Balla et ses Balladins - Objectif Perfection

Although I am looking at a record sleeve that clearly says Bala et Ses Balladins, the band was officially named Balla et ses Balladins, after their band leader Balla Onivogui. They are also known as Orchestre du Jardin de Guinée.

It is a dance music orchestra formed in Conakry, Guinea and yet again this is an important band in African music history, because they were the first to compose dance music using traditional instruments and rhythms combined with modern influences. You could say this is the first Guinean Highlife. The were also the first Guinean state-sponsored group releasing albums on the famous Syliphone label, well known amongst collectors of African music, but prices for albums in mint condition...well don't forget to bring your credit card.

Was that a wise decision to start sponsoring bands by the state. Damn right it was, the music venue in Conakry with all the bar dancings still exists.

All Music states this is one of the bands that broke up due to the economic crises in Guinée, but in fact that is not true. Well the crisis in the late seventies and eighties was true enough, but the Syliphone label only ended in 1984, when the president died and during the crisis state sponsoring stopped and bands needed to survive on their own.

Balla et ses Balladins did play on and what's more, when Balla himself left the band in the late 1990's, the band recruited new musicians and they still exist and perform in Conakry as of today.

Great African dance music orchestra with a really good horn section.

See... I got the very same cover with Balla spelled with one L. Must be worth a fortune haha.