Yasimika
Encyclopedia
Yasimika is the first studio album
by Djeli Moussa Diawara
(aka Jali Musa Jawara), Guinean Kora player (Korafola), released in 1983.
.
This album is still nowadays considered a great piece of African music, and many music lovers consider it changed their appreciation of traditional music, specifically the second track (Haidara), that would appear on many compilations, like "The Rough Guide To The Music Of Mali & Guinea" released by World Music Network in 2000.
During the 80s, Mande pop was starting to loose its folk origins and was becoming a kind of dance music, even topping the European charts.
At the same time, a kind of roots revival occurred, led by Djeli Moussa, already an accomplished acoustic singer and Kora player, with the release of this acclaimed album.
Charlie Gillett
told the following story in January 2009:
or Jali Musa Jawara.
The original masters were sold in March 2010 to CybearSonic, a new French label.
On 10/01/2010, the fully restored and remastered version was released on digital platforms as "Yasimika (Abidjan 1982)".
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by Djeli Moussa Diawara
Djeli Moussa Diawara
Djeli Moussa Diawara, [born 1962 in Kankan, Guinea] is a Kora player , a composer, and singer.- Short Biography :Djeli Moussa Diawara was born to a family of the Griot tribe. His father was a balafon player, and his mother a singer...
(aka Jali Musa Jawara), Guinean Kora player (Korafola), released in 1983.
Background
Djeli Moussa Diawara recorded his first LP, now known as Yasimika, in Abidjan in 1982. He's 20 years old and came to this city following his half-brother Mory KanteMory Kanté
Mory Kanté is a vocalist and player of the kora harp. He was born into one of Guinea's best known families of griot musicians...
.
This album is still nowadays considered a great piece of African music, and many music lovers consider it changed their appreciation of traditional music, specifically the second track (Haidara), that would appear on many compilations, like "The Rough Guide To The Music Of Mali & Guinea" released by World Music Network in 2000.
During the 80s, Mande pop was starting to loose its folk origins and was becoming a kind of dance music, even topping the European charts.
At the same time, a kind of roots revival occurred, led by Djeli Moussa, already an accomplished acoustic singer and Kora player, with the release of this acclaimed album.
Charlie Gillett
Charlie Gillett
Charlie Gillett , was a British radio presenter, musicologist and writer, mainly on rock and roll and other forms of popular music...
told the following story in January 2009:
Releases, reissues and remastering
This album was released under various names and record labels, with the artist being either referenced as Djeli Moussa DiawaraDjeli Moussa Diawara
Djeli Moussa Diawara, [born 1962 in Kankan, Guinea] is a Kora player , a composer, and singer.- Short Biography :Djeli Moussa Diawara was born to a family of the Griot tribe. His father was a balafon player, and his mother a singer...
or Jali Musa Jawara.
- 1983 : LP - no title - A.S. Records (Côte d’Ivoire) - ref. AS016
- 1983 : LP - no title - Tangent Records (UK) - ref. TAN7002
- 1983 : LP - "Direct From West Africa" - Go Records (UK) - ref. GGLP1
- 1986 : LP - unknown title - Oval (UK) - ref. OVLP51
- 1991 : CD - "Yasimika" - Hannibal (USA) - ref HNCD1355
The original masters were sold in March 2010 to CybearSonic, a new French label.
On 10/01/2010, the fully restored and remastered version was released on digital platforms as "Yasimika (Abidjan 1982)".
Track listing
Personnel
- Djeli Moussa DiawaraDjeli Moussa DiawaraDjeli Moussa Diawara, [born 1962 in Kankan, Guinea] is a Kora player , a composer, and singer.- Short Biography :Djeli Moussa Diawara was born to a family of the Griot tribe. His father was a balafon player, and his mother a singer...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, KoraKora (instrument)The kora is a 21-string bridge-harp used extensively in West Africa.-Description:A kora is built from a large calabash cut in half and covered with cow skin to make a resonator, and has a notched bridge. It does not fit well into any one category of western instruments and would have to be... - Kissiman – guitar
- Lamine Kouyate – guitar
- Kouyate Djelimoridjan – BalafonBalafonThe balafon is a resonated frame, wooden keyed percussion idiophone of West Africa; part of the idiophone family of tuned percussion instruments that includes the xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel, and the vibraphone...
- Djanka Diabate, Fanta Kouyate & Djenin Doumbia – chorus