''Son Egal'' is the second album by the Malagasy band Tarika, released in 1997. It was the band's first widely distributed album. Tarika promoted it with a two-month North American tour. ''Son Egal'' was a hit in Madagascar, as well as on American and European world music charts. ''Sonegaly'' is the Malagasy word for Senegal. The title is also French for ''equal sound''.

Production

''Son Egal'' was produced by Simon Emmerson and Martin Russell. It is a loose concept album about the

Malagasy Uprising The Malagasy Uprising (french: Insurrection malgache; mg, Tolom-bahoaka tamin' ny 1947) was a Malagasy nationalist rebellion against French colonial rule in Madagascar, lasting from March 1947 to February 1949. Starting in late 1945, Madagasca ...

—where French colonists used Senegalese (and other African) forces to violently put down an uprising—that began 50 years prior to the album's release. Tarika worked with Senegalese musicians, some from Baaba Maal's band. Prior to recording the album, Hanitra, the band's frontwoman, spent time listening to Malagasy survivors of the violence; many survivors of torture were eager for rectification and understanding. Hanitra wanted to improve relations with Senegal by acknowledging that the French colonial-trained forces were made up of soldiers from many African nations. The band used

valiha The valiha is a tube zither from Madagascar made from a species of local bamboo; it is considered the " national instrument" of Madagascar. The term is also used to describe a number of related zithers of differing shapes and materials. Th ...

s, koras, and tamas on the album; several songs employed the harmonies of sisters Hanitra and Noro. Many songs criticize the Malagasy politics of the 1990s, as well as global perceptions of Madagascar. "Avelo" alludes to the problem of grave robbing in Madagascar. "Diso Be" references the 1947 uprising and the 1897 exile of Queen

Ranavalona III Ranavalona III (; 22 November 1861 – 23 May 1917) was the last sovereign of the Kingdom of Madagascar. She ruled from 30 July 1883 to 28 February 1897 in a reign marked by ultimately futile efforts to resist the colonial designs of the go ...

. "Aza Misy Miteniteny" was written by revolutionary students of the 1970s.

Critical reception

Robert Christgau Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and ...

liked the album but debated whether its sound was "chirpy or ebullient." ''

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...

'' deemed it "a high-energy Afro-pop outing." ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'' considered ''Son Egal'' "a typically exuberant dance set but also a brave and original political diatribe which contrasts the island's colonial past with modern-day racism and corruption." ''

SF Weekly ''SF Weekly'' was a free alternative weekly newspaper founded in the 1970s in San Francisco, California. It was distributed every Thursday, and was published by the San Francisco Print Media Company. The paper has won national journalism awards, ...

'' called the album "a vibrant, sweeping condemnation of the political corruption eating away at the island of Madagascar." ''

JazzTimes ''JazzTimes'' is an American magazine devoted to jazz. Published 10 times a year, it was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1970 by Ira Sabin as the newsletter ''Radio Free Jazz'' to complement his record store. Coverage After a decade of growth ...

'' labeled it "political music with a seductive pulse and surface, a fascinating project," writing that "the group masterfully blends indigenous Malagassy music with modern notions, and in this case, arranges a collaboration with Senegalese musicians." The ''

Dayton Daily News The ''Dayton Daily News'' (''DDN'') is a daily newspaper published in Dayton, Ohio, United States. It is owned by Cox Enterprises, Inc., a privately held global conglomerate headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, with approximately ...

'' praised the "soaring harmonies ndspeed-plucking guitar work."

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

wrote that, "like other Tarika efforts, ''Son Egal'' has a strong sociopolitical bent ... it's clear that Tarika is a melodic powerhouse."

Track listing

References

{{Authority control Tarika (musical group) albums 1997 albums