Touré Kunda was originally formed in 1979 by the brothers Amadou Touré (born 1943), Ismaila Touré (born 1950), and Sixu Tidiane Touré (born 1950). Ousmane Touré (born 1955) joined the group a few years later. They were born to Soninké parents in the Casamance region of Senegal. The name Touré Kunda translates literally from the Soninké language as "elephant family". Their parents were Daby Touré (1875-1956), and his wives Mafili (Sixu Tidiane), Masse (Amadou Seckou and Ismaila), and Dionfolo (Ousmane).
The Touré brothers developed local renown as a singing and percussion group, playing music based on traditional Senegalese rhythms known as Djabadong. In the late 1970s, the three brothers moved to Paris and began experimenting musically. The basis of their music remained traditional African rhythms, enhanced with the incorporation of reggae and other influences. Acoustic performances centered on vocals, kora, balafon, and percussion, evolved over time to include electric instruments and synthesizers. The brothers expanded the group to include several musicians from France and elsewhere.
Touré Kunda released their first album in 1980, É'mma Africa, which included their signature hit "É'mma". This album initiated the band's relationship with the Celluloid label, which was to last until about 1987. A second release soon followed, Touré Kunda (1981), and the group performed regularly around Paris to support these albums. Tragically, Amadou collapsed on stage and subsequently died in January 1983. Touré Kunda carried on, though, bringing in brother Ousmane Touré (born 1955) and paying tribute to their former bandleader with their third album, Amadou Tilo (1983).
In 1984, the group successfully toured West Africa, including Mali, Cote d'Ivoire, and home country Senegal. Upon return, they recorded their fourth album Casamance Au Clair De Lune (1984). A film from the tour was shown on French television, leading to tours of France and the UK as well as the live double album, Live Paris-Ziguinchor (1984). In December, they joined Manu Dibango and several other African performers to record "Tam-Tam Pour L'Éthiopie", a famine relief benefit. The band's reputation rapidly grew to encompass an international audience.
Touré Kunda soon followed this remarkable success with their fifth album, Natalia (1985). With producer Bill Laswell at the helm and several major performers sitting in, the band incorporated a fully modern sound including synthesizers.
The Touré brothers left Celluloid to sign with Trema Music in France. The first album with Trema, Toubab Bi (1987), was also released on Celluloid the following year as Karadindi. With Trema in the early 1990s, Touré Kunda recorded two new albums, Salam (1990) and Sili Béto (1993), and a second live set, Sounké (1991). Although these were fine and critically acclaimed albums, the label released them only in France and provided little support.
Several members of the band moved on to form Kaoma, which soon found success with their major international hit "La Lambada" (1989).
A fifth Touré brother, Hamidou, joined the group for Salam and Sounké, though he and Ousmane both left before Sili Béto. Hamidou later released a successful solo album as Séta Touré, titled simply Africa (1994) and later as L'Album (1996).
Touré Kunda, once again based on the original duo of Ismaila and Sixu Tidiane, signed with WEA and regained international exposure with the stunning Mouslaï in late 1996.
In 1999, the group initiated a flurry of high profile activities with the release of Légende, a set of newly recorded versions of songs from earlier albums, including several from the Trema years. That same year, Santana released the runaway hit album Supernatural, which includes "Africa Bamba", an outstanding cover of Touré Kunda's "Guerrilla" from Salam (1990). They followed up soon after with Terra Saabi (2000), their first set of new material in four years. Tracks include a cover of the Phil Collins hit "In The Air Tonight" called "Nobel", and a re-make of the group's own song "Cindy". In 2001, the Touré brothers somehow found time to contribute guest appearances to new releases by Macaco and Alpha Blondy. They also launched the official Web site (www.toure-kunda.com) in April 2001.
Omar and Daby Touré, cousins from the next generation, formed the group Touré Touré. Their debut album, Laddé (1999), found international success and yielded the hit "Yorro".
Séta Touré continued his solo success with Douna (2000), and Ousmane Touré contributed a guest appearance to Tania Libertad's Costa Negra (2002).
A greatest hits album, Best Of, was released in 2006. Their album, Santhiaba, came out in 2008.
Emma
Touré Kunda Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Emma is a tree, she don’t care about anything. Green leaves on her branch, sun kisses her. You can change yourself in everything. You will always be the same. Your mind helps you to escape from here looking for another way so…
The song "Emma" by Touré Kunda is a vivid depiction of a carefree and aloof girl named Emma who doesn't seem to care about anyone or anything. The opening line "Emma is a girl, she don’t care about anyone" sets the tone for the rest of the song as the lyrics describe how many boys have fallen for her despite her lack of interest in them. The line "Many boys are dead for her" is a metaphor for the emotional toll Emma has taken on these boys. The lyrics paint a picture of a girl who is independent and free-spirited, someone who does not conform to societal norms and expectations.
The next verse portrays Emma as a tree, further emphasizing her indifference to the world around her. The green leaves on her branch and the warm sun that kisses her signify the beauty and simplicity of nature. The final lines, "You can change yourself in everything. You will always be the same. Your mind helps you to escape from here looking for another way so…" suggest that we have the power to change our circumstances, but ultimately, we are still the same person. Our minds enable us to escape from our current situation, to seek out new paths and possibilities.
Overall, "Emma" is a thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to embrace their individuality and to not be afraid to seek out new experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Emma is a girl, she don’t care about anyone. Many boys are dead for her.
Emma is an unconcerned girl whose actions have caused harm to many boys who were enamored by her.
Emma is a tree, she don’t care about anything. Green leaves on her branch, sun kisses her.
Emma is compared to a tree - ignoring her surroundings while basking in her beauty, like a leaf-laden branch touched by the sun.
You can change yourself in everything. You will always be the same.
One can transform their external appearance, but internally remain unchanged.
Your mind helps you to escape from here looking for another way so…
The mind offers a means of escape from one's present circumstances in search of alternative routes.
Writer(s): Tidiane Toure, Ismaila Toure Copyright: Right Bank Music Uk Limited
Contributed by Anthony B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@stephanelepage5367
ce serait top si tu ecrivait les parole de Emma ! pour chanter ce serait cool 🤩
E'mma
o kou da dou kita
E'mma
o kou da dou kita..
u turu sino wa
sino n'gan n'ginto
u turu xaxu ya
(raru)
xaxu n'gan n'ginto ..... Et la suite surtout ! version live paris Zinguichor !
@user-bq7qz6nl9t
Quies écoute encore en 2024😢
@BabsFasjom
Hommage ce groupe mythique qui a ouvert la voie à beaucoup de musiciens africains. Repose en paix grand Ismaël Touré.
@macoumbasarr2070
L'Afrique reconnaissante, vous l'avez honorée. Paix aux âmes des disparus , longue vie et beaucoup de bonheur aux autres.
@faustinocabita7736
Iam from ANGOLA and very fond of this song, especially because I heard there the name of my country!
@mohamedbenyahiaH
un souvenir d’enface avec mon père j’avais 8 ans aujourd’hui j’ai 42 ans je l’écoute avec une immense nostalgie et amour chanson extraordinaire un chef-d’œuvre . Afri❤️ca mon amour
@martambala1984
2023 virus et la? Merci Smaila Toure, Merci Toure Kunda
@telma7851
Touré Kunda rythmait nos soirées congas, percus et feu de bois au bord des lacs, tous...on dansait et chantait toute la nuit entre potes, mes 20 ans, que de souvenir !
@lamteyfad6587
Toujours top en 2024❤
@ibrahmshkana2307
J'ai écouté cette chanson toute ma jeunesse sans me rendre compte qu'il parlait ma langue..SONIKÉ💚💛❤
@stephanelepage5367
ce serait top si tu ecrivait les parole de Emma ! pour chanter ce serait cool 🤩
E'mma
o kou da dou kita
E'mma
o kou da dou kita..
u turu sino wa
sino n'gan n'ginto
u turu xaxu ya
(raru)
xaxu n'gan n'ginto ..... Et la suite surtout ! version live paris Zinguichor !