Ndox Electrique’s Musical Exploration of Senegal’s N’doëp Culture

Ndox Electrique – T​ë​dd ak Mame Coumba Lamba ak Mame Coumba Mbang (Bongo Joe Records, 2023)

The project Ndox Electrique is essentially a continuation and amplification of Ifriqiyya Electrique’s prior work. The collaborative efforts of François R. Cambuzat and Gianna Greco started during as trip to the Tunisian desert, where they immersed themselves in the banga ritual. Consequently, this laid the foundation for two acclaimed albums, Rûwâhîne (2017) and Laylet El Booree (2019).

Driven by an ambitious quest to trace the origins of North African ritual ceremonies, Cambuzat and Greco encountered challenges in unraveling the historical details obscured by five centuries of time. Undeterred, they pieced together fragments, leading them to the Lebu of Cap-Vert in Senegal; a community residing at the westernmost point of Africa, specifically the Ndoep (also known as n’doëp) people known for their deliberate insularity.

Their journey unfolded as they sought out Abdoulaye Ndiaye, a ndoepkat master-healer and temple guardian in Rufisque. Remarkably, Ndiaye, guided by premonition, accurately predicted the arrival of the duo several months prior. Psychic revelations marked the beginning of their exploration, witnessing Ndoep ceremonies in Guéréo and collaborating with artists in St. Louis, ultimately birthing Ndox Electrique.

The six-month creation process of the album was a mix of joy and painstaking effort. Intense days of planning, recording, editing, and mixing became the norm for Cambuzat and Greco, transcending the boundaries of weekends and leisure. Nocturnal hours bore witness to inexplicable occurrences, such as Cambuzat’s dreams of Mame Kumba Mbang, the ‘goddess of the river,’ guiding the artistic process with peculiar requests and mysterious file erasures.

The music of Ndoep rituals, featuring entranced chants and polyrhythmic drums, is the defining essence of Tëd Ak Mame Coumba Lamba Ak Mame Coumba Mbang. Cambuzat and Greco, from France and Italy, respectfully position themselves as spectators rather than active participants in these trance rituals, acknowledging the cultural nuances that elude true understanding.

Navigating the confluence of Western rock/experimental influences and Senegalese sensibilities required a recalibration of ideas, yet the collaborative results exude a powerful result. From the vast, spellbinding drumbeats of Jamm Yé Matagu Yalla to the industrial quality of Lëk Ndau Mbay and the multifaceted immensity of Sam Sa Nga Mboro, the album encompasses diverse elements reflecting the fusion of disparate musical traditions.

François R. Cambuzat and Gianna Greco, rightfully proud of their creation, view the album as a small part of their ongoing nomadic existence.

Buy Tëd Ak Mame Coumba Lamba Ak Mame Coumba Mbang.