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UCAS Jazz Band de Sedhiou
(Senegal)
Biography
The UCAS Jazz Band de Sedhiou has been created by Union culturelle, artistique et sportive of
this middle-sized town in the center of the Casamance region, the part of Senegal that is situated south of neighbouring The Gambia. The UCAS was formed
on the 4th of October 1959, whether the orchestra was formed on that particular date is often assumed, but this might have been of later date.
As the UCAS aimed to promote the regional culture through
youth activities, the UCAS Jazz Band envisaged to develop the music scene through using the various musical traditions of the Casamance region.
The UCAS Jazz Band was said to be the first Senegal band to use traditional instruments, such as the kora, the balafon and percussion such as the Bougeureubou. The band was using various styles, influenced by jola, mandinka, balante, manjack and peul music. The lyrics are in various languages too, such as Jola, Mandinka, Balante, Jola, French, and Spanish.
The UCAS Jazz Band was said to be the first Senegal band to use traditional instruments, such as the kora, the balafon and percussion such as the Bougeureubou. The band was using various styles, influenced by jola, mandinka, balante, manjack and peul music. The lyrics are in various languages too, such as Jola, Mandinka, Balante, Jola, French, and Spanish.
UCAS Jazz Band de Sedhiou
The variety of styles and richness of their repertoire was recognised as their strength, and in 1969, UCAS Jazz Band was representing Senegal at the
Pan-African Festival of Algiers. At various occasions, the band was successful at the Semaines culturelles (cultural week), between 1967 and 1972, and
the band participated in the Festival panafricain de la jeunesse in 1973.
In the following years, UCAS Jazz Band performed in France, Spain, Mauretania, Guinee-Bissau and the Gambia. After a first vinyl album, released in the early 1970s, several cassette albums were released during the 1980s and 1990s. With a new manager, Moussa Kouyaté, a new CD album was recorded in Paris. The album was released in 2003. Unfortunately, it was not their best recording. A double live album, « Takussanou Ndakarou » was much better, but a very limited distribution did not help enlarge its success.
Nowadays, the band still exists, but many of the older members have died or are retired. A younger generation has taken over, but the importance of the band remains confined to the town of Sedhiou.
In the following years, UCAS Jazz Band performed in France, Spain, Mauretania, Guinee-Bissau and the Gambia. After a first vinyl album, released in the early 1970s, several cassette albums were released during the 1980s and 1990s. With a new manager, Moussa Kouyaté, a new CD album was recorded in Paris. The album was released in 2003. Unfortunately, it was not their best recording. A double live album, « Takussanou Ndakarou » was much better, but a very limited distribution did not help enlarge its success.
Nowadays, the band still exists, but many of the older members have died or are retired. A younger generation has taken over, but the importance of the band remains confined to the town of Sedhiou.
• Musicians on Saroo, vol. 1 (1993):
Ibrahima Dia Sylla (d. 28-01-2019) guitar solo;
Youssouph Cissokho rhythm guitar;
Ibrahima Diaité bass, chef d'orchestre;
Abdoulaye 'Dandan' Diedhiou lead vocal;
Amadou Lèye Sarr lead vocal;
Seydou Ndao lead vocal;
Dualy Seckou Kouyate drums, vocals;
Bacary Coly drums;
Djimé Diaité percussion, vocals;
Karim Touré percussion (tumba);
Kecouta "Jean" Camara percussion;
Abdou Kounta Diaité (died 7 July 2014) saxophone;
Aminata Dieng N'Diaye vocals, dance
Ibrahima Dia Sylla (d. 28-01-2019) guitar solo;
Youssouph Cissokho rhythm guitar;
Ibrahima Diaité bass, chef d'orchestre;
Abdoulaye 'Dandan' Diedhiou lead vocal;
Amadou Lèye Sarr lead vocal;
Seydou Ndao lead vocal;
Dualy Seckou Kouyate drums, vocals;
Bacary Coly drums;
Djimé Diaité percussion, vocals;
Karim Touré percussion (tumba);
Kecouta "Jean" Camara percussion;
Abdou Kounta Diaité (died 7 July 2014) saxophone;
Aminata Dieng N'Diaye vocals, dance
• Other historic band members:
El Hadji Babou Diébaté kora;
El Hadji Babou Diébaté kora;
Formed: by U.C.A.S. (Union culturelle, artistique et sportive) of the city of Sedhiou (created in 1959)
Style: Afro-mandingo, afro-cuban (with influences of djola, manjak, fula, balanta music)
Discography *
| Title | Year | Label | Remarks |
| Takussanou Ndakarou Vol.2 | 2006 | [No Label] | CD-R, live recording |
| Takussanou Ndakarou Vol.1 | 2006 | [No Label] | CD-R, live recording |
| Casa di Mansa | 2003 | Africa Productions / Espace Africa 03076-2 | CD |
| Africa Kambeng | 1998 | Africassette Music AC 9404 | CD |
| Africa Kambeng, vol. 4 | 1997 | Kerewan Sounds | Cassette |
| Dimbayaa, vol. 3 | 1997 | Kerewan Sounds | Cassette |
| A Paris - Samaalaa, vol. 2 | 1997 | Kerewan Sounds | Cassette |
| A Paris - Saroo, vol. 1 | 1997 | Kerewan Sounds | Cassette |
| Saaroo | 1992 | Studio 2000 | Cassette |
| Ceddo | 1983 | Studio 2000 | Cassette |
| U.C.A.S. Band de Sedhiou | 1974 | N'Dardisc 33-12 | LP |
* A big thank you to Nick at Natari.com for his kind help in providing discographic information, as well as a few scans of album covers.
Sources
• RFI.fr: L'UCAS Jazz Band de Sédhiou, un orchestre historique [external link]
• Worldservice [external link]
• Likembe [external link]
• Le Quotidien: Après une très longue pause : L’Ucas Band de Sédhiou remonte sur scène (2022) [external link]
• Seneplus: UCAS Jazz Band, nostalgie d'un passé haut en rythmes (2020) [external link]
• RFI.fr: L'UCAS Jazz Band de Sédhiou, un orchestre historique [external link]
• Worldservice [external link]
• Likembe [external link]
• Le Quotidien: Après une très longue pause : L’Ucas Band de Sédhiou remonte sur scène (2022) [external link]
• Seneplus: UCAS Jazz Band, nostalgie d'un passé haut en rythmes (2020) [external link]
Page added February 2025