Siaka, an African Musician

Siaka Diabaté is a musician at Bouaké, the second largest town in the Côte d’Ivoire. (since 3 years "capital" of the "rebells"). Through his mother's family he is Senufo, but through his father's ancestry he considers himself a Mande griot. He is a multi-talented professional musician, and for the local festivals plays five instruments: the Senufo and Maninka balafons, the kora harp, the dundun drum and the electric guitar.

This film shows Siaka playing in the group led by Soungalo Coulibaly before his death in 2004, including the use of jembé drums, which we also see being made.

Using long continuous shots that give priority to the music and to what Siaka and Soungalo have to say, this documentary introduces the audience to a fascinating world of urban music that incorporates traditional songs and dances by griots. Shot on site during various festivities, this film presents a living portrait of this lovable and highly skilled musician working in a traditional environment, adding another dimension to the pleasure of seeing and hearing him during his European tours.

Hugo Zemp

Born on 14 May 1937 in Basle , Switzerland . French and Swiss citizen.

Diplomas:

Conservatory of Basle, 1960. Diploma of professional musician (percussion).

University of Paris (Sorbonne), 1968. Ph.D. in Anthropology (ethnomusicology).

Professional activities:

Since 1967, researcher at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), in the ethnomusicology research group of the Musée de l'Homme. Retired since 2004.

Since 1982, General Editor of the record series "Collection CNRS-Musée de l'Homme".

Since 1981, teaching fieldwork and audiovisual methods in ethnomusicology at the University of Paris X-Nanterre .

Fieldwork in West-Africa ( Ivory Coast ), South-Pacific ( Solomon Islands ), Switzerland , Georgia ( Caucasus ).

Publications:

3 books, about 40 articles and 20 records of traditional music.

Filmography

1978 'Are'are Music. 16 mm . 150 min. Produced by the CNRS Audiovisuel.

1978 Shaping Bamboo. 16 mm , 35 min. Produced by the CNRS Audiovisuel.

1986 The Wedding of Susanna and Josef. 16 mm , 27 min. Produced by the CNRS Audiovisuel and the Ateliers d'ethnomusicologie, Geneva .

1986 Glattalp. 16 mm , 30 min. Produced by the CNRS Audiovisuel and the Ateliers d'ethnomusicologie, Geneva .

1987 Yootzing and Yodeling. 16 mm , 50 min. Produced by the CNRS Audiovisuel and the Ateliers d'ethnomusicologie, Geneva .

1987 Head Voice, Chest Voice. 16 mm , 23 min. Produced by the CNRS Audiovisuel and the Ateliers d'ethnomusicologie, Geneva .

1990 The Song of Harmonics. 16 mm , 38 min. Produced by the CNRS Audiovisuel and Société Française d'Ethnomusicologie.

1998 The Feast-Day of Tamar and Lashari. Video, 70 min. Produced by the CNRS Audiovisuel.

2001 Masters of the Balafon: Funeral Festivities . Vidéo, 80 min. Production Sélénium Films. Distribution Süpor XAO. -

2002 Masters of the Balafon: The Joy of Youth. Vidéo, 70 min. -

2002 Masters of the Balafon: The Wood and the Calabash. Vidéo, 47 min. Production Sélénium Films. Distribution Süpor XAO.

2002 Masters of the Balafon: Friend, well come!. Vidéo, 27 min. Production Sélénium Films. Distribution Süpor XAO. -

2004 An African Brass Band. Video, 70 min. Production Sélénium Films.

Distribution Süpor XAO.

2005 Siaka, an Afridan Musician. Video 79 min. Production Sélénium Films.

Distribution Süpor XAO.