Angelique Kidjo – Born Under Punches
https://amf.didiermary.fr/angelique-kidjo-remain-in-light/
Kidjo’s always been an eclectic singer… From her cover in 2018 of the Talking Heads album, “Remain In Light.”
“The record is a track-by-track re-imagination of the original, considered to be one of the greatest albums of the ‘80s and deeply influenced by music from West Africa, notably Fela Kuti‘s Afrobeat.” […]
El Rego et ses Commandos de Cotonou
https://amf.didiermary.fr/el-rego-commandos-cotonou-1976/
Beninese band originally formed by Théophile Do-Rego in Cotonou, Benin (ex-Dahomey) in 1963 as The Jets. The band was renamed to Los Paras, in 1964, then to Los Commandos in 1965 and finally to El Rego et Ses Commandos in 1966.
Here’s the album “Rep Pop Du Benin” in 1976 as “Commandos de Cotonou”. […]
African Scream Contest 2
https://amf.didiermary.fr/african-scream-contest-2/
African Scream Contest 2 est le deuxième tome, exclusivement consacré au Bénin, de ces compilations, sorti 10 ans après le précédent album. L’album couvre la période 1963-1980 dans la musique béninoise.
"A trove of Vodoun-inspired Afrobeat heavy funk crossover greatness Right from the laceratingly raw guitar fanfare which kicks off [...]
Lionel Loueke – Cantaloupe Island
https://amf.didiermary.fr/lionel-loueke-cantaloupe-island/
HH, released in 2020, album of solo guitar reworkings of Herbie Hancock’s music by Lionel Loueke.
HH is an album from Lionel Loueke playing the music of his long-term mentor, the legendary Herbie Hancock.
Known for his ability to “transform the guitar into a virtual Afro-Western orchestra” (Jazz Times), he is a musician who transcends genre […]
King of Modern Agbadja
https://amf.didiermary.fr/king-modern-agbadja-gnonnas-pedro-dadjes/
4 songs by this magnificent artiste were included in the compilation Legends of Benin from 2009. This new compilation presents a full and deserved project about Gnonnas Pedro, the king of Modern Agbadja, with tracks between 1974 and 1983.
Very early in his career Gnonnas Pedro had landed his first hit with a song called […]
Africando – Dagamasi
https://amf.didiermary.fr/africando-dagamasi/
“Ati Mawuin Dagamasi” is one of the classic songs by Gnonnas Pedro, covered here by himself under the Africando banner.
This cover appears on Africando’s album “Gombo Salsa” in 1996. This 3rd album was produced by Ibrahima Sylla and was the group’s first release to include Gnonnas Pedro, with songs arranged by Boncana Maiga and […]
