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| Don't miss the Toronto debut of Alioune Guissé, Senegal's "Prince of Yela" music tonight – check the clips below. |
Batuki Music Society and Alliance Française Toronto present the Sounds of Senegal featuring singer, songwriter and guitarist Alioune Guissé tonight (Saturday, November 10) at the Alliance Francaise Toronto Theatre (24 Spadina) at 9 pm sharp. Alioune Guissé will be accompanied by an all-star lineup featuring Sadio Sissokho (djembe, sabar, calabash), Diely Mori Tounkara (kora, guitar), Aboulaye Kone (guitar), Carlo Birri (bass) and Sylvain Plante (drums).
Alioune Guissé distinguished himself at the age of 17 years by creating a new hybrid of Senegalese music that combines the sounds of his two cultural heritages, Foutanké (Peul) and Wolof, a fusion of Pulaar yela and mbalax music, with hip-hop and reggae using guitars, percussion (sabar, djembe, calabash), kora and voices.
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n 1992, Alioune won the prestigious “Oscar des Vacances,” award for the best emerging singer by Senegal’s national television network. Alioune attended the Senegalese National School of the Arts, where he studied composition and performance of African music, both traditional and contemporary. In 1996, Alioune formed his first band, Tim Timol, with his friends from the School of the Arts. Tim Timol brought a new flavor to the yéla sound by fusing this traditional Fulani music style with hip-hop and reggae. The band brought together a unique group of artists, including talented female rappers, an MC, and Alioune as the vocalist. With Tim Timol, he toured West Africa and Europe, sponsored by the Belgian International Center for Youth.
In 2000, Alioune relocated to New York City, where he joined the renowned Maimouna Keita African Dance Company as a teacher and performer. His first solo album, Macha Allah (As Allah Has Willed It) was released in 2004 in Senegal. The first single, “Yaye Kene La,” dedicated to mothers worldwide, reached number one on Senegalese radio and TV. The second single, “Africa Unites,” calling for unity of the African peoples, also reached the top of the charts. His song Dental Africa received the same distinction in 2006. He created a new group, Dental that went on to perform in many of the top venues and festivals in Senegal and appeared on popular television shows including Samedi Soir, Cafe Musique and Star en Ligne. He released the album Hebbo in 2011 that featured leading figures in Senegalese music including Kabou Gueye, Assane Ndoye, Papis Cissokho, Alioune Seck and Jeannot Mendy.
In April 2012, during a remarkable appearance on the show “Sous les Projecteurs” on 2STV, Alioune captivated the audience as he sang the songs “Taara” and “Thierno Samasa” with the legendary Baaba Maal and Djibril Dramé at his side. The same year he won the Discovery Award from the Institute Francaise and was selected to perform at the Olympic Games in London. Alioune received the 'Best African Entertainer' award at the Chicago Music Awards in 2015.
Sounds of Senegal: Alioune Guissé
Saturday November 10th
Alliance Française Toronto (24 Spadina Rd)
Doors: 8 PM / Concert 9 PM
Tickets: $20 advance / $10 members / $25 door
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