Focus rythm: The Tsapiky

“Fruit of the meeting between modern African musics and local rural musics, Tsapiky
is a tradition originating in the area of Tuléar, in the south-west of the island of Madagascar. Still little known of the external world, Tsapiky has however been affirmed in Masikoro country for more than twenty years. It is the music of authentic people and filled by multiple influences. Sometimes electrified during popular commemorations (vocals, electric guitar, bass guitar, battery, percussions, section of coppers), and acoustic (acoustic guitar, percussions, vocals, accordion)
when it is played at home. It takes place in the everyday life to accompany the dance and certain rites, while being omnipresent for each event (soccer's game, independence day, etc). So rich, Tsapiky impregnates and influences many Malagasy
artists in their creation like the notorious guitarist D' Gary. Tsapiky is a rythmic and charming energy, with groove evolving and drawn from the many contacts with other cultures.
Let us not forget that Madagascar has been the theatre of many "métissages" for several centuries when the island affirms itself like a crossroad of many cultures.

Jimmy Braun – January 2005

Modern tsapiky is more and more play with a guitar.

The masters of the style are:

D'gary (el maestro)
Teta
Jean Noel
Miary Lepiera
Namavao
Tirike...



Tsapiky with accordion:

Medicis ( izay ty ataony )
envoyé par nirinavaproduction

Electric modern tsapiky:

Zambey - Zambey
envoyé par talisandroy

Did you say live music?:

Damily . Tsapiky live : soasoa ty manambaly
envoyé par Helicomusic

There's a lot of tsapiky compilation:

Tsapiky : Panorama d'une jeune musique de Tuléar (ARION)

Tulear Never Sleeps(Earthworks/Stern's Music )

This two compilations focus on guitar tsapiky.


Try this one for tsapiky with accordion:

Madagascar - L'Accordeon - Pays Masikoro(OCORA)


Don't forget artist's albums:

Namavao et Marina -Ty ndaty(trumbarecords)myspace.com/namavaomarina

D'gary akata meso(label bleu)