The Amazons of Guinea
Guinea's female musician soldiers — Women's Orchestra — jazz and guitar music from West Africa
Biographie
Created in 1961 at the request of President Sékou Touré, who wanted a female counterpart at the Bembeya Jazz, the Amazon orchestra of Guinea brings together women soldiers from the gendarmerie, trained in the instrument by Cuban and Congolese instructors. Coppers, guitars and mandingues: their sound has shot around the world, from the FESTAC 77 de Lagos to the Red Square of Moscow in 2024. Sixty years later, the training remains active under the direction of his bassist, Commander Salematou Diallo.
Distinctions and benchmarks
All the musicians are female soldiers of the Guinean gendarmerie · Directed by bassist Commander Salematou Diallo · FETAC 77 (Lagos) · Albums « Au Cœur de Paris » (1982) and « Wamato » (2008) · Concert at Spasskaya Tower, Place Rouge, Moscow (2024)
Performing formats
- Concert — complete female orchestra
- Heritage programming — West African music