Footprints in the Dark is a way for Contour to make one part of his research practice public, and maybe add some incentive for vigor as he explores. Each month, he’ll compile two hours of music or sound from a single black artist. This prompt is intentionally vague – could be a musician, could be a poet, could be a filmmaker, etc. Some months may feature guest presenters/focus on more than one artist.

He will be rejecting the following ideas/instincts that come up for this kind of exercise as he proceeds:
– The instinct to focus on non-living, non active artists. There will be some, but he intends to represent a fair mix of those who are still currently active.
– The instinct to make this a comprehensive representation of a catalog, or a guide of sorts. He’ll select the material that resonates with him, in hopes that listeners find inspiration to further explore on their own.

Omar Pene, Senegal native, is a vocalist/composer known for being one of the single Senegalese musicians to rival Youssou n’dour. Omar, along with Cheikh Diagne, Bassirou Diagne, and members of Tropical Jazz De Dakar, including guitarist and harmonica player Ishmael Lo make the entirety of Omar Pene and the Super Diamano band. Pene was raised in the working class section of Dakar which he says lead him to writing songs about topics such as unemployment and the education system. Tying these concepts together with the traditional sound of Senegalese mbalax rhythms while adding nontraditional influences, including reggae and jazz, Pene and Super Daimano became hailed as “the people’s band of Dakar’s proletarian suburbs”. Though mostly known for high adrenaline dance music, Pene’s voice, full of conviction, floats on top of each rhythm with a graceful balance. Once he enlisted jazz fusion influenced keyboardist Adama Faye to the Super Daimano, Pene and the band began pushing a more unique hard edged electriconic sound that continued to influence the music and culture of his hometown for over a quarter century.

Austin-Jamal Butler is a Musician, Filmmaker, and Writer based in South Carolina.

Additional Reading, Viewing, and Listening:

– ⁠Omar Pène et le Super Diamono / Diapason 1994 [Live]
– ⁠Omar Pène – Agresseur
– ⁠Omar Pene Afsud Live (2006)
– ⁠Omar Pene & le Super Diamono Diapason 98 – Banna⁠⁦‪