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Announcing Aby Ngana Diop “Liital” coming 9/2/14
Aby Ngana Diop was the most famous taasukat in Dakar, Senegal in the 1980s and 1990s. Taasu is a Wolof-language poetic style, usually performed by women griots over frenetic drum patterns, with an aggressive verbal flow thought to presage rap. Her only album Liital was groundbreaking in the history of Senegalese music because it was the first commercial recording to feature a traditional female taasukat performing to the modern accompaniment of mbalax, Senegal’s quintessential pop genre.
After a few years of searching for Ms. Diop’s family members—she passed away from a heartattack in 1997—it took another year to get the release sorted it out but I’m happy to report this is all square with her family in Dakar (thanks to the help of a friendly professor from Boston who also contributed excellent liner notes).
Purchase/listen:
The first track is completely insane and I play it on big systems every chance I get:
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Can’t wait! This is great stuff.
[…] you can check out much more information on the release details, artist, and background here on the ATFA site. Until then the aforementioned album opener is below for you to get your ears around. I defy you […]
So glad to see you getting this out to the world. I’ve loved it ever since I first found it on your site a few years ago. Great write-up in this month’s _Wire_, BTW.
Hi,
How do I pre-order this on vinyl?
I cannot find it in the SC shop.
Cheers,
Niels.
[…] interactions with Diop’s work and the process that led him to re-release the record. Head to ATFA’s site for more information on the album, and take an exclusive listen to a song from the album […]
[…] choćby brzmieniu nagrań Missy Elliott. Jak to opisuje niezmordowany wydawca Brian Shmikovitz (Awesome Tapes From Africa), jest to również materiał rewolucyjny, bo Aby Ngana Diop połączyła ekspresję taasu z […]
Thanks ATFA for this one ! Do you think that the first tune is a cover of Orchestra Baobab’s Kelen Ati Leen ?
hmm not sure, good question.
I believe it’s more of her own lyrics and the second part is a traditioinal song. Not only Baobab sang it though
Oh God, this brings me back to my chilhood !!!
I love this women ! I used to…