LALO KEBA DRAMMEH - Simbon Baa

LALO KEBBA DRAMMEH
“Born in 1926 in Gambia, the genius of the kora Lalo Kéba Dramé was illustrated by the adaptation to the kora of" djembeseng "(percussive notes of the kora played in the manner of the djembe), thus creating a real revolution for the repertoire of kora's music, with his song "Coura M'Bissane". His interpretations of "Mansané Cissé", "Bambo Bodian", "Alalaké", "Ceddo", "N’Diato", "Allalah Kounoudion", "Codina Dioulo" or "Kantintin" are all equally successful. Lalo Kéba Dramé tragically died in 1974. ”

Very young, Lalo Kéba Dramé began to make a name for himself in the world of kora djaliya (the art of the kora) by hosting weddings and baptisms. But popularity will come with his broadcasts on national radio. Soon its reputation crossed the banks of the Gambia River to spread to all the countries of the former Mandingo Empire. Lalo Kéba Dramé then decides to settle in Senegal where he becomes the "korafola" (kora player) of "History of Casamance", a Radio Senegal program in Mandingo languages ​​(socé, Malinké) hosted by El Hadj Moctar Diallo.

He will achieve international notoriety in 1967 with his interpretations of "Bambo Bodian", a song in honor of a wealthy benefactor, and especially "Coura M’Bissane", a big hit sung in duet with Rokhaya Dieng. In this song, he adapts for the first time to the kora the “djembeseng”, these very catchy Mandingo polyrhythms given by the djembe drum.
Two years after his participation in the first Mandingo Studies Congress in London in 1972, Lalo Kéba Dramé tragically passed away. Several "korafolas" (kora players) from the countries of the former Mandingo Empire will pay homage to him by resuming his titles. The Senegalese group Touré Kunda will perform in the album "Santhiaba" (2008) an Afro-reggae version entitled "Nanthio" of the traditional gabunké tune "Ceddo" magnified in its time by Lalo Kéba.