Tarika: 10 - Beasts, Ghosts & Dancing With History
Enhanced CD celebrating their first 10 years inc. rarities and video
Soul Makassar
D
Son Egal
Contact Information
Tour Dates
Discography
Antshow
Hanitra's Arts Centre In Antananarivo
Valiha High
Help to rebuild and strengthen a Malagasy tradition
The Vakoka Project
Preserving the traditional styles of Malagasy music.
TARIKA, led by the charismatic Hanitra Rasoanaivo, became one of the hardest working bands on the 1990s World Music circuit; Madagascar's most successful musical export. Tarika's name means simply "the group" or "led by" - or in their case, "the group". They have evolved a unique, modern blend from the roots musics of the different regions of their Indian Ocean island home, strongly featuring local instruments in a way that has been described as "virtuoso traditional music with the energy of punk rock!" Their tight harmonies, buoyant grooves, infectious melodies, wild instruments, energetic dancing and captivating presentation have been a live hit all over North America and Europe, and their albums have topped the World Music charts on both sides of the Atlantic.
In the early '90s, Hanitra (pronounced "Anch") led Tarika Sammy, the first modern group rooted in the traditional music of Madagascar with the vision to adopt a professional approach to international touring, and unique as a band led by a Malagasy woman. Songs written by Hanitra or her sister Noro on their chart-topping second album Balance began to address challenging, controversial subjects such as the situation of women in Malagasy society, pushing the boundaries of Malagasy roots music.
This group split up at the end of 1993, after which Hanitra put together Tarika. Hanitra and Noro stayed as the new group's live focus, delivering their fabulous sibling harmonies, driving percussion and spirited dancing, but the new band's instrumental side was much stronger. Featuring a specially designed and crafted array of up-dates of traditional Malagasy instruments that they had commissioned - marovany (box zither), valiha (bamboo zither), kabosy (the small Malagasy guitar), jejy voatavo (gourd dulcimer) - Tarika immediately achieved international success.
The other Tarika members since 1994 have been three multi-instrumentalists/singers. Donné is a top all-round musician on marovany, valiha, kabosy, melodeon and percussion. He had long experience in traditional music, including touring in Malagasy bands Voninavoko and the Malagasy All-Stars. Ny Ony came from the brother group Solomiral whose members all regularly work with Madagascar's top modern artists: he's one of Madagascar's best guitarists and bassists, and a fine kabosy player. Solo, the youngest of the team, travelled throughout the island with the vakodrazana (traditional music) group led by his father: he too plays bass guitar, kabosy, valiha, marovany and percussion, and adds the bass voice to the famous Tarika harmonies.
Tarika's 1994 debut album Bibiango addressed thought-provoking, controversial issues for the Malagasy audience, with strong questions about priorities and values. Their intensive touring in 1994 and '95 - all over Europe and North America - caused a big stir, surprising everybody with their ever-increasing energy level.
Their second album, Son Egal, was released in 1997, produced by Simon Emmerson (Baaba Maal/Afro Celts) and Martin Russell. On a creative surge and tackling powerful historic and political themes, it received rave reviews in Europe and the USA (everywhere from The Times to Playboy!), shot to the top of the European World Music Charts and spent an unprecedented 8 weeks at No.1 (15 weeks in the top 5) on the CMJ World Music Chart in the USA. In Madagascar, released at a time of political upheaval, it received saturation airplay. They were nominated in the 1997 Kora All-African Music Awards and won the AFIM Indie Award for Contempory World Music Album in the USA.
Hanitra kicked off 1998 working with Mali's Oumou Sangare, South Africa's Sibonghile Khumalo and Cameroun's Sally Nyolo as part of the hit Women Of Africa tour (with Tarika's Donné in the house band) that sold out all venues across the UK and Europe. Tarika then got to work on their third album D, a nice contrast to the intensity of Son Egal by being a bright, upbeat, sizzling celebration of Madagascar's myriad dance styles. It provided them with a massive No.1 hit at home and another CMJ No.1 in the USA. Following a series of dazzling, sold out Madagascar shows in Spring '99, it was business as usual touring Europe and the USA.
Although the Malagasy are usually thought to be African, their origins from perhaps 1500 years ago are Malayo/ Polynesian from Indonesia. In September 1999, Hanitra spent an inspirational month in Sulawesi, Indonesia, uncovering many traces of these long ago ancestors. The stories and ideas she gathered there provide the framework for Tarika's latest album Soul Makassar, recorded in London and Indonesia with Indonesian musicians participating. Another special project with a major theme and yet more variety from their seemingly inexhaustible musical treasury, the new Tarika album was released in 2001. It immediately became another World Music chart No.1, and one of the most played albums on World Music radio shows on both sides of the Atlantic. A remix single of Koba from it was released in April 2002 and became another big hit in Madagascar.
In October 2001, Time Magazine voted Tarika one of the 10 best bands in the world on a list that also included, U2, Radiohead, Portishead, Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers and Cuba's Orishas. In March 2002, Soul Makassar gained them their 3rd Indie Award nomination.
After the events of September 2001 (they were commencing a US tour in New York at the time) Tarika took time out from international touring. Hanitra took on the big project of building an Arts Centre in Antananarivo, and although it was somewhat delayed by the political crisis that engulfed Madagascar in the first six months of 2002, it opened that September. Tarika spent October 2002 filming a documentary in Madagascar for BBC4 TV, which was first shown in June 2003 and is likely to be repeated. They are currently playing in Madagascar and rehearsing new material - but are unlikely to resume extensive visits abroad until the climate for international touring improves. They celebrate their 10th anniversary in 2004 with a special enhanced compilation CD Tarika: 10 - Beasts, Ghosts & Dancing With History which gathers together rare tracks, remixes, greatest hits and several videos.
Tarika fans will also be interested to know of the Vakoka Project, a wonderful all-star Malagasy recording project involving Hanitra as artistic director and performer, and Donne of Tarika as a musician, being released on CD in June 2004.
"Not since the days of Bob Marley has social commentary come wrapped in so many seductive colours." Sunday Times, UK
"A band so rich in rhythms they could make the dead dance... they're nothing like anything you've heard before, and better than anything you have." Eve, UK
"Tarika, Madagascar's wonderband, has delivered one of the most thematically rigorous, well-researched and intentionally provocative world music albums ever. We're talking concept, major statement. And the music's brilliant too." Rhythm Music
"The most gorgeous album I've ever heard. Africa has finally produced its own Graceland, a miracle of radiant, danceable music" Playboy
No touring outside Indian Ocean region currently planned
| CONTACTS | In Madagascar: c/o Antshow Lot VK 67 Ter AC Ambatolava Morarano Antananarivo 101 MADAGASCAR Tel: (+261) (0)20 22 56547 email: info@tarika.nu
Europe |
TARIKA
Tarika: 10 - Beasts, Ghosts & Dancing With History (Triloka/ Artemis TRI-CD-82037) USA April 2004
Koba (Franglais mix) / Malalako (album version) / Aloka (Sakay SAKDS 4041) 3-track CD single.
Soul Makassar (Sakay SAKD 7037) UK, Madagascar 2001. In USA on Triloka TR 700000-2; in Japan on Respect Records RES-48.
Les Grands Succes De Tarika (Sakay SAK K7 3036) (Cassette only) Madagascar, 1999
D (Sakay SAKD 7034) UK 1998 - (Xenophile XENO 4035) USA 1999 Order it here
Raitra (Big Island Radio Remix)/Ady (live at Womad)/Retany (D album version) (SAKDS 4035) 3-track CD single, 1999.
Son Egal (Xenophile XENO 4042) USA 1997. Order it here.
Avelo (Ghost mixes) (Xenophile XENO 4542S) 4-track CD single, 1997.
Bibiango (Xenophile GLCD 4028) USA 1994. Order it here.Ady (from Son Egal) on Rhythms Of Africa (Reactive REACD003), UK, 1998
Allo Cherie (from Soul Makassar) on Island Music Collection 2 (Respect RES-86) Japan 2004
Allo Cherie (from Soul Makassar) on Mare: Rhythms Of The Earth Vol.3 (Erosmusic 90542) Greece 2003
Allo Cherie (from Soul Makassar) on Oxfam Africa (World Music Network RGNET 1073 CD) UK 2001
Ankoay (from Bibiango) on Froots #4 (fRoots FROOTCD04) UK 1994
Ankoay (from Bibiango) on Music For A Changing World (Xenophile XENO 401) USA 1995
Avelo (from Son Egal) on Women Of Spirit (Putumayo PUTU-137-2), USA 1998
Avelo (from Son Egal) on Big Red (Nascente NSCD 053) UK, 1999
Avelo (AfroCelt Sound System Remix) from the radio promo single, on Deep Roots & Future Grooves (Wicklow/BMG 09026-63565), USA 2000
Koba (from Soul Makassar) on Island Music Collection Vol. 1 (Respect RES-65), Japan 2002
Koba (Franglais Mix) from the radio promo single, on The Rough Guide To The Music Of The Indian Ocean (World Music Network), UK 2002
Koba (Franglais Mix) from the radio promo single, on Mother Africa - Adam And Eve (EMI Valentim De Carvalho), Portugal 2003
Madindo (Transglobal Underground Remix) on Earth n Bass Vol.1 (Triloka), USA 2002
Malalako (Be My Baby) (from Soul Makassar) on World 2002 (EMI Hemisphere 5 40616 2), UK 2002
Ragoaika (from Bibiango) on Atlas Etnico (Ediciones Resistencia RESCD007) Spain 1995
Ragoaika (live recording) on E-Town Live (E-Town 47806 97012) USA 1997
Retany (from D) on Routes (Nascente NSCDD2000) UK 1999
Retany (from D) on Unwired: Africa (World Music Network RGNET 1062 CD) UK, 2000
Retany (from D) on Women Of Africa (Putumayo PUTU223-2 CD) USA, 2003
Set Me Free (from Soul Makassar) on Sziget Fesztival 2003 (SZIG 2003/1) Hungary 2003
Sonegaly (from Son Egal) on Islands (Putumayo PUTU129-2), USA 1997
Tsy Kivy (from Son Egal) on Queens Of African Music (Nascente 50040) UK 1997
Tsy Kivy (from Son Egal) on Tour D'Afrique (ARC EUCD 1707), UK 2002
TARIKA SAMMY
Fanafody (Rogue FMSD 5024) UK 1992. In USA, Green Linnet/Xenophile GLCD 4003.
Balance (Rogue FMSD 5028) UK 1994. In USA, Green Linnet/Xenophile GLCD 4011. In Japan, Alter Pop AFPCD 227.
The following additional tracks are not from the above albums:
Bakomanga on There's A Griot Going On (Rogue BFMSD 5029) UK, 1993
Tsenao Amin'ny Gara and Hendry (live recordings) on World Roots '92/'93, (MW MWCD 3007) Holland '94
Tsiaro on Out On The Rolling Sea (Hokey Pokey HPR 2004.2) UK, 1994. In USA, Green Linnet GLCD 3086
Tracks by a substantially different earlier group called Tarika Sammy, of varying personnel not including any current members of Tarika, appeared on several other Madagascar compilations in the '80s and early '90s. A subsequent Tarika Sammy of again different personnel released an album in 1996.
A listing of Malagasy music available on CD.
