Son Egal
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| Son Egal | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1997 | |||
| Label | Xenophile[1] | |||
| Producer | Simon Emmerson, Martin Russell | |||
| Tarika chronology | ||||
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Son Egal is the second album by the Malagasy band Tarika, released in 1997.[2][3] It was the band's first widely distributed album.[4] Tarika promoted it with a two-month North American tour.[5] Son Egal was a hit in Madagascar, as well as on American and European world music charts.[6][7]
Sonegaly is the Malagasy word for Senegal.[8] The title is also French for equal sound.[9]
Son Egal was produced by Simon Emmerson and Martin Russell.[10] It is a loose concept album about the Malagasy Uprising—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.[1][3][11] Tarika worked with Senegalese musicians, some from Baaba Maal's band.[12][13] 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.[14][15] Hanitra wanted to improve relations with Senegal by acknowledging that the French colonial-trained forces were made up of soldiers from many African nations.[16] The band used valihas, koras, and tamas on the album; several songs employed the harmonies of sisters Hanitra and Noro.[17][18][19]
Many songs criticize the Malagasy politics of the 1990s, as well as global perceptions of Madagascar.[13][20] "Avelo" alludes to the problem of grave robbing in Madagascar.[17] "Diso Be" references the 1947 uprising and the 1897 exile of Queen Ranavalona III.[21] "Aza Misy Miteniteny" was written by revolutionary students of the 1970s.[22]
