3247952 ABLAYE NDIAYE THIOSSANE (LE DERNIER DAMEL DU CAYOR)

Ablaye Ndiaye Thiossane est originaire de Thiès, ville du Sénégal, située à 70km de , dans la région du Cayor fief des Damels (Rois) dont le plus illustre Lat Dior opposa une résistance farouche à la colonisation. Thiossane signifie tout ce qui se rapporte à la tradition et explique toute la thématique de son album, qui tourne autour de faits historiques, voire traditionnels. Ses premières chansons entendues à la radio datent des années 50. Chanteur, peintre et dramaturge, il est un artiste pluridisciplinaire. Ablaye Ndiaye est un artiste autodidacte qui, dans les années 60 a fréquenté à l’Ecole des Arts du Sénégal les sections lyriques et plastiques pour y parfaire ses connaissances artistiques. Malgré une notoriété radiophonique, il est resté plus de 70 ans sans avoir publié d’album. C’est à 74 ans qu’il franchit (enfin !) cette étape. Enfant, il a été bercé par des airs traditionnels maternels qui ont inspirés toute sa carrière musicale. Entre 1949 et 1950 son père mélomane écoutait le Septeto Habanero, qui développa chez Ablaye Ndiaye Thiossane un amour pour la musique afro-cubaine. Il découvrit par la suite les chansons de Tino Rossi, Harry Belafonte, le jazz, la musique orientale de Farid El Atrach et les grands succès de la musique africaine du Grand Kallé. Ce goût éclectique des sonorités musicales multiples lui a été bénéfique dans sa longue carrière. Très attaché à la tradition, il reste aussi influencé par des airs traditionnels des années 1835 appelés « lawanes » : chansons populaires des talibés (élèves des écoles coraniques). Cette forme de chant s’est répandu dans tout le pays wolof et le président-poète Senghor parlera des « lawanes » dans ses poèmes… Ablaye Ndiaye s’est aussi inspiré des contes africains où les bêtes sauvages véhiculent des messages forts à travers ces fables millénaires racontées aux enfants lors des veillées au clair de lune autour de feux de bois. Sa carrière musicale a réellement débuté en 1952 au sein de la troupe théâtrale L’UAT (Union Artistique de Thiès). Durant cette période, il fréquente le Cayor Rythme, orchestre avec lequel il a représenté la région de Thiès à la semaine nationale de la jeunesse du Sénégal. Il a acquis sa grande renommée en 1966 lors du premier Festival des Arts Nègres de Dakar où le président Léopold Sédar Senghor convia toute la diaspora noire à cette manifestation culturelle. Ablaye Ndiaye Thiossane y croisa Duke Ellington qui l’invita à venir chanter avec son orchestre de jazz à la salle Daniel Sorrano. Il n’ira pas à ce rendez-vous prestigieux à cause d’une programmation artistique qui le retenait à l’autre bout de la ville : « Je ne savais pas que j’avais devant moi un grand nom du Jazz » nous déclara-t-il. Lors de ce festival, sa chanson « Talene Lampe Yi » fut retenue comme hymne radiophonique de l’évènement. Ablaye Thiossane est un très bon guitariste et un grand peintre : il possède des œuvres importantes et a exercé le métier de peintre-cartonnier à la manufacture des tapisseries de Thiès où ses œuvres ont été reproduites en tapisseries célèbres dont l’une d’entre elles serait exposée au siège de l’Onu. Dans les années 70, l’une de ces œuvres a été la plus grosse vente au Sénégal. "J’ai appris la peinture tout seul par amour du dessin, bien que mon père fût aussi peintre ; c’est en reproduisant les affiches des films programmés devant les salles de cinéma que j'ai appris à dessiner. L'Ecole des Arts n'a été qu'un lieu de complément de mes connaissances artistiques." Sanou Mbaye

1 Aminata Ndiaye 05 :38 6 Talene Lampe Yi 04 :39 Percussions : Mbaye Kane Sabar/Tama : Mbaye Kane Timbales : Jim Lopez Basse : Samba Laobé Trilogy Bass : François Bréant Guitares accompagnement et solo : Laye Kane Guitares accompagnement 1et 2 : Cheikhna Ndiaye Saxophone : Thierno Kouaté Guitare Solo : Nedule Monwest « Papa Noel » Accordéon : François Bréant Saxophone : Thierno Kouate Chœurs : Adolphe Coly, Cheikhna Ndiaye, Accordéon : François Bréant Marie Ngoné Ndione, Chœurs : Adolphe Coly, Cheikhna Ndiaye, Marie Ngone Ndione Fatou Mbaye, Gora Mbaye

2 Late Dior 05 :38 7 Thiere Lamboul 05 :02 Sabar : Mbaye Kane Congas/Bongoes : Mountaga Kouate Trilogy Bass/ Shakers / Grosse caisse : François Bréant Trilogy Bass/ Percussions diverses : François Bréant Guitares accompagnement 1et 2 : Cheikhna Ndiaye Guitares accompagnement 1et 2 : Cheikhna Ndiaye Guitare Solo : Cheikh Tidiane Tall Guitare Solo : Nedule Monwest « Papa Noel » Saxophone : Thierno Kouate Saxophone : Thierno Kouate Chœurs : Fatou Mbaye, Gora Mbaye, Marie Ngone Ndione Chœurs : Adolphe Coly, Cheikhna Ndiaye, Marie Ngone Ndione

3 Ndiaye Diatta Ndiaye 05 :23 8 Bouki Ndour 06 :16 Trilogy Bass : François Bréant Timbales: Jim Lopez Guitares accompagnement 1 et 2 : Laye Kane, Cheikhna Ndiaye ; Congas/ Bongoes: Mountaga Kouate Cheikh Tidiane Tall Trilogy Bass/ Percussions diverses: François Bréant Saxophone : Thierno Kouate Guitares accompagnement 1 et 2 : Cheikhna Ndiaye, Chœurs : Fatou Mbaye , Gora Mbaye, Marie Ngone Ndione Cheikh Tidiane Tall Guitare Solo : Nedule Monwest « Papa Noel » 4 Arawane Ndiaye 04 :25 Saxophone : Thierno Kouaté Timbales: Jim Lopez Congas: Mountaga Kouaté 9 Laye Woyna Laye 05 :38 Trilogy Bass/ Percussions diverses : François Bréant Sabar/ Congas : Jules Dramé Guitares accompagnement 1 et 2 : Cheikhna Ndiaye, Percussions diverses : François Bréant Cheikh Tidiane Tall Saxophone : Thierno Kouaté Guitare Solo : Nedule Monwest « Papa Noel » Basse : Samba Laobé Ndiaye Saxophone : Thierno Kouate Guitare accompagnement 1et 2 : Lofti Ben Jeloun, Chœurs : Adolphe Coly, Cheikhna Ndiaye, Marie Ngone Ndione Robert Lahoud, Laye Kane Chœurs : Soda Touré, Assane Mboup 5 Siket 06 :16 Solo Vocal : Medoune Diallo Sabar : Jules Dramé Shaker/ Cloches : François Bréant Bass : Samba Laobé Ndiaye Guitare accompagnement 1et 2 : Lofti Ben Jeloun, Robert Lahoud, Laye Kane Saxophone : Thierno Kouate Solo Vocal : Khar Mbaye Madiaga

Thierno Kouate

ABLAYE NDIAYE THIOSSANE (THE LAST DAMEL OF CAYOR)

Ablaye Ndiaye Thiossane was born in Thiès, a city in , 70 Kms from Dakar, in the region of Cayor, the realm of Damels (Kings), whose most famous representative, Lat Dior, was instrumental in the ferocious fight against colonisation. “Thiossane” means “all things relating to tradition”; this sheds light on why, throughout his discography, Ablaye has always explored historical facts and traditions. His songs were first played on the radio in the 1950s. A singer, painter and playwright, Ablaye is a true pluridisciplinary artist. In the 1960s, Ablaye Ndiaye, a self-taught artist, studied drama and visual arts at the Senegalese National Arts School and thus perfected his artistic knowledge. Despite the notoriety brought about by the radio, 70 years passed without him recording an album. It is only now, at the age of 74, that he is releasing this record, his first album. As a child, he grew up listening to traditional tunes, much loved by his mother and instrumental in shaping his entire musical career. Between 1949 and 1950, his father – a music lover – would listen to the productions of Septeto Habanero, which triggered in Ablaye Ndiaye Thiossane a passion for Afro-Cuban music. Later on, he discovered the songs of Tino Rossi and Harry Belafonte, jazz, the oriental sounds of Farid El Atrach and the great African music hits of Grand Kallé. These eclectic tastes, this love of a wide range of sounds have shaped and benefited his long career. Along with his love of tradition, he was also greatly influenced by traditional songs of the 1830s called “lawanes”: popular songs performed by Talibés (students of Islam). This type of singing spread throughout the Wolof community, leading President-Poet Senghor to mention the “lawanes” in his poems. Ablaye Ndiaye also drew inspiration from African legends, the age-old tales – told by children under the moonlight as they sit around the woodfire – populated by animals delivering strong messages and life lessons. His musical career really started in 1952 with the UAT (Thiès’ Artistic Union) theatre company. At the time, he used to perform along with Cayor Rythme, an orchestra with which he represented the Thiès region at the National Week for the Youth of Senegal. He became very famous in 1966, when he performed at the first Festival of Negro Arts in Dakar. President Léopold Sédar Senghor had invited the entire Black diaspora to take part in this cultural event. There, Ablaye Ndiaye Thiossane met Duke Ellington, who invited him to sing alongside his jazz orchestra at the Daniel Sorrano hall. Because of a prior engagement to perform at a venue in another part of the city, he was unable to attend the prestigious event: “I didn’t know at the time that he was a jazz legend” he says. His song “Tallene Lampe Yi” was chosen as the radio anthem for the festival. Ablaye Thiossane is a very talented guitarist and painter: he owns great works and has worked as a cartoon-maker at the tapestry manufacture in Thiès, where his pieces were turned into majestic tapestries, one of which is displayed at the UN headquarters. In the 1970s, one of his works was sold at a record-breaking price in Senegal. “I taught myself painting because of my love for drawing, although my father too was a painter; I learned to draw by reproducing the film posters on display at cinemas, the National Arts School simply completed my training in the visual arts.” Sanou Mbaye

THE TEAM BEHIND THE ALBUM The release of this first album is the result of the collaboration of a team. Thanks to the advice of Medoune Diallo from the band and the perseverance of Alain Josse, executive producer for Syllart Production, a team of talented musicians was brought together in order for the project to take shape. These were: Cheikhna Ndiaye : guitarist with the National Orchestra of Senegal and a former member of Labba Sossey’s Super International Band in Abidjan. Thierno Kouaté : sax-player with the . Robert Lahoud : guitarist, arranger, sound engineer and executive producer. Cheick Tidiane Tall : guitarist, founding member of Xalam. Samba Laobé Ndiaye, bass-player and former member of the Ismaël Lô Orchestra and Laye Kane, a soloist, both brought a youthful touch to this production Papa Noel Nedule Montswet from the DRC : pioneering guitarist and the last living legend of Congolese rumba, former member of OK Jazz and of Les Bantous de la Capitale from Brazzaville. He founded the band Bamboula in the 60s and is currently playing with the Paris-based band Kékélé, which he also founded. Muctar Wurrie : reggae guitarist from Sierra Leone, former member of Kéletigui & ses Tambourinis from Guinea, member of Ismaël Isaac’s band. Lofti Benjeloun : guitarist with the Orchestra Baobab. In order to achieve the widest possible range of sounds, producer Ibrahima Sylla invited 5 Senegalese singers, each representing a different generation, to achieve a new form of musical symbiosis : Khar Mbaye Madiaga : the most senior representative of traditional Senegalese singers (“Siket”) Balla Sidibé : lead vocal in the Orchestra Baobab Medoune Diallo : lead vocal in Africando and former member of the Orchestra Baobab (“Laye Woyna Laye”) Souleymane Faye : lead vocal, former member of Xalam Doudou Seck : lead vocal, specialised in songs relating to circumcision (kassak) and traditional wrestling at Senegalese amphitheatres. Assane Mboup : lead vocal in the Orchestra Baobab. It is with great skill that François Bréant arranged these colourful tunes, his past achievements including : ’s () mythical “Soro” album, “Orientissimo” by (Senegal), “Sinikan” by Sékouba Bambino (Guinea),Bako Dagnon’s debut album, “Titati”, released by Discograph, “Congo Live” by the band Kékéle from the DRC, etc.

Photos covers : Florent Mazzoleni. Photos p 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & 16 : Touré Béhan. Design : Marc Ribes Label : Pierre-Olivier Toublanc - [email protected] 1 Amineta Ndiaye A love song, dedicated to the beloved lady who shouldn’t bask in her own beauty too much or throw tantrums if she wants to please her man. Relationships must be based on harmony and mutual understanding.

2 Lat dior The greatest Damel (king) of Cayor, fought ferociously against colonisation, the last bastion against Western occupation in Senegal. A Cayorian, like Lat Dior, Ablaye Laye celebrates in song the story of the man symbolising Senegalese independence.

3 Ndiaye Diatta Ndiaye The artist celebrates his lineage: the Ndiaye, a family from Cayor, a lineage of orchestra conductors commonly called Tambours Majors (drum majors), the masters of rhythm and of Sabars (tom-tom drum), which convey sounds and messages according to beating patterns only the initiated can master.

4 Arawane Ndiaye This song is a tribute to Senegalese women and to their culinary craft.

5 Siket (Le Bouc) A traditional song inspired by the “leb” African tales, which depict animals – here, a billy goat – conveying educational messages. It appears that Africa had created fables before La Fontaine. In his message conveyed by “Siket the billy goat”, Ablaye Ndiaye urges people to do things according to their abilities. For this song, he sings in duet with Khar Mbaye Madiaga, the most senior representative of traditional Senegalese singers.

6 Talene Lampe Yi In 1966, President Senghor invited the entire Black diaspora to attend the first World Festival of Negro Arts, held in Dakar. Key players of Black culture came to Senegal from all over the world to celebrate this get-together on African soil: Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillepsi, Franco and (from Congo), Odeneizer from Nigeria, etc. In 1977, the second edition of the festival, called FESTAC, was held in Lagos. It was not until 34 years later, in 2010, that the third Festival of Negro Arts (FESMAN) was organised in Senegal, under the aegis of President Abdoulaye Wade; a great panafricanist who invited representatives of Black culture – from Brazil to the rest of America, from Senegal to the Caribbean, from the north to the south of Africa – to this great cultural celebration, marking a new beginning for Africa.

7 Thiere Lamboul The story of a girl who has lost her mother and is ill-treated by her mother’s co-spouse, under the complacent eyes of her father. Thielel is an abused child who carries out, at a young age, all the household chores while her half-sister lazes about the house.

8 Bouki Ndiour (The hyena) In African Bouki tales, hyenas are pictured as simpletons eager for flesh. Here, one of them makes a pact with “Diargogne” the spider. But hyenas can never keep a secret... 9 Laye Woyena Laye Ablaye Ndiaye rend hommage à un autre Laye (Mboup) un grand chanteur sénégalais, membre fondateur de l’Orchestra Baobab et sociétaire de l’ensemble lyrique traditionnel du Sénégal, décédé en 1975. Dans cet hommage vocal, il invite un ancien membre du baobab, Medoune Diallo du groupe Africando pour un duo sur un morceau très connu composé en son temps par l’artiste disparu.

9 Laye Woyena Laye Ablaye Ndiaye pays tribute to another Laye (Mboup), a great Senegalese singer, the founding member of Orchestra Baobab and a member of the Senegalese traditional operatic ensemble, who died in 1975. In this vocal tribute, he invites a former member of Orchestra Baobab, Medoune Diallo from the band Africando, to sing in duet a very famous song written by the departed artist.