Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou – Iya Me Dji Kibi Ni
https://amf.didiermary.fr/poly-rythmo-cotonou-iya-me-dji-kibi-ni/
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou is arguably West Africa’s best-kept secret. Their output, both in quantity and quality, was astonishing.
During several trips to Benin Analog Africa managed to collect roughly 500 songs which Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou had recorded between 1970 and 1983. The cultural and spiritual riches of traditional Beninese [...]
The Cavemen. + Angelique Kidjo + Fally Ipupa - “Nadi Balance”
Feat. Sheila Maurice-Gray on trumpet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snQ_XUMv_No
The Cavemen. are a Nigerian highlife band consisting of sibling duo Kingsley Okorie, a bassist, and Benjamin James, a drummer.
Nigeria Afrobeat Special
https://amf.didiermary.fr/nigeria-afrobeat-special/
Compilation “Nigeria Afrobeat Special: The New Explosive Sound In 1970’s Nigeria”
Yesterday for Xmas Eve, water access was severely limited then cut. Came back later.
Today it's electricity's turn since about 6pm.
No comment but 
Somi – The Lagos Music Salon
https://amf.didiermary.fr/lagos-music-salon-somi/
The Lagos Music Salon is the 4th studio full-length album by jazz hybrid singer and songwriter Somi. It was released in 2014. Somi is an American Jazz and Pop singer and songwriter.
Her music is influenced by her Ugandan and Rwandan roots, and she resides between New York City and Lagos, Nigeria. […]
Yehouessi Leopold & T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo: Volume 4
https://amf.didiermary.fr/yehouessi-leopold-poly-rythmo/
The T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou was formed in 1966. Their output has been extremely prolific numbering upwards of 50 LPs and a hundred 45s. Here’s an album with Yehouessi Leopold (drummer) from 1978, that was rereleased in 2021.
Angélique Kidjo – Bemba Colorá (“Celia”)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/celia-angelique-kidjo-bemba-colora/
Angélique Kidjo’s album in 2019 is a tribute to Celia Cruz.
Angelique Kidjo reflects on an icon of the Americas, celebrated salsa singer Celia Cruz. Over ten tracks, Kidjo’s album Celia divests itself of the glamour to investigate the African roots of the Cuban-born woman who became the “Queen” of salsa [...]
#AfroCuban #AfroLatino #AngéliqueKidjo #Bénin #Cover #Cuba #Salsa
15+ years ago, I worked with a young Beninese Brass Band. Here's one of the tracks we produced at the time.
Gangbé Brass Band – Salam Alekoum
https://amf.didiermary.fr/gangbe-brass-band-salam-alekoum/
Salam Alekoum is one of the very nice songs, with a beautiful video filmed in Ganvié, by Gangbe Brass Band for their 2010 album “Assiko“.
Ganvié is known as the “venetian” part of Benin…
Kaleta & Super Yamba Band
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kaleta-super-yamba-band/
With Afrobeat & Juju veteran Leon Ligan-Majek (aka Kaleta) —a native of Benin Republic— on lead guitar, the Brooklyn-based Afro-Funk band Super Yamba Band explores the psychedelic sounds from Benin & Nigeria. […]
Gangbé – Documentary
https://amf.didiermary.fr/documentary-arnaud-robert-gangbe-brass-band/
Preview of the 2014 documentary by Arnaud Robert relating Gangbé Brass Band‘s “quest” to record their new album and play in Lagos.
The adventure of a Benin brass band on the road to Lagos, to perform with Femi Kuti at the Shrine. […]
Gangbé Brass Band – Remember Fela
https://amf.didiermary.fr/whendo-gangbe-brass-band-remember-fela/
Remember Fela is from Gangbé’s album Whendo in 2004, a tribute to Fela Kuti by the Beninese Brass Band.
Philippe Cohen Solal – Afro Bolero
https://amf.didiermary.fr/philippe-cohen-solal-afro-bolero-angelique-kidjo-mo-laudi/
A “Radio edit”, extended version and multiple remixes of Afro Bolero featuring Angelique Kidjo & Mo Laudi.
Positive Vodoun – BIM
https://amf.didiermary.fr/positive-vodoun-bim/
BIM, Bénin International Musical, is more a musical project than a band. Their new album “Positive Vodoun,” labeled as “Afro Rock Voodoo,” mixes Rock and Rap to their traditional rythmic Vodun roots.
Initiated by the Deputy Director at the channels and contents Department in Radio France, also Chairman of the EBU Eurosonic Group (European Broadcasting Union), […]
Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble – Min He Mon Egbé
https://amf.didiermary.fr/helsinki-cotonou-ensemble-min-he-mon-egbe/
I met Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble a few years ago and even organized a live show in the suburbs of Cotonou in 2015, with a few members of the Alle’sTones band I produced at the time.
This song is from their 3rd album, released in 2021. Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble is a Finnish–Beninese Afrobeat and Funk band, founded […]
Angelique Kidjo with Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra
https://amf.didiermary.fr/angelique-kidjo-luxembourg-philharmonic-orchestra/
Angelique Kidjo with the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra, arranged and conducted by Gast Waltzing in 2015, on album “Sings“.
January 10: it's Vodoun days in Benin, a special holiday for traditional culture and religion, these last years transformed into a "money maker" by the government (see comment).
More: https://amf.didiermary.fr/benin-vodun-cult-traditions/
Egúngún (Yorùbá) are masquerade or masked, costumed figure, for ancestor reverence, or the ancestors themselves as a collective force.
The spirits below are from Benin. (source unknown)
Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou – Segla
https://amf.didiermary.fr/poly-rythmo-cotonou-segla/
“Segla” was originally released in 1978 and was reissued in 2020.
“Segla” – hens-teeth rare Poly-Rythmo album from 1978 that was originally released without a sleeve as ALS059. Or at least, if it came with a sleeve, nobody outside of Benin seems to have seen one. Recorded at EMI Lagos, Nigeria, as per most of […]
“And so Les Amazones d’Afrique were born…”
https://amf.didiermary.fr/amazones-afrique-dahomey-women-warriors/
Les Amazones d’Afrique is a collective of female stars including Angélique Kidjo, Mariam Doumbia, Nneka and many more. It started singing out in 2014 against gender inequality in West Africa over a soundtrack of Funk, Blues, Dub and Electro.
The first track they released was “I Play The Kora” from their album [...]
Pablo Nouvelle Feat. Angelique Kidjo – Milambi
https://amf.didiermary.fr/pablo-nouvelle-angelique-kidjo-milambi/
Beninese legend Angelique Kidjo, fresh from her 4th Grammy, explored electronic music with Swiss DJ/producer Pablo Nouvelle on ‘Milambi,’ first track/single from the newly released EP Eliso (2020).
El Rego et Ses Commandos – E Nan Mian Nuku
https://amf.didiermary.fr/el-rego-commandos-e-nan-mian-nuku/
Was El Rego Benin’s Godfather of Funk? Listen to El Rego et Ses Commandos, an album released in 2011.
“There’s lots of James Brown in there, but while other Benin singers of the period are more scary than funky when they echo Soul Brother Number One, El Rego makes restraint sound not only more fun, […]
African Scream Contest
https://amf.didiermary.fr/african-scream-contest-full-album/
Raw & Psychedelic Afro Sounds From Benin & Togo 70s
T. P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou: Unite Africaine
https://amf.didiermary.fr/tp-poly-rythmo-cotonou-unite-africaine/
Two monumental full-side tracks from a pair of late 70s Orchestre Poly-Rythmo albums, Unite Africaine isn’t exactly a compilation, more a combination of the standouts at a time when the band was at the peak of its powers.
The EP was released originally as “Mélomé Clément Chef d’Orchestre.” Originally released in 1977, [...]
Gangbé Brass Band - AHELOU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_77WSF9pYcQ
From upcoming album "From Ouidah To Another World", to be released 11/21.
Disclaimer: I worked with GBB around 2010. Since then, they've transformed into a small marching band, far from the polyphonic brass band they once were...
On AMF: https://amf.didiermary.fr/?s=gangb%C3%A9
Dernier album par El Rego
https://amf.didiermary.fr/el-rego-final-album-benin/
Je vous livre une info trouvée dans la presse Béninoise, et qui m’a plus qu’étonné, car très franchement, je pensais que cet artiste nous avait déjà quittés : Théophile do Régo dit El Rego a sorti en 2010, à 73 ans donc, son dernier album, avant de prendre sa retraite définitive ! […]
