Biography
Les Amazones de Guinée stand out as Guinea’s inaugural all-female ensemble and rank among the most enduring acts from the region. The collective originated in 1961 after several officers serving in the nation’s military police uncovered shared musical abilities. What began modestly soon expanded into a full ensemble that delivered the buoyant Afro-pop sound dominating airwaves from the late 1960s onward. Recognition from the Guinean government followed, placing the group on its roster of officially backed ensembles. Throughout the 1970s and into the early 1980s the musicians captivated crowds with vigorous stage shows, eventually pressing for their first commercial recording. In 1983 the members journeyed to Paris to capture the sessions. Already celebrated across Africa and Europe as a leading Guinean cultural achievement, the ensemble reached global audiences through the resulting album Au Coeur de Paris. The women sustained an international touring schedule while navigating lineup shifts and evolving musical directions. Nearly twenty-four years later, the 2008 release of Wamato on Stern’s Africa earned favorable notices and introduced the project to fresh listeners. The album entered the Top Five of World Music Charts Europe and held that position for three months. More than four decades into their existence, Les Amazones de Guinée remained among West Africa’s foremost creative forces, experiencing renewed visibility and attracting an entirely new audience.
Albums
