Sénégal - France - Earth

NDOX ELECTRIQUE

The NDOX ELECTRIQUE from Senegal, is a possession ritual from the Senegalese n'döep ceremonies.

A wild, dark and sunny, feminine and powerful ritual… On stage, mistress healers and musicians make a pact with the demons: it will take more than good intentions, but sweat and sheer volume to achieve liberation and deliverance.

Western world music, usually formatted, presented like innocent postcards: sun, dunes, smiles, welcome,attaya or ceebu jën offered to the nice toubabs, etc….

But the music of the real world… cruel, savage, unbridled and even bloodthirsty, because to make a pact or chase away the demons, as in the N’döep ceremonies of the Lebous of Senegal, you need much more than good intentions; you need an enormous volume to elevate yourself and then to go into a trance; you need sweat and blood to make the action sacred and satisfy the spirits. Ceremonies of incredible sonic and musical violence for a spirituality coupled with a magnificent and imperious social role in rituals where Westerners like Meshuggha or The Birthday Party would pale into insignificance as well-behaved choirboys.

Working for years with Ifriqiyya Electrique, François R. Cambuzat and Gianna Greco wondered where North African adorcist communities such as Banga, Stambeli, Diwan & Gnawa came from. From the Arab slave route, that was obvious, but from which country, which region? Traces seemed lost. Research after research, little by little this five-century-old route led them towards West Africa, towards Senegal and the N’döep of the Lébous. For months, in Mbour, Guereo, Rufisque, Yoff and Ndar (Saint-Louis), François R. Cambuzat and Gianna Greco lost their way between the Atlantic and the rivers of Senegal, sacrificing themselves to the often aquatic genies – Ndox, water, in Wolof. An album was recorded. A film was made.

Tëdd ak Mame Coumba Lamba ak Mame Coumba Mbang : lying between Mame Coumba Lamba and Mame Coumba Mbang, the female genies of a tiny part of an enormous continent. This creation will then be presented in our international network (ethnography museums, universities, Sziget Festival, WOMEX, Roskilde Festival, WOMAD (UK + NZ + AUS), Vieilles Charrues, Nuits Sonores, Calgary Folk Fest, etc.).

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Press review : link

Album 2023 / Bongo Joe Records