African classics: Guinée an XII (Syliphone SLP 21)
Reviews of classic recordings from Africa
In celebration of the
anniversaries of Guinea independence
the Syliphone label released a special series of recordings.
These commenced in 1969 with the LP Guinée an X, or
"Guinea year 10", and was followed by Guinée an XI.
Guinée an XII was released in 1971 and featured four of the
national orchestras plus two tracks by Miriam
Makeba (who lived in Guinea from 1969 to 1986 and released two
albums on the Syliphone label). Kouyaté Sory Kandia
joins Keletigui et ses Tambourinis
in a moving interpretation of the old griot epic
narrative "Tara". Guinée an XII
was the last of "anniversary" albums that were released in
celebration of Guinea's independence. The Discothéque series was
just around the corner which continued the tradition of
presenting collections of Guinea's great orchestras.