latin-flavored horn section of saxophone, trumpet, and clarinet, Bembeya Jazz National reached its apex with the addition of electric guitarist Sekou "Diamond Fingers" Diabate and lead singer Sekouba Mabino Diabate (no relation). Although prohibited from touring outside Guinea until the mid-'80s, Bembeya Jazz National continued to build a cult-like following in its home country.
Bembeya Jazz National's most ambitious album, Regard Sur Le Passe, released in 1968, was a musical tribute to the memory of Samory Toure, who founded the Mande kingdom in 1870. A live album, 10 Ans De Succes, was recorded during a 1971 concert.
A set-back for the band came in 1973 when Camara was killed in an auto accident on his way to a concert in Dakar. Although they remained together for another eight years, Bembeya Jazz National was unable to duplicate the success of their earliest years. The group disbanded in 1991 with Sekou Diabate and Sekouba Bambino Diabate going on to successful solo careers.
However, it reformed in the late 1990s and has toured Europe and North America in the early 2000s.
In the aftermath of the Guinean Independence in 1958 and the encouragement of cultural pride, numerous bands sprang up throughout the African country. The first dance bands were state-supported orchestras, and included popular groups like Lanaya Jazz, Keletigui et ses Tambourins and Super Boiro. The most popular was Bembeya Jazz National, formed by vocalist Aboubacar Dembar Camara in 1961. Specializing in modern arrangements of Manding classic tunes, Bembeya Jazz National won the first two national Biennale festivals in 1962 and 1964 and was crowned National Orchestra in 1966.
Initially a seven-piece group, featuring a Latin-flavored horn section of saxophone, trumpet, and clarinet, Bembeya Jazz National reached its apex with the addition of electric guitarist Sekou "Diamond Fingers" Diabate and lead singer Sekouba Mabino Diabate (no relation). Although prohibited from touring outside Guinea until the mid-'80s, Bembeya Jazz National continued to build a cult-like following in its home country.
Bembeya Jazz National's most ambitious album, Regard Sur Le Passe, released in 1968, was a musical tribute to the memory of Samory Toure, who founded the Mande kingdom in 1870. A live album, 10 Ans De Succes, was recorded during a 1971 concert.
A set-back for the band came in 1973 when Camara was killed in an auto accident on his way to a concert in Dakar. Although they remained together for another eight years, Bembeya Jazz National was unable to duplicate the success of their earliest years. The group disbanded in 1991 with Sekou Diabate and Sekouba Bambino Diabate going on to successful solo careers.
However, it reformed in the late 1990s and has toured Europe and North America in the early 2000s.
Petit Sekou
Bembeya Jazz National Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Bembeya Jazz National:
Beni Barale Alou toro ma lon ba kouma lan ba then thou Mo…
Camara Mousso NiâČni ni. Ul ni ni les k ni. Ni n'y ni âČl',…
Dagna Dream and live forever immortality, a life devoid of sufferi…
Doni Doni Il n'est jamais trop tard Il n'est jamais trop tard Il n'est…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
@MrAvs-fk6in
Le musique, c'est magnifique
@farida7148
absolutely nothing could have prepared me for that section at 0:46-1:49. if i were to die tomorrow, i would pass away peacefully knowing i listened to this song. my GOD i can talk about it for hours. nothing short of heavenly
@xolacole
Oh yes absolutely
@ousseynouthiam6722
Sekouba Bembeya est un Virtuose de la guitare.C'est un Genie.C'est Extraordinaire.
@tomsilberberg1978
This is the pinnacle of music, I'm calling it now
@5solas321
44 years late but I'll agree to it
@eugenielama981
Watch Bembeya jazz petit Sekou 1979.
Awesome version, best to me
@gregdoherty585
and that laughter in the middle!
@ruthdixon7807
irresistible groove and calm, diabaté shows off his talents.
@ledunarnaud1384
Une pure merveille đ đ€Syllartđ€