Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
...Aboubacar Camara and Doundounba had the memorable position of being the last set of this year's music festival. Their infectious beat and impressive dance moves truly did bring Dawsonites, both at the tent and around town, to their feet.
After a weekend of hot sun, fun, and music the 25th Dawson City Music Festival wrapped early Monday morning with Aboubacar Camara and Doundounba being joined on stage by the many other musicians. Festival goers danced and jigged to the early hours of the morning and could be heard all over town yelling, "That was so awesome!" - Anne Tyrell
À l’occasion de la sortie de son premier album, Fanyifan, Aboubacar Camara et son groupe Doundounba ont présenté leurs chansons au cours d’une fête organisée le 16 août dernier chez la cinéaste vancouvéroise Claudine Pommier. Une soirée chaude et colorée pour célébrer l’aboutissement artistique de cet enfant terrible de la danse guinéenne ...
L’écriture des chansons de Fanyifan a été le fruit d’un travail d’équipe. Aboubacar Camara, homme aux multiples casquettes, a apporté ses idées et ses mélodies pour composer avec ses musiciens. Tous issus du milieu professionnel de Vancouver, ils jouent ensemble trois fois par semaine afin de trouver la bonne équation, celle qu’Abou attend précisément pour chaque chanson. « L’émulation artistique entre nous est importante et c’est vital pour le travail artistique, souligne-t-il. Concernant l’écriture, je m’assois dehors, je regarde ce qui se passe et j’écris. J’observe tout ce qui ne va pas et je m’exprime. »
Aboubacar, poète, croit en la force de chacun. « Je veux donner aux gens ce que j’ai. Je me repose de temps en temps mais je ne dors pas. Je veux laisser quelque chose aux enfants. Je dormirai le jour de ma mort. » - Dominique Panebianco
"A warm sunniness permeates Aboubacar Camara's debut album Fanyifan, which the transplanted Guinea native recorded here in Vancouver.
But the lyrics sometimes tell a different story. Although he sings in his native sousou language on the infectiously happy album, Camara includes English translations of his lyrics that aren't always upbeat. The opening track, "Mandeng," talks about hypocrites and the evil in the world. Camara insists, though, that he's not in a funk over world affairs. He's just telling it like it is while trying to promote unity, joy and understanding.
...
"My show is the full package. You've got happy music, culture, costumes and dancing-my show encourages people to dance," he says. "With me, I give you the rhythm and you're there dancing with me. You never look back. You dance without fear." " - Fiona Hughes
Discography
Fanyifan, 2003
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Aboubacar Camara leads his group, Doundounba, in performing West African amasumbou music – a mingling of musical traditions – with popular West African dance-driven melodies of mandeng guitar as well as ancient Guinean rhythms.
Their instrumentation is equally diverse, incorporating the balafon (xylophone), djembe (hand drum), doun doun (bass drum), kirin (slit log drum played with sticks), and gongoma (gourd) alongside electric and bass guitars and the drum kit.
The result - dance hall world music! And spiced with traditional percussion, its a combination that gets everyone on their feet dancing or moving in their seat! On stage, Aboubacar’s extra-ordinary dance moves, with their speed, energy and style, are thrilling to watch.
Many of Aboubacar’s original lyrics promote qualities such as kindness, unity and joy, and others make inquiries into the human condition and the challenges that face a diverse society.
This range and excellence in African music make Doundounba's sound stand out in the World Music community. Their compelling presentation and the vibrant atmosphere they create make this group one you won't want to miss!
Experience Africa. Experience Doundounba!
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