Ismaïl & Sixu Touré - Mandinka Dong LP

1977, Paris France. Two brothers freshly arrived from Casamance, the Senegalese ‘Florida’, are living the tough immigrant experience.

Their plan: becoming pop stars. A challenge so ambitious it sounds like science fiction at the time: Bob Marley, Fela Kuti and a handful of others artists have started making waves in the Western World, but the rise of the Pan-African sound is still at an early stage. The Touré brothers have formed a band, written some songs, and start frequently playing their music live, to great effect, at an underground theatre called the Dunois in the 13th Parisian district. The hype starts spreading. A TV crew captures the scene. Right place, right time.

Overcoming the odds, their parents' ban on playing music ("a satanic activity"), the death of their brother and mentor Amadou (victim of a heart attack live on stage in 1983) or a stint in a Mauritanian prison, they will ultimately reach stardom a few years later under the name Touré Kunda (The Elephant Family). A legendary 40-year career will follow: 16 albums released, millions of records sold, numerous world tours, awards and collabs with the likes of Manu Dibango, Talking Heads, Carlos Santana, Bill Laswell, Alpha Blondy, Bernie Worrel …

Released in 1979, self-financed by loans from friends and allies, Mandinka Dong - The Mandinke Dance - is the genesis of Touré Kunda, the cornerstone of the band’s unique sound, at the crossroads of Disco, Funk, Pop, Reggae, Portuguese, Guinean, Cuban, Zairean, Mandinke and Soninke music.

Limited to 700 copies and very difficult to find in decent condition, the original pressing faded into oblivion for decades. A low-resolution digital version of the album started circulating in recent years, not doing justice to the rich analog sound of the recording.

It is an honour for Secousse and Hot Mule Records to present a complete and official reissue of Mandinka Dong.

Faithfully restored and remastered, it will be available in both digital and physical formats (in gatefold vinyl illustrated with photos from the artists’ archives and liner notes by Frank Tenaille, the band’s official biographer). 

REVIEWS

"In 1979 Sixu and Ismail Touré had made an innovative mix between afro rhythms and jazz funk. A rare and cult record finally reissued." LIBERATION

"Heavy reissue of this seminal record from 1979 by the two brothers that would form the better known group ''Touré Kunda''! A beautiful blend of Afro disco stompers & mellow Reggae tunes.. Big one!" - RUSH HOUR STORE

"Utammada is Afro-funk morphing into tribal music evolving finally into afro-disco: you get three boiling ambiances with just one track!" - GUTS

"The good stuff keeps on being reissued, forthcoming on Hot Mule Records!" - GILLES PETERSON

"With Mandinka Dong, Secousse and Hot Mule exhume an important chapter of the musical history of Senegal and France, to rediscover without restraint." - PAN AFRICAN MUSIC

"Third release from french label Hot Mule and third homerun. Special mention will be given to the afro-funk tracks "N’Yo", "Afrika", "Utammada" and "Ntinkerinta", absolute dancefloor bombs" - LE GRIGRI

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