African Tribal Music And Dances - Sonar Senghot

 

African Tribal Music And Dances

African Tribal Music And Dances

Sonar Senghot Ak Sicco Yi

Counterpoint/Esoteric Records/Everest Records CPT-5513 (S-2461 re-recored to simulate stereo)

From the back cover: Sonar Senghor is the son of an aristocratic family in Senegal. His uncle, Sadi Senghor is Africa's best known poet. Another uncle, Feral-Benga, who has performed at the Follies Bergeres and the French Casino in New York, now owns the Paris cabaret Rose Rouge in the Latin Quarter. Senghor's father is descendant of one of the former district kings in Senegal. Still another uncle, Jean Ndiouga Senghor is a deputy from Dakar to the French Assembly. Following a family tradition, Sonar Senghor came to France in 1946, and enrolled at Lycée Buffon, Paris, where he received his baccalaureate. Family plans called for him to continue studying for a law degree and return to Africa and practice. Senghor had different ideas – his heard was in the Theatre. He wrote his father saying he was giving up the idea of studying law in order to study all phases of acting and then return to establish the first Theatre in Africa. His father disowned and disinherited him. Nothing daunted, although deeply pained, Senghor enrolled in drama courses at René Simon, the training school for such famous French actors as Jean-Pierre Aumont, Michelle Morgan, Jean Gablin, etc.

A friend, Melo Kane, who had come from Africa at the same time to study anthology, was enthused when Senghor suggested that they form a troupe to present the native dances and songs of Africa in Paris. With another emigre, Moka Bock, they formed a trio, and in 1948 opened at the Rose Rouge with a repertoire consisting of African songs, two or three dances, and recitations of African poetry. An immediate success, they were soon joined by two other African students in Paris, Farra Diagne and Tio Tio Basse, who were studying engineering and music. In 1952 they opened at the Folies Bergeres in "One Vraie Folie".

Still using the Rose Rouge as sort of a home-base headquarters, the troupe has played in all sections of France, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland and Germany, as well as before many audiences of the American Army in Europe.

Sicco

Toffi

Ibonga

Gnoubi Gnibi

Dianka Bi

Sibi Saba

Sindhio

Didrenouo

Bonomiollo

Sammsamounn

Sougnou Mbtaye

Ndolo

Sabar

Badunde Ndonga

Changoo

Sammsamounn

Mbatilaya

Miva