Oyiwane

Artists

Album Info

Release Date: 2018-10-12

Label: Sahel Sounds

In 1985 Agadez hosted a musical school competition between various neighborhoods. Each school was tasked with presenting a song. École Tudu, a small school in the neighborhood of the same name needed a musical group. The director turned to his friend, Kader “Barmo” Balla, a young Tuareg guitarist. Along with the school director Elhadji Gondji and principal Mohamed Aïttoc, the three composed a song for the competition. They selected a group of girls, all around the ages of 10 and 11, to form the choral group and present the song. Their composition, titled “Oyiwane” (“Greetings to Everyone”), won first prize. Seraji Madobi, a Nigerian producer, heard the group, and invited them to record an album. Six members of the troupe traveled to Northern Nigeria and performed a number of the songs that would become their debut release. The following year, the small boutique label Hasada (known for their seminal work with Mamman Sani Abdoulaye) released a limited edition cassette. The compositions mixed traditional folksongs and new creations, all with fundamental lyrical messages, praising culture, but emphasizing importance of education. Barmo was relatively new to the guitar, and the guitar was very new to Niger, so he turned to Malian folklore for inspiration. Barmo played simple melodic accompaniment to mirror the vocal line, creating an instrumental call and response. The troupe drew inspiration for their percussion from the tende, the traditional Tuareg goatskin drum and rhythm. The group continued to win accolades for their music throughout Niger and were beloved by the state. They competed in the renowned Dan Gourmou music competition, winning the first prize in 1988. Following their success, a number of other school groups created similar guitar/vocal folklore groups (Dagamanet, Tasko d’Agadez, Albichir de Tchirozérine). This style of music became popular throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, evolving into a genre independent of its “scolaire” origins. After their release of this cassette, Troupe École Tudu renamed their group Oyiwane. Nana Mallam Garba, one of the original members of the Troupe (and featured on the cassette) left to found Sogha Niger, one of the more popular female led groups in Niger today. Today’s Oyiwane is made up of new vocalists, but is still led by Barmo, performing the guitar and composing songs. The group has toured across the African continent and Europe, and continues to perform.
Cover Photo
Top row (left to right): Hamissa Wahil, Haoua Magaji, Aichatou Aboubakar, Mariama Almoctar, Nana Mallam Garba, Tambche Aboubakar, Elhadji Gondji.
Bottom row (left to right): Kader Balla Barmo, Fatima Boukar, Mina Magas, Rabi Soumeila, Hadiza Aboubakar, Aichatou Bagnou, Haoua Adamou.
Cassette provided by Djadjé, Grand Marché, Niamey Niger.
Original released by Hasada, 1985.