More from Algiers

Judging by the comments on the first post of this concert by the legendary Syli Orchestre National from Guinea, there seems to be some uncertainty about the musicians participating.

I am certainly not qualified to express an opinion, but I can try and help. Not just by sharing this video, but also by posting some photos from another version of this same video.

The latter is from a commercial video cassette titled "Justin Morel Junior présente L'Afrique en Fête" (JMJ Video KV 1950). Unfortunately the video shows little respect for the historic value of the images, because it contains more video effects (strange whirls, zooms, cross-fades and such) than clear footage.
And it also breaks off after just over 6 minutes!

So it seems there just isn't any more left of this track than these six minutes and 12 seconds....
But these minutes are precious, as I am sure you will agree.

Syli Orchestre National

Formed in 1959, the Syli Orchestre National contained Guinea's elite musicians. The orchestra represented Guinea at international festivals, including Helsinki (1962), Algiers (1969), and Tunis (1973), as well as performing in Berlin, Lagos and Cuba. The first chef d'orchestre was Kanfory Sanoussi (accordion, banjo and vibraphone), with other musicians at the time including Kerfala “Papa” Diabaté (guitar), Balla Onivogui (trumpet), Kélétigui Traoré (tenor saxophone), Clement Dorego (tenor saxophone), Honore Coppet (alto saxophone), Momo Wandel (alto saxophone), Pivi Moriba (trombone), Kerfala Camara (bass), and Jean Fanga (drums). In later years the orchestre included Demba Camara (vocals) and Sékou "Bembeya" Diabaté (lead guitar). In 1962 they were disbanded, as they were too many musicians, though the orchestra were reformed for special occasions for many years to come. At the Premier Festival Culturel Panafricain held in Algiers in 1969 the Syli Orchestre Nationale performed "Regard sur le passé", by Bembeya Jazz, "Sara", by Balla et ses Balladins, and other material from Guinean orchestras. They were rewarded with a silver medal in the "Orchestre moderne" section.

Graeme Counsel (here)

Here is a video from the concert in 1969, featuring the legendary singer Aboubacar Demba Camara, and Sekou Diabaté 'le Docteur' (Balladins) and a young Sekou Diabaté 'Bembeya' on guitar, and Sekou Legrow (he's the one with the silly walk at the beginning), Balla, Kélétigui, Pivi and lots of other superb musicians.

The energy, the drive, the music, the voice: this is top of the league music from Guinea!*

*"O.U.A." (referring to the Organisation of African Unity) is a version of a track by the Orchestre de Beyla (i.e. Bembeya Jazz) on Syliphone SLP 5.

Kélétigui

One of the monuments of Guinean music, Maître Kélétigui Traoré, founder and chef d'orchestre of the former national orchestra Kélétigui et ses Tambourinis, has died in Conakry on November 11 at the age of 74. He had been ill for quite a while.

He was one of the original members of the Syli Orchestre National, founded in 1959. After this orchestre had been disbanded for the first time in 1962, Kélétigui formed an orchestra which played at La Paillote. The orchestra was later renamed to Kélétigui et ses Tambourinis.
The orchestra also performed as a backing band to other artists such as Sory Kandia Kouyaté and Miriam Makeba, and has toured the world as representative of Sékou Touré's Guinea.

Here is a selection of his work.

Playlist:
01. Merci Safoulaye
02. El chechoza (Paillote)
03. Mone Magnin (SLP 1 - Paillote)
04. Cigarettes Allumettes (SYL 502 - Keletigui)
05. Beni Yarabi (SYL 544 - Keletigui)
06. Toubaka (SLP 15 - Keletigui)
07. Guajira Con Tumbao (SYL 519 - Keletigui)
08. Tambourinis sax parade (SYL 514 - Keletigui)
09. Presentation (SLP 3 - Paillote)