Startpage Artists, search Articles and interviews Links
RECORDS: PATIENCE DABANY
1945 -
GABON
Language: | Batèke English French |
| Genre: | Soukous |
| Instrument: | Female vocals Drums |
On the Internet Music sample under Music/Soukous jukebox More music samples
Patience Dabany is something of a rarity - a female singer and drummer. She is born in Brazzaville, Congo, but her parents originates from the Bateke people in Haut-Ogooué region in South Eastern Gabon in Central Africa. Patience Dabany grew up in a musical family and began to sing at an early age to her father's accordion accompaniment, while her brother played guitar. From there her path led to the church choir in Brazzaville and on to traditional song performances. She later married Albert Bernard Bongo, the President in Gabon. As the first lady of the republic, she worked with culture, and among other things, she was responsible for the creation of the group Superstars. After the divorce in 1986, she embarked a career as a professional artist. This led her to the USA where she was awarded an Honourary Doctorate of music in Los Angeles. She has also composed music for the cinema. Having performed at Paris Olympia in 2001, Patience Dabany is maybe the most profiled musical embassador for her home country of Gabon.
Relevant artists: Sam Mangwana Kanda Bongo Man Koffi Olomidé Papa Noel
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z COMPILATIONS ARTISTS A-Z
Last Modified:
22 nov 2009
Top of page
Patience Dabany is an exciting acquaintance. Her version of the sometimes wearing soukous is fresh and different. This album from 1994 represents a cross section of her career from that time and is comprised of eleven songs. The disk contains several songs where the influence can be traced directly back to her native Bateke music. There is an exciting drum backing that creates a hefty swinging and authentic sound. Also, the more standardised soukous songs are arranged more acoustically and are less streamlined in form than is usual for the genre, even if the synthesizer is lurking in the background.
Patience Dabany sings openly and genuinely, and the traditional questions-answer sequence in the songs draws out her voice very well. As an homage to the legend Franco, "Sango Ya Mawa", she has had help with the composition from Taby Ley Rochereau, a collaboration that benefits them both. The song is one of the best on the disk; it rocks and is melancholy.
All in all a very positive surprise.
KJØP PLATE Editor: Bjørn-Erik Hanssen
post(a)leopardmannen.no Startpage Artists, search Articles and interviews Links
Design: Idar Lind English: Katherine Stewart-Kreisman Swahili: Francis Chagula (francis.chagula@malvik.kommune.no) Swahili: Habiba Rajabu (habiba@online.no) Flags: 3Dflags.com
Go deeper.