Zouk, coupรฉ-dรฉcalรฉ, and slam are all part of the musical landscape
Originally published on Global Voices
Screenshot of artist Smartyโs YouTube channel showing him standing near the monument of Thomas Sankara.
Burkina Fasoโs dynamic music scene is a testament to the countryโs openness to a wide range of cultural influences, both from within Africa and beyond. This has resulted in a vibrant mix of musical genres and styles, which have gained popularity both locally and internationally.
Amadou Balakรฉ (1944โ2014) is celebrated as an icon of Burkinabe music and was widely regarded as one of the countryโs most talented singers. His musical career reflects the evolution of the Burkinabe music scene, as he seamlessly blended traditional Mandรฉ and Mossi languages before adopting Afro-Cuban salsa, during his time with the Senegalese band Africando. Today, this fusion of traditional and modern styles remains a defining characteristic of Burkinabe music.
While not as widely recognised internationally as Maliโs music, the music of Burkina Faso boasts a diverse range of unique genres inspired by the traditions and languages of its peoples. The Moorรฉ language, spoken by the Mossi people (who make up 52 percent of the population in central Burkina Faso), is the most commonly used language in Burkinabe music. Other languages are also spoken in Burkina Faso: the Gur languages, for example, are spoken by the Gurunsi, Gurma, Dagaaba, and Lobi people in the southern region, while the Fula language is predominant in the north. Meanwhile, the Samo, Bissa, Bobo, Senufo, and Marka peoples in Burkina Faso speak various Mandรฉ languages. Together, these diverse linguistic and cultural influences make up the rich tapestry of Burkinabe music.
Yonko, beat-maker and photographer, highlights the important role that local languages play in this music scene:
A votre avis est-ce quโaujourdโhui on a une chance un temps soit peu de se faire remarquer dans la musique burkinabรฉ (plus prรฉcisรฉment le rap) sans forcรฉment passer par les langues locales? A mon humble avis non, en tout casโฆ
โ Yonkล (@AAsHbeats) July 18, 2021
Do you think that itโs possible to make a name for oneself in Burkinabe music, especially in rap, without using local languages? In my humble opinion, itโs unlikely.
โYonkล (@AAsHbeats) July 18, 2021
The ethnic diversity and mix of languages have allowed the country of Thomas Sankara, Burkina Faso's president from 1983 to 1987, to find a way to create a multifaceted musical identity.
The precursors
Many artists and groups of artists have committed themselves to the development and promotion of Voltaic music (a reference to the former name of Burkina Faso, French Upper Volta, during the colonial era). These groups and artists have written some of the most beautiful pages in the countryโs music history: Amadou Balakรฉ, Georges Ouรฉdraogo, Joseph Moussa Salambรฉrรฉ, Mangue Konde & Super Mandรฉ, Orchestre Volta Jazz, Orchestre Harmonie Voltaรฏque, Orchestre C. V. D., Tidiani Coulibaly & Les Dafra Stars, Sandwidi Pierre and Simporรฉ Maurice.
This video of Georges Ouรฉdraogo is a testament to this heritage:
A new generation embraces modernity
A clear divide exists between the pioneers of Burkinabe music and the emerging artists of the present era. The arrival of modern trends, both locally and internationally, brought about a new wave of musical energy during the 1980s and 1990s, which introduced fresh sounds. Afro-zouk, reggae and other rhythms gained popularity under the guidance of notable figures like Amity Meria, Bil Aka Kora, Solo Dja Kabako, Idak Bassave, etc.
Hip-hop, rap, and R&B trends have also emerged, with groups like Sofaa, Kouma Kan, Clepto-Gang, Yeleen, and artists like Smarty, a former member of the band Yeleen.
In this video, the artist Smarty appeals to the collective conscience of the Burkinabe people.
Zouk and Ivorian coupรฉ-dรฉcalรฉ are also among the musical genres that have influenced the new generation of Burkinabe artists. According to Francophone Wikipedia:
Le coupรฉ-dรฉcalรฉ est un genre musical nรฉ au dรฉbut des annรฉes 2000 dans la communautรฉ ivoirienne ร Paris et devenu populaire en Cรดte d'Ivoire et dans beaucoup de pays d'Afrique subsaharienne durant les dix annรฉes qui suivirent.
Le coupรฉ-dรฉcalรฉ prend le contrepied du zouglou. Aux critiques du matรฉrialisme exprimรฉes par le zouglou, le coupรฉ-dรฉcalรฉ affirme son attachement aux biens matรฉriels, et au regard satirique sur sa sociรฉtรฉ, le coupรฉ-dรฉcalรฉ met en avant le divertissement et la mise en scรจne. Ainsi, ยซon passe dโune musique engagรฉe et rรฉflexive sur sa sociรฉtรฉ ร une musique dโambiance qui permet de faire la fรชte.ยป
Coupรฉ-dรฉcalรฉ, a music genre that originated in the Ivorian community in Paris in the early 2000s, became popular in Ivory Coast and many sub-Saharan African countries in the following decade.
Unlike the critiques of materialism expressed in zouglou (another music genre), coupรฉ-dรฉcalรฉ expresses its attachment to material goods and emphasises entertainment and spectacle while satirising society. As a result, โThere has been a shift from music that is socially engaged and reflective to party music.โ
A popular and modern rhythm, coupรฉ-dรฉcalรฉ has attracted many Burkinabe artists such as Floby, Dez Altino, Dicko Fils, Imilo Lechanceux, Kayawoto, Huguo Boss, Razben, Barsa 1er, Agozo, Bebeto Bongo, Greg Burkimbila, David Le Combattant, and Sofiano.
In this video, the artist Floby showcases the influence of coupรฉ-dรฉcalรฉ:
Here is another video of Moise Ouattara, who finds her inspiration in zouk:
Another music genre making its way onto the Burkinabe music scene is slam poetry. It is one means for its fans, especially young people, to raise awareness and engage people on social issues. Young artists such as Malika la Slameuse, Rama la Slameuse, and lyricist Donsharp de Batoro are among the proponents of this genre of music.
In this video, Malika la Slameuse raises awareness about the importance of childrenโs nutrition:
These artistsโ contributions to the Burkinabe music scene are much appreciated on Twitter.
Justement, eux ce sont des burkinabรฉs mais ils ne font pas de LA MUSIQUE BURKINABร . Quand tu รฉcoutes par exemple Awa Boussim , Nabaloum ,Alif , Flobyโฆ il yโa ce truc en commun qui fait de รงa la vraie musique Burkinabรฉ
โ Burkiรฑd Bilรฃ
(@sweetybananaa) July 20, 2019
These artists are Burkinabe, but they do not create what is considered โBURKINABE MUSIC.โ Yet, when listening to artists such as Awa Boussim, Nabaloum, Alif, and Floby, there is a common element that defines it as true Burkinabe music.
โBurkiรฑd Bilรฃ (@sweetybananaa) July 20, 2019
Tradition is not forgotten
Burkina Faso can also rely on celebrities such as Bil Aka Kora, Nabalum, Miss Tanya, Alif Naaba, and many other talented artists, whose music is a blend of old and new sounds. Through their songs, some of these artists pay tribute to the countryโs history, while others denounce certain issues and raise awareness.
Alif Naabaโs collaboration with the Senegalese artist Ismaรซl Lรด, in which they say no to discrimination, is a perfect illustration of this:
As mentioned on the website www.musiques-afrique.net, tradition remains very much alive in the realm of music.
Il y a de nombreux artistes trรจs respectรฉs qui font de la percussion (Adama Dramรฉ) de la musique au balafon (Saramaya, Les Freres Coulibaly) ainsi que des ensembles de musique et danse traditionnelles tels que Farafina, Djiguiya ou le Troupe Saaba. Il y a รฉgalement la musique dite world de Gabin Dabirรฉ, qui, basรฉ en Italie depuis des longues annรฉes, s'inspire sur la tradition.
Numerous highly respected artists specialise in percussion (Adama Dramรฉ), balafon music (Saramaya, Les Freres Coulibaly), as well as traditional music and dance ensembles like Farafina, Djiguiya, and Troupe Saaba. Furthermore, Gabin Dabirรฉโs world music, based in Italy for many years, is also inspired by tradition.
A comprehensive playlist of Burkinabe music is available here. Other playlists featuring music from around the world are also available and can be found on the Global Voices Spotify account.
Post a Comment