Lamine Sonko & Simon Edwards: Echoes of Africa – Journey to Our Human Heartbeat

The RegenNarration Podcast

Send us a Text Message.

Lamine Sonko is an acclaimed composer, artistic director, performer and multi-instrumentalist continuing his family line of Guéwels. That’s a role inherited by certain members of traditional communities in Senegal who are tasked with communicating ancient storytelling and ‘songlines’ through dance, rhythms and song. And earlier this year, that converged with his role in Melbourne-based afro-beat band, the Afrobiotics, when he was joined by his five bandmates back in Senegal on a landmark tour. And one of those five blokes is an old mate I played in a rock band with in the ‘90s. Simon Edwards is an incredible guitarist, teacher, and soulful traveller. I’ve been wanting to speak with these guys for years, and when they happened to return from the tour while I was in Melbourne, it finally happened.
Connected to the band's journey, in 2018 Lamine embarked on a search for a deeper understanding of how ancient musical traditions are embodied by the Guéwel elders of Dakar, Senegal. The project, called 13:12, has culminated so far in a film, guided by Lamine’s mother, and a live theatre production that previewed at The National Theatre Sorano in Dakar on this tour. It was said to be ‘an unforgettable blend of joy, emotion, and ancestral presence’. And when the band converged on Dakar at the same time, there was profound revelation, connection and healing for visitors and locals alike.
The word Guewel means 'to bring people together in a circle', and that’s what we did a few weeks ago at Simon’s place. In the still of a late evening, a certain stillness enveloped this conversation too, through to a very special live rendition at the end.
Head here for automatic cues to chapter markers and a transcript. (The transcript is AI generated and imperfect, but hopefully serves to provide greater access for those who need or like to read.)
Recorded 14 March 2024. Dedicated to Lamine's mother, Guewel elder Oumy Sene.
Title slide: Lamine & Simon on stage with the Afrobiotics.
See more photos on the website, and for more behind the scenes, become a member via the Patreon page.
Music:
Disco Dakar, by the Afrobiotics.
Green Shoots, by The Nomadics.
Regeneration, by Amelia Barden, from the film Regenerating Australia.
The RegenNarration playlist, music chosen by guests (with thanks to podcast

Support the Show.

The RegenNarration podcast is independent, ad-free & freely available, thanks to the generous support of listeners like you. If you too value what you hear, please consider joining them by clicking the link above or heading to our website.
Become a member to connect with your host, other listeners & benefits, via our Patreon page.
Visit The RegenNarration shop to wave the flag. And please keep sharing the podcast with friends. It all helps. Thanks for your support!

Chapters

1. Music, Preview, Introduction & Supporter Thanks (00:00:00)

2. Touring Senegal & the broader 13:12 project (00:04:25)

3. Guided by the elders to transformative experiences (00:09:25)

4. Visiting the ‘door of no return’ (gateway to the slave trade) (00:14:50)

5. The Power of the ‘Songlines’ of Senegal (00:16:25)

6. Cultural Exchange Through Rhythms (00:21:16)

7. The profound effects of finding new narratives & rhythms together (& how it was received in Senegal) (00:24:10)

8. How we might think about the regeneration of this sort of re-connection with music in Australia? (00:30:25)

9. The beginnings of the Afrobiotics (00:32:15)

10. The roots of this language of Afrobeat & how it feels to embody it today (00:35:25)

11. How did the Guewel role and culture start for Lamine as a child? (& how it contrasts with my & Simon’s upbringings) (00:39:25)

12. How African culture is bringing part of this back to Australia (00:43:25)

13. The paradox of freedom and belonging – what is freedom after all? (00:46:15)

14. Relating all this to Simon’s Buddhist practice (Lamine & Simon share new thoughts on their experiences in Senegal) (00:49:25)

15. The upcoming album & theatre production (00:54:20)

16. A special rendition from Lamine (00:56:44)

17. Disco Dakar by the Afrobiotics (00:58:35)