“Bella Casa”

“Bella Casa”

Okay, okay, so we’ve been a little slow off the mark in taking notice of this 2003 release. But it only reached the shores of the West in May 2005 after it had sold strongly and relentlessly in Senegal. This is the band’s fifth album. It reflects the musicians’ ability to expand on their fine vocal skills and varied local rhythms, and successfully integrate styles like hip hop (“Gox Gui”, “JT”) and Afro-Cuban beats.

This second international release takes a while to warm up before its depth and originality come through. It is really only when the outstanding voice of Ma Saneh combines with local djembe rhythms in “Mbour saate” that all the promise seen in the band’s live performances transpires. Despite sparse recording facilities Saneh’s vocal dexterity and warmth shine through repeatedly, making the 35-year-old one of the most exciting ‘finds’ in vocal-rich Senegal.

Waflash’s trademark engagement at the side of the Casamance people and culture are stated categorically in the title track and its obvious play on words: “Bella Casa is “beautiful house” and “beautiful Casamance”. “Stop chasing us away/ This is your place, but it’s also ours,” sings Ma Saneh, “Let’s stop fighting, let’s talk.” At the same time, in “J.T.” (“Journal Télévisé”), there is a ferocious denunciation of slanted news broadcasts and crooked journalists. Meanwhile pan-African themes like abuse of women, children and the environment are sung with passion yet intelligent restraint.

“We are all mixed in Africa,” Ma Saneh explained to me, in a recent exchange in Dakar, “and so it’s quite natural that I mix up my languages, my philosophy, my music styles. This album constantly reflects this.” There is nevertheless a theme that united all Senegalese in 2002 and that was the football team’s World Cup exploits. Waflash eloquently sing their praise in “Allez les Lions”, underscored by a characteristically dynamic mbalax rhythm.

Without the disappointingly stogy opening tracks, “Bella Casa” could have been one of the outstanding folk albums to emerge from Senegal in the last few years. Still, led by the confident and stunning singing and stage presence of Saneh, they could be destined for a rich and promising international career. All that these ambitious artists from Thiès need is a push from Lady Luck to complement their courageous and original music.

May 1, 2005.

Daniel Brown

// ALSO

// ALL WAFLASH'S REVIEWS