When music lives in the minds of people: Lolo Sy
A malagasy teenager discovers for the first time, during a classical guitar concert in Antananarivo, the immense possibilities that music offers for self-expression. Since that day, Angelo Rakotomanga, better known as Lolo Sy, has never stopped playing, composing and writing songs that are now anchored in the collective memory of malagasy melomaniacs.
Like many young people, he began his adventure by forming a group with his friends and classmates from the high school and college he attended in Antananarivo. It is in the middle of his native district of Ambohijatovo, in the early 70’s, that his first songs were written describing the actuality and daily life of the Malagasy people.
The usage of slang terms is what differentiated him from other artists as it can be heard in titles like “Lemizo” (the name of the character in the song) or “Dimbaka avy any Nazareta” (the bandit from Nazareth). On the other hand, his repertoire also demonstrates sensibility and finesse with falsely naive stories of candies (Bombô Gasy), a knot that binds to the loved one that cannot be untied (Tady vita fatomaty) and purple flowers (Jakarandaha).
His band, Lolo Sy Ny Tariny, quickly gets airtime on the radio and television of Madagascar and catches the attention of New Zealander singer Graeme Allwright. This leads to the recording and release of the first and only album of the band simply titled “Madagascar”. Though, Angelo Rakotomanga’s compositions and texts go beyond the 10 tracks of this album with his group, many songs would see the light of day and reach the minds of the fans such as “Maria Katisoa”, “Ravin-javokà”, “Baomijijy” and many more.
Now established in France, he remains an important figure of Malagasy music. Nowadays, he has associated himself with a longtime fan, Farah, forming a new duet that links two generations. The two are revisiting the repertoire with a new personal touch and composing new songs like “Antsirabe” composed by Farah that is already sung in the backstreets on tambohos of Antananarivo.
Written by Angelo Rakotomanga and Ny Fanilo Andrianjafy. Translated in english by Ny Fanilo Andrianjafy
