Les Ambassadeur, The Era of Revolutionizing Music in Haiti

Updated December 31, 2012 6:30 PM

Les Ambassadeur is a musical band which was founded in 1971. It used to play hitting songs of the time with their origin from Cuba, France and Senegal. During early 1970s, there were two competing bands, les ambassadeurs and Rail Band. The two played hitting songs in the country. It is remembered that in 1970s, both bands performed in a concert which featured the theme of "literacy" that left the audience into utter excitement. This concert is still remembered in the history of Malian music. In 1972, Les Ambassadeurs got its topmost hits as a result of a new recruit, Salif Keita from Mali. Keita was a popular singer at that time used to play as a solo star.

In mid 1970s, the group fled to Abidjan, Ivory Coast due to political and economic tension that engulfed Mali. On settling to Ivory Coast, Les Ambassadeurs changed its name To Les Ambassedeurs Internationaux. By early 1980s, both les ambassadeurs and the rail band had changed their names. For the first time in Ivory Coast, the Ambassadeurs released their first new song, "Mnadjou" which sold greatly in the new land. Their reputation in the new land made the group to get more recognition at the international music industry.

It is during this time when Salif Keita was given the National Order Award by the then president of Guinea, Sekou Toure. In that time, many singers fled to different parts of the world with most of them going to Senegal, France, Chicago, Ivory Coast and London. With a long history of performances, Les Ambassadeur has diversified the field of music with a blend of dances and singing. It is clear that this group has revolutionized the pop music in Mali by removing the traces form Cuba and has incorporated that of rock and pop.

Les Embassadeurs Music Video

Reply to this article