Guinean Orchestras of the First Republic 

Compiled by Graeme Counsel

This information was first published in the PhD thesis "Mande popular music and cultural policies in West Africa",
by Graeme Counsel. University of Melbourne. 2006.
© Copyright 2006 - 2008


National Orchestras

• Orchestré de la Garde Républicaine
  The Orchestré de la Garde Républicaine were actually Guinea's first orchestre, as they were already in existence in 1958 at independence. After independence they were instructed to drop their European march tunes for music befitting the new nation. In later years they were split into two groups - Orchestré de la Garde Républicaine 1^ère formation, who became the Super Boiro Band, and Orchestré de la Garde Républicaine 2^ème formation.

• Syli Orchestre National
  Formed in 1959, the Syli Orchestre National contained Guinea's elite musicians. The orchestra represented Guinea at international festivals, including Helsinki (1962), Algiers (1969), and Tunis (1973), as well as performing in Berlin, Lagos  and Cuba. The first chef d'orchestre was Kanfory Sanoussi (accordion, banjo and vibraphone), with other musicians at the time including Kerfala “Papa” Diabaté (guitar), Balla Onivogui (trumpet), Keletigui Traoré (tenor saxophone), Pivi Moriba (trombone), Momo Wandel (saxophone), Kerfala Camara (bass), and Jean Fanga (drums).  In later years the orchestre included Demba Camara (vocals) and Sékou "Diamond Fingers" Diabaté (lead guitar). In 1962 they were disbanded, as they were too many musicians, though the orchestra were reformed for years to come. At the Premier Festival Culturel Panafricain held in Algiers in 1969 the Syli Orchestre Nationale performed "Regard sur le passé", by Bembeya Jazz, and other hits from Guinean orchestras. They were rewarded with a silver medal in the "Orchestre moderne" section.

• Balla et ses Balladins (originally “Orchestre du Jardin de Guinée”)
  Formed from the split of the Syli Orchestre National. Balla Onivogui (trumpet), was the chef d'orchestre, though Pivi Moriba (trombone) was designated leader in the early 1970s, hence the group Pivi et les Balladins. Balla was reinstated upon the order of Sékou Touré.

• Keletigui et ses Tambourinis (originally "Orchestre de la Pailotte". Formed from “L’Orchestre de la Bonne Auberge” and “La Formation Kerfala Camara Tamborini”).
  Formed from the split of the Syli Orchestre National. Kélétigui Traoré was the chef d'orchestre.

• Les Amazones de Guinée (originally "L'Orchestre Féminin de Camp Almamy Samory", "L'Orchestre Féminin de la Brigade Nationale", and “La Orchestre Féminin de la Gendarmerie”)
  Formed in 1961 this all-female group of policewomen were emblematic of Guinea's social policy of gender equality. In 1965 the band ceased to play banjos and other acoustic instruments, swapping them for electric guitars, brass instruments and a Western-style drum kit.

• Bembeya Jazz National (originally “Orchestre de Beyla”)
  Formed in 1961, they won the "orchestre moderne" category at the annual arts festivals, the "Quinzaine artistiques de la jeunesse", in 1964 and 1965. In October 1966 they were nationalised, the first Federal Orchestra to be awarded this honour. Hamidou Diaouné was the chef d'orchestre.

• Horoya Band National (originally “Horoya Jazz” and “Horoya Band de Kankan”)
  Formed in 1961 the Horoya Band de Kankan won the best orchestra prize in 1967, 1968 and 1971 at the Quinzaine artistiques. They were nationalised in 1971. Métoura "Papa paya-paya" Traoré was the chef d'orchestre.

• Super Boiro Band (originally “Orchestré de la Garde Républicaine 1^ère formation”)
  Mamadou Niaissa was the chef d'orchestre.