Following this former article, I’d like to share with you “Wollou“, a sublime deep psychedelic 70s Afro Manding Fusion Soul Synth Folk track from Gambia, taken from the second album (my fave one !) of the mythical Gambian band “Guelewar Band of Banjul“, founded by composers & musicians brothers Laaye & Moussa N’Gom, and that included some of the bests Gambian & Senegalese musicians of that era as :

Laaye N’Gom : Leader, Keyboards, Piano, Vocals ;

Moussa N’Gom : Lead Vocals ;

Njok Malick Mike Njie : Bass ;

Moussa Njobdi Njie : Guitar ;

Adu Sallah, Alive Badara Cham N’Gom, Koto Sunu Icoto N’Gom : Percussion ;

Laaye Sallah Ombor : Tenor Saxophone ;

Bas Lo Fara Biram : Alto Saxophone ;

Recorded in 1980 in Dakar (Senegal), this album (“Tasito”, or “self-sufficiency” in Mandinka Senegambian langage) is one of the very firsts produced by Ibrahima Sory Sylla, who’d become later one of the most prominent figures of African music, and would pave the way for the emergence of West Africa’s greatest groups and artists (Gnonnas Pedro & Africando, Orchestra Baobab, Gets de Dakar or Ismaël Lô) though is label “Syllart Records”.

This album was released at the time on both labels “Productions Jambaar PJ” (for Senegalese market distribution) & in France on “Le Kiosque d’Orphée” (famous Paris-based record manufacturer/label, where every artists could pay to get a number of pressings, making it an alternative for a private press autoproduction)

Cherry on the cake : this gorgeous cover art by painter Senegalese Djibathen Laye Sambou, one of my personal hero when it’s about African album sleeve design (remember Orchestra Bawobab Gouye-Gui de Dakar & Ousmane “Ouza” Diallo ones ?) – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Guelewar Band of Banjul – Wollou (Gambia, 1980, Productions Jambaar)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/wqIPgBTOtsI

Check also my Soundcloud for exclusive mixes & selections : https://soundcloud.com/armand_de_preseau

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Feel free to support my action to preserve musical heritage & buy my vinyl & digital reissues here : https://nangabokorecords.bandcamp.com

Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical rediscovery !

Armand de Preseau