Doro Dimanta is back in Chad with a project to revive the traditional repertoire of Baguirmi, one of the country’s three ancient kingdoms. Associated with the group Khalélé, sitarists among the rare last depositaries in this repertoire, the saxophonist has therefore recorded a dozen titles and now hopes to find a label in France to produce for them this amazing mix of jazz notes and traditional sounds in the province of Chari Baguirmi.
as reported from Ndjamena, Aurélie Bazzara-Kibangula
The jazz notes resonate in this district of Ndjamena. Surrounded by his friends, Doro Dimanta remembers his debut on the saxophone 40 years ago to forget the civil war. “It really is the instrument that brought me to music, because we find all the qualities of African music. Music is a spiritual thing. The music is there, the sound of the soul, he explains.
At that time, the native of Koumra was destined to become a civil servant. But in the end he left for France to perfect his music technique. At home, he launched Baguirimi Jazz, a momentary exchange where the saxophone mingles with the sound of sitars and the balafon.
Doro Dimanta plays with the Khalélé Group, the last artists to master the repertoire that focuses on the history of the Royal Court in Baguirmi. “There is Badjar, there is Goumso, the whole repertoire is about members of the royal family. Balafon’s repertoire and sitar repertoire. Then I add a European instrument. It’s actually the same culture ”.
About ten tracks have been recorded in the studio. For Doro Dimanta, the release of an album will preserve Chad’s musical heritage.
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