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Guelewar Band of Banjul
(The Gambia)
Biography
Guelewar Band of Banjul has been further developing the afro-manding sound of
Ifang Bondi during a short period in the late 1970s and early 1980s. With strong percussion,
a psychedelic tinge, prominent keyboards and saxophones, Guelewar's music is an "Aha-Erlebnis", but surprisingly
enough, not a single album has been reissued on CD, whereas their LPs are sometimes offered at horrendous prices.
Not much is written on the group except that the band leader was Laye N'gom, who was formerly
with the Supreme Eagles which became later Super Alligators.
Youssou N'Dour considers Guelewar as a main inspirational influence, partly because of the use of lyrics in a noble wolof as opposed to "street" wolof, and partly because Guelewar had resolutely moved forward from latin and highlife to an explosive mix of soul and funk with Senegambian rhythms such as Boogaraboo and Ndaga. Lead singer Moussa N'Gom has had a strong imprint on Guelewar's music with his expressive voice. He later left to join Omar Pene's Super Diamono before starting a solo career. Moussa also made a cassette with the Ensemble Lyrique Traditionnel du Senegal (1995) and he has recorded with Thione Seck. His current band is called le Groupe Talibe.
Until quite recently, none of Orchestre Guelewar's albums have been released on CD, and only a few songs were available on compilations, such as « Warteef Jiggeen » on the first volume of the Golden Afrique compilation series, « Wallou! » on the African Pearls vol.4: The Teranga Spirit, and « Relen te contan » on the African Pearls Senegal 70 compilation.
But with the current interest in afro-soul and afro-funk from the 1970s, a small label Teranga Beat has released live recordings, and in 2012 a compilation album was released carrying the title « Touki Ba Banjul: Acid Trip from Banjul to Dakar ».
Youssou N'Dour considers Guelewar as a main inspirational influence, partly because of the use of lyrics in a noble wolof as opposed to "street" wolof, and partly because Guelewar had resolutely moved forward from latin and highlife to an explosive mix of soul and funk with Senegambian rhythms such as Boogaraboo and Ndaga. Lead singer Moussa N'Gom has had a strong imprint on Guelewar's music with his expressive voice. He later left to join Omar Pene's Super Diamono before starting a solo career. Moussa also made a cassette with the Ensemble Lyrique Traditionnel du Senegal (1995) and he has recorded with Thione Seck. His current band is called le Groupe Talibe.
Until quite recently, none of Orchestre Guelewar's albums have been released on CD, and only a few songs were available on compilations, such as « Warteef Jiggeen » on the first volume of the Golden Afrique compilation series, « Wallou! » on the African Pearls vol.4: The Teranga Spirit, and « Relen te contan » on the African Pearls Senegal 70 compilation.
But with the current interest in afro-soul and afro-funk from the 1970s, a small label Teranga Beat has released live recordings, and in 2012 a compilation album was released carrying the title « Touki Ba Banjul: Acid Trip from Banjul to Dakar ».
Ifang Bondi
• Guelewar members on 'Sama Yaye Demna N'Darr':
Njok Malick Mike Njie bass;
Oussou Ndiaye drums;
Moussa Njobdi Njie guitar;
Laaye N'Gom keyboards, backing vocals;
Adu Salla percussion;
Alive Badara Cham N'Gom percussion;
Koto Suno Icoto N'Gom percussion;
Bas Lo Fara Biram saxophone [Alto];
Laaye Sallah Ombor saxophone [Tenor];
Moussa N'Gom vocals
Formed: 1973
Style: Mbalax, Ndaga, afro-funk
Discography
Njok Malick Mike Njie bass;
Oussou Ndiaye drums;
Moussa Njobdi Njie guitar;
Laaye N'Gom keyboards, backing vocals;
Adu Salla percussion;
Alive Badara Cham N'Gom percussion;
Koto Suno Icoto N'Gom percussion;
Bas Lo Fara Biram saxophone [Alto];
Laaye Sallah Ombor saxophone [Tenor];
Moussa N'Gom vocals
Formed: 1973
Style: Mbalax, Ndaga, afro-funk
Discography
| Title | Year | Label | Remarks |
| Touki Ba Banjul: Acid Trip from Banjul to Dakar |
2012 | Kindred Spirits KSRE9CD | Compilation |
| Halleli N'Dakarou | 2011 | Teranga Beat | Previously unreleased live recording at the Canari Club de Kaolack, Senegal, 1982 |
| Xaley Ndakarou vol.2 | 198? | Touba K7 | Band name: Orchestre Guelewar II Dance Band |
| Dieuf Dieul Khadin Rassoul | 1982 | Sonafric SAF 50110 | LP |
| Warteef Jigeen | 1981 | Salsa Musique/Disafrique DARL 007 | LP |
| Tasito | 1980 | Jambaar JM 5001 | LP |
| Sama Yaye Demna N'Darr | 1980 | Valérie VAL 001 | LP |
Sources
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~xx3n-di/07-disco/07062.html
http://www.kindred-spirits.nl/shop_detail.php?idxItem=63211
http://aduna.free.fr/aduna.blog/blog.htm
Liner notes compilation CD Golden Afrique vol 1
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~xx3n-di/07-disco/07062.html
http://www.kindred-spirits.nl/shop_detail.php?idxItem=63211
http://aduna.free.fr/aduna.blog/blog.htm
Liner notes compilation CD Golden Afrique vol 1
Page added September 2009