Percussionist Guem passed away yesterday, January 21st, leaving a huge void. A formidable percussionist, explorer, traveller, transmitter and trainer, Guem brought African rhythms to life through numerous albums since the early 1970s. Born in Algeria, he moved to Paris to pursue his career. Success came with this 1978 album, recorded with the group Zaka Percussion. It includes the famous track « le Serpent », which was re-recorded some twenty years later to become the theme tune for the TV programme « ça se discute ». In 2003, Guem was one of the guests at the Fête de la Musique organized in Les Abymes, Guadeloupe, by Christian Amour, then director of the growing Sonis Cultural Centre.
