Discothèque 73 – 1975

🇬🇳 🎶 🏆 🎤 🥁 In Guinea, the Syliphone label, a government-run initiative established by Sékou Touré, actively promoted local artists from 1967 to 1984. Beyond orchestral albums, they regularly released compilations, sometimes rooted in Guinean folklore (e.g., Guinée An X), but also for the joy of dance. The Discothèque series, for instance, compiled each year’s dancefloor hits. The 1973 edition featured only established acts. It begins with Super Tentemba, an 11-minute tour de force recorded live during a concert by the Bembeya Jazz National. A reminder: an orchestra must win the artistic fortnight trophy three times to earn the « National » title. The same applies to the Horoya Band National, which follows with one of its hits, Were Were. The label also includes Miriam Makeba, who was in her Guinean period during these years. On Side B, Keletigui and his Tambourinis, featuring Kanté Manfila, are not officially « National » but match the others in quality. As for the Super Boiro Band, it is the direct successor to the former National Guard Orchestra and historically the country’s first major orchestra.