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Jo Kanga Djiribi

by Super Onze

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1.
Super Onze 04:24
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3.
Erhaabou 10:08
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5.
Djabaa 06:21
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Khoumeisa 05:53
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Adar neeba 08:31
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about

Super Onze de Gao are undoubtedly one of the main modern ambassadors of takamba. Created in 1979 by Haziz Touré, Assalya Samake and Agita Moussa Maïga, Super Onze renewed this music which roots trace back to 15th century in Songhaï Empire and its cultural and commercial capital, Gao.

According to the legend, the history of takamba starts in the village of Temera, between Tombouctou and Gourem, where a Tamasheq master and its griot set up their camp one day. When hearing the tehardent, Songhaï villagers came to the men. Fascinated by the beauty of one of the Songhaï women, the master gave her is hand. His griot said to her “takamba”, meaning “take his hand”. Until the 1960s, takamba was celebration music, called during social and religious events. For men and women, takamba dance was also an opportunity for meeting and share subtly charming gestures. The dance was then practiced being sited, and singers were only supported by the tehardent and hand clapping as percussion. From the 1970's, takamba evolved through a new generation of Tamasheq and Songhaï musicians, towards its current popular practice. The usual takamba group was then composed of two n’goni, one solo and one bass, calabash, one singer and dancers. Not only takamba is practiced in its natal region, but also in Bamako and in any region or neighboring country where songhay and tamasheq communities circulate (Niger, Algéria, Burkina - Faso). Although musicians from the North have always travelled back and forth from Gao, Tombouctou and Bamako, their settling in the capital is more and more important as a consequence to the crisis in North Mali.
During the jihadist invasion in 2012, many musicians from Super Onze has lost sound equipment and instruments, leading them to exile. Currently, songhoy weddings in Bamako are privileged time when amplified sound of takamba n’gonis takamba can be heard. As such, this recording is a rare opportunity to hear takamba made by Super Onze, outside of Mali.

Yehia Mbala Samaké, the current leader of Super Onze, truly revolutionized the style of n’goni playing, by composing, improvising and electrifying his instrument. In the beginning of the 20th century the western part of the world became aware of takamba to spread internationaly after the success of Super Onze at The Festival au Désert, Mali. Invited at the third edition in 2003, their performance raised the enthusiasm of many musicians such as Justin Adams and Robert Plant. Dutch DJ/Producer Horst Timmers aka mps Pilot, witnessed the concert and really allowed the group to make its name in Europe. Fascinated by the takamba rhythm and its melodies played offbeat, he soon imagined how an electronic beat could insert between the non emphasized spaces of the musical measure. He organized the first recording on CD of a Takamba band ever and released the album Super Onze – Super Onze (Two Speakers, 2010). In 2011 Together with Super Onze they created an audio visual project where takamba meets digital music: “Future Takamba”. They performed both in The Netherlands and Mali.

In February 2015, a recording session with Super Onze was staged outside at the Sleeping Camel hostel, Bamako. During 3 hours, the members played with fervor, and the dancers Ousmane Yattara and Fatoumata Sarre danced, inviting curious friends, fans and guests of the hostel, whether aficionados or laymen, to share the dance, to share the trance, showing to what extend this music has integrated whole Malian popular culture. The recording is a part of that special evening, and recorded by Horst Timmers and Arnaud Contreras, photographer and friend of Super Onze (image). The tracklist opens with of Super Onze's anthem Super Onze, followed by improvisations to invite to the dance on their starndards and tunes that were never recorded before. A inspiring voyage through a live takamba session.

Super Onze are: Yehia Mballa Samaké (ngoni), Assaraidou Samaké (ngoni), Zerena Maiga (vocals), Aliou Saloum Yattara (calabash), Cola Toure (calabash), Fatoumata Sarre (dance) and Ousmane Yattara (dance).

credits

released May 4, 2016

Recorded by Horst Timmers and radio producer Arnaud Contreras
Picture: Arnaud Contreras
Liner notes: Caroline Trouillet
Mastered and produced by Horst Timmers
Label: Two Speakers | TWO 006

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Super Onze Gao, Mali

Justin Adams (UK) on Super 11

“At the first Festival of the Desert in 2000/2001 there were many musical revelations- Tinariwen’s trajectory has been well documented- but another very different group had a huge impact on me: Super Onze de Gao just played one rhythm, but what a rhythm ! Devastating and unlike anything I’ve heard. ... more

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