Guinean National Anthem for Brass Quintet

The music of the anthem is derived from a praise song for the late-1800s king of Labé, in Fouta Djallon, Alpha Yaya Diallo (or Alfa Yaya). Alpha Yaya is, along with Wassoulou Empire founder Samory Touré, considered central by Guineans to the foundation of the modern Guinean nation, in part because of his fierce attempts to resist colonisation.

In 1904, Alpha Yaya was one of many traditional chiefs and kings summoned to a doctrinal conference with French colonists, who were still in the process of consolidating his territory. The chiefs each brought along a retinue for the journey; in Alpha Yaya's retinue was griot Korofo Moussa, from Kissidougou in the south of the country. Alpha Yaya arrived to the conference on its sixth day, and Korofo Moussa is said to have spontaneously improvised, along with his troupe of dancers and kora players, a praise song for Alpha Yaya after he arrived. The song began with the line "Alpha Yaya, Mansa bè Manka" ("Alpha Yaya, mansas (kings) are not the same"). According to Fodéba Isto Keira, former Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the performance took place in the building of the modern Directorate of the Judicial Police in the Kaloum sub-prefecture of Conakry.