Housed in Gatefold Sleeve. UPC: 5414165091318 From 1967 to 1983, Guinea's government presented selections of songs from the Voix de la Revolution catalogue on its own recording label, Syliphone. These recordings were described as 'the fruit of the revolution'. Syliphone was revolutionary in many aspects: it was the first recording label to feature traditional African musical instruments such as the kora and balafon within an orchestre setting; it was the first to present the traditional songs of the griots within an orchestre setting; and it was the first government-sponsored recording label of post-colonial Africa. Syliphone represented authenticite in action, and over 750 songs were released by the recording label on 12-inch and 7-inch vinyl discs. All are highly sought after by collectors worldwide. This first volume of a two-volume series presents a selection of the best of early Syliphone recordings. The songs demonstrate not only the essence of Guinea's authenticite policy and of its subsequent Cultural Revolution, but of a confluence of musical styles from Cuba, jazz, highlife and the diverse influences of Guinea's cultural groups. On October 2 1958, after over 60 years of colonial rule, Guineans voted overwhelmingly for their independence, and Guinea was declared a Republic with Sekou Toure as President. Guinea was the first of West Africa's Francophone colonies to gain independence. To free Guinea from its colonial legacy, president Toure sought to restore dignity to his nation and give cause for Guineans to take pride in their culture, history and newfound freedom. To achieve this, he instructed his government to implement new cultural policies that were intended to revitalise and celebrate indigenous culture. The focus of these new policies was on music. In 1961, President Toure launched authenticite, the name of his new cultural policy for Guinea. One of its first acts was to assemble the best Guinean musicians into ...