By Gwen Kallio The Afro News Vancouver
The Vancouver Folk Music Festival has long been a port of disembarkation for African music on Canada’s west coast. From the appearance of Alhaji Bai Konte, the Gambian kora virtuoso in 1979 to the premier tour of Malian guitarist Ali Farka Toure a decade later to this year’s event, audiences have been able to sample the diverse delights of the enormous variety of music made by some of Africa’s finest musical creators.
This year the festival will feature three African artists with radically different approaches, hailing from equally distinct traditions. What they have in common is that they all are masters of stringed instruments and all hail from the west coast of Africa: Gambia, Senegal and Cameroun.
Juldeh Camara was born in Basse, Gambia and is a member of the Fula nationality. His instrument is a one stringed violin called the riti in Wolof (nyanyeru in Fula). Juldeh makes them, plays them and composes for them. He sings both traditional songs and ones he has composed. He is regarded as one of the finest riti players in West Africa. He first recorded in 1990 and began touring Europe a half-dozen years ago. In 2007 he met Justin Adams, an English producer and guitarist who has played in Jah Wobble and Robert Plant. Together they have fashioned a blend of African music and Blues with undertones of Celtic, reggae and surf guitar to boot. Their original sound has won them numerous awards and made them one of the most acclaimed of the new African cross-cultural partnerships.
Idy Oulo – or Idrissou Mana, his Muslim name – was born in the mountains in the north of Cameroun into the Fali and Peuls ethnic group. Idy plays a garaya – a two stringed guitar, similar to the ngoni played in the Mandinge culture. He also plays the sanza (thumb piano) and electric guitar. He began his career in his village, making his first instrument out of what he found around him. Wanting to take his music further and interested in more than traditional music, Idy moved to the capital, Douala, and joined a well known band – Faadah-Kawtal. An invitation to the MASA showcase in Ivory Coast led to a tour to France where they performed at the opening of the World Cup. Idy decided to stay and studied guitar at the Angouleme Conservatory, winning numerous awards. He now is based in France where he leads his own group and performs with many others. His music includes Makossa, Bikutsi and Rumba-Congolaise; think Manu Dibango and Franco. It is intensely rhythmic, and Idy Oulo adds a guitar virtuosity that makes it powerfully infectious.
Zal Idrissa Sissokho is no stranger to Vancouver, having recently played at Festival du Bois. Originally from Senegal and now based in Montreal and performing with his ensemble, Buntalo, Zal is a master of the twenty-one string kora, the Mandingue harp. Zal is both a lover and purveyor of the traditional music of the Mandingue and a musical adventurer who has performed with many Quebecois artists from Hart Rouge to Richard Seguin to Lilison. He also followed in Elvis’ footsteps, performing in Las Vegas as part of Cirque de Soleil’s “O”. Oh, indeed!
Three African artists, three instruments, three traditions and three distinctive musical approaches making one wonderful body of music that offers audiences on this west coast the opportunity to explore a little of the wondrous and rich music of that other one.
Advance ticket discounts are now available for the Festival. For info and tickets, go to www.thefestival.bc.ca or call 604-602-9798.