The mastermind behind Teranga Beat, a fresh new member in the club of quality record labels with classic releases by Guelewar, Dexter Johnson or Mar Seck, Adamantios Kafetzis has spent many years searching for lost vinyles and tapes with Senegalese radio back rooms being his main hunting ground. This epic selection confirms his unlimited taste for dust!
For more information check http://www.terangabeat.com/
Ouza
Asa-Oh
“One of the most obscure records in Senegal, the first album of Ouza. A primitive mbalax track of 1975, composed and arranged by guitarist Pape Seck (later Dieuf-Dieul de Thiès), just after his arrival from Gambia and his involvement with the group of Guelewar.”
N’Guewel de Dakar
Yobalema
“The first album of the group, a project created by Pape Djiby Ba after the end of the Sahel group in 1976. Yobalema is a Medina Sabax track, typical of the Senegalese culture, an tribute to the three muslim brotherhoods of the country : Mourid, Tidiane and Layene.”
Number One de Dakar
Yoro
“One of the best tracks of the most complete group in the country. Pape Seck with his emblematic voice guiding the group in an ecstatic performance in 1980. Number One gave us six LPs : all masterpieces, from the beginning to the end.”
Orchestre Baobab
Bure Yaay Damaan
“The best track of by far the best album of this legendary Orchestra. Written and composed by Medoune Diallo in 1975, this track presents all the skills of the group, a crossover mbalax and cuban music, showing clearly why this group achieved such dimension globally.”
Xalam
Yumbeye
“This song was also recorded in 1975. This helps understand how crucial this year was for the music history of Senegal. It was one of the very first mbalax tracks ever recorded. After the separation of Xalam I who were playing cuban music, some of the members created Xalam II as they were known in Dakar. This track shows clearly the intention of the group which was to search deeper into the country’s traditional sounds.“
Man this is SO dope. Senegal is the TRUTH. Viva Teranga Beat.
Wicked selection Adama stick to it mate your label is so groundbreaking getting right down to the roots of Senegal/Gambia modern music.
A full compilation of these tunes on Teranga Beats please ! Awesome…
Hip hip Ouza !
Personally I do not like compilations! Also I think some of these tracks are already in some compilations. I would prefer to re-issue one or two of these albums.
Nice find on the Ouza! Wouldn’t mind getting a copy of that. What about a download or re-issue Adamantios!?
Thanks. I am thinking of a re-issue, the whole album is great. Sound quality is poor though.
Great looking forward to a re-issue. Hope you find the right person to remaster it…
I’ve been living in Senegal for the last 2.5 years and have always been looking for the ‘classics’ of this country’s wonderfully particular music. What a tremendously pleasant surprise to find a compatriot has already done all this fantastic research and re-mastering. Next time you are in Dakar you have an open invitation!