« Coono evolution »

“Dance to my music but listen to my words”. This is the plea that accompanies Abdou Guité Seck’s first international release “Coono evolution”. The CD is an amalgum of his first two albums, “Evolution” and “Coono aduna” and it underlines the singer’s griot heritage. Both his parents inculcated young Abdou with his duties as a defender of Senegal’s moral, musical and cultural traditions. And, in the course of the album’s twelve varied songs, the 25-year-old does honour to this responsibility.

Seck preaches for a balanced education for all children (“Xalé”); he consoles parents who must accept that a daughter’s love will be divided by marriage (“Sama doom bu jugeen”); he describes the devastation wreaked by a husband whose infidelity destroys a family (a rock-driven “Jëhër sama”); and he lauds the courage of thousands of migrants who sacrifice everything to support their loved ones back home(the highly popular “Modou modou”).

These are but a few of the stories Seck relates in his pure and piercing voice. Undoubtedly influenced by the timbre and range of Youssou N’Dour, his mbalax meanders along another path with an Afropop fusion that, despite its quality, could well turn many listeners off. But songs like “Evolution”, “Royal”, “Modou modou” and “Yamale” reveal a musician of genuine talent.

Seck has got off to an electrifying start to his career. His involvement with the shortlived but successful French Senegalese band Wock was followed by an intense collaboration with the celebrated Austrian jazzman Joe Zawinul. Since then, he has forged a successful domestic career based on Afropop fusion that does not turn its back on traditional Senegalese rhythms or philosophy. This first international release by Africa Productions reflect his potential – but nevertheless highlights the dangers should he overindulge in western pop and synthesizers.

April 2005.

Daniel Brown

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