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Issa & Alpha

by Issa & Alpha

supported by
Andrew Adebayo
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Abdullah Geels
Abdullah Geels thumbnail
Mark van Dijk
Mark van Dijk thumbnail
jaliya
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/

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1.
Djarabané 14:45
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TOTOLO "World Beats" present :
Issa & Alpha - North Mali Griot Beats (Digital Album)
Feat. Ali Konta on "Baoudi / Sata Almany", "Djarabané", "Marocola" and "Samba Afo Cissé"

Musicians :
Issa Diabaté - guitar & vocals / Alpha Dembelé - n'goni & vocals / Ali Konta - drums & calabash

During the shooting of our documentary about the master of traditional Peul music, Bara Sambarou, we met a tape seller who was only selling Fulani and Songhai tapes. Obviously, he advised us to listen to some Bara Sambarou but also Issa & Alpha music.

Issa & Alpha is a Malian Griots duo from Douentza, a town in the region of Mopti, 10 hours away from the capital. The trip to meet them would be the same as doing a real pilgrimage. During the rainy season, when the Niger's River overflows for miles, count nearly a day and a half journey from Bamako. After a few hours, you will give up your car and finish your getaway in a pirogue to go greet them.

Issa & Alpha's music is a journey out of time, away from the world, as we know it those days. Their music takes us into the most beautiful sounds of traditional African music. Narratively close to a poetry, which would have been set to a song. Rhythmic sounds of guitars, gourds, ngoni, drums and voice work, cultivated by Griots singing stories handed down from generation to generation. With Issa & Alpha, the words and the knowledge of their ancestors remain intact, as would the roots of a 2,000 years old baobab. Nothing moves, everything is only about tradition.

Recorded on a simple mono cassette recorder, the tape travelled for several years before it landed into the streets of Bamako.

The sound of this album with all imperfections is taken directly from cassette as they are sold in the Malian market. There was no change outside of the digitization of the physical medium.

Issa & Alpha's « North Mali Griot Beats » is aimed at fans of northern Mali Griots' traditional music. If you are not yet accustomed to these sounds, first listen and enjoy the title "Samba Afo Cissé."

WARNING ! Only for real roots north griot music fans. Sound is taken from analog cassette duplicate sold in Malian streets markets.

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released March 29, 2015

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TOTOLO "World Beats Label" France

Artists: Tulipa Ruiz, Wilson Das Neves, Bara Sambarou, Orquestra Imperial, Artificial, Legal! ...

Label founded in 2006, TOTOLO aims to promote great artists from all around the world, and from any music genre! Sound is king!

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