Babatunde Olatunji – Jin-Go-Lo-Ba
https://amf.didiermary.fr/babatunde-olatunji-jin-go-lo-ba/
Here’s where Carlos Santana found the basis for his version… it’s from the great Nigerian drummer Babatunde Olatunji, who lived in USA, and worked with John Coltrane.
Enjoy!
His music was also “covered” by French singer Serge Gainsbourg...
Sir Victor Uwaifo – Joromi (Original Version)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/sir-victor-uwaifo-joromi-original-version/
Victor Efosa Uwaifo was the first African to be awarded a gold disc for his 1965 hit “Joromi.” According to him, a childhood, seaside encounter with a mermaid spurned his followup hit, “Guitar Boy“.
A restless musical enigma whose sound drew heavily upon the folky rhythms and melodies of his Edo roots, Uwaifo’s music ruled […]
Harari – Musikana
https://amf.didiermary.fr/harari-musikana/
2 classic albums from psychedelic South African afro-rock were re-released in 2021: Rufaro, which contains the song Musikana, and Beaters / Harari.
The Beaters – Harari was released in 1975. After changing their name, Harari went into the studio late in 1976 to record their follow-up, Rufaro / Happiness. In 1976 they were voted [...]
#70smusic #altRock #Psychedelic #SoulJazz #SouthAfrica #OldAfricanMusic
Professor Rhythm 3 (1991)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/professor-rhythm-1991/
The 1991 record “Professor 3” by Professor Rhythm is a vivid reflection of urban South Africa as apartheid was ending. Thami Mdluli’s production project had young and old dancing to a sound that sought to unite Blacks within Southern Africa. The late 1970’s and 80’s had been trying times for people of color. […]
Le Grand Kalle
https://amf.didiermary.fr/le-grand-kalle/
Le Grand Kalle: His Life His Music was a 2013 compilation (2-CD plus 104-page book) that brought together for the first time the breadth of Kalle’s recording career spanning over 3 decades including tracks taken from shellac and vinyl that had been unavailable for many years. In the turbulent and euphoric times that surrounded Congo’s […]
Super Mama Djombo – Luta Kana Maina #1
https://amf.didiermary.fr/super-mama-djombo-luta-kana-maina/
“Luta Kana Maina n°1” is from album “Na Cambança” by Super Mama Djombo at the end of the 70s.
Super Mama Djombo is a band from Guinea-Bissau who sing in Guinea-Bissau Creole. The band was formed in the mid-1960s, at a Boy Scout camp, when the members were only children (the youngest was six years […]
First Modern Taarab Vibes
https://amf.didiermary.fr/first-modern-taarab-vibes/
Black Star Musical Club was one of the classic Taarabu bands in Tanga, Tanzania. It was founded in the 1950s, and played a crucial role in establishing the modern Taarab sound.
Taarab is a music genre popular in Tanzania and Kenya. It is influenced by […]
#70smusic #80smusic #Kenya #Taarab #Tanzania #OldAfricanMusic
Sharhabil Ahmed – Argos Farfish / Zulum Aldunya
https://amf.didiermary.fr/sharhabil-ahmed-argos-farfish-zulum-aldunya/
Sharhabil Ahmed, also known as the “King of Sudanese Jazz,” was born in 1935 and is the founding father of the Sudanese Jazz scene. His aim was to modernize Sudanese music by bringing it together with western influences and instrumentation. Contemporary Sudanese music draws a lot of influences both from [...]
#60smusic #AfroFunk #Ethiojazz #Jazz #Soundcloud #Sudan #OldAfricanMusic
William Onyeabor – Why Go To War
https://amf.didiermary.fr/william-onyeabor-why-go-to-war/
Why go to war? Why not find peace, in this world?
[With remixes]
K. Frimpong and his Cubanos Fiesta – Me Da A Ɔnnda
https://amf.didiermary.fr/frimpong-cubanos-fiesta/
Me Da A Ɔnnda is a classic and essential Hi-Life & Afro Funk album from one of the greatest Ghanaian singer and composer, recorded in 1980 by the legendary K. Frimpong and his Cubanos Fiesta band.
K . Frimpong was born on July 22nd, 1939 at Ofoase in the Ashanti – Akim district and entered right […]
Franco, King of Rumba
https://amf.didiermary.fr/franco-king-of-rumba/
François Luambo Luanzo Makiadi (6 July 1938 – 12 October 1989) was a Congolese singer, guitarist, songwriter, bandleader, and cultural revolutionary, the King of Rumba.
#Compilation #Congo #Documentary #FrancoLuambo #OldAfricanMusic
Easy Motion Tourist
https://amf.didiermary.fr/easy-motion-tourist/
If you love old African music, from the Golden Age of Nigerian music in particular, you’ve known the song “Easy Motion Tourist”, made popular by Fatai Rolling Dollar in his last records before his death. But, there’s a long story behind this song since the ‘50s: who created it, who made it famous…
What’s for […]
#50smusic #Highlife #Nigeria #PalmWineMusic #OldAfricanMusic
Maitre Gazonga – Jaloux Saboteurs
https://amf.didiermary.fr/maitre-gazonga-jaloux-saboteurs/
Jaloux Saboteurs par Maitre Gazonga est un classique…
J’ai (re)découvert que ce titre faisait partie de la bande originale du film “Black Mic-Mac” de Thomas Gillou avec Jacques Villeret et Isaac de Bankole (1986). Je me souviens que cette BOF m’avait marqué et que je l’ai cherchée longtemps…
On y retrouve Papa Wemba, Youssou N’dour, […]
Gatanga Boys Band – Wendo Ti Mbia
https://amf.didiermary.fr/gatanga-boys-band-wendo-ti-mbia/
In 1970s Kenya the two threads of rumba and benga loosely dominated the music scene. Benga quickly became Kenya’s unique contribution to afro-pop; spreading like wildfire through the interior countryside with it’s fast, 4/4 machine-gun beat and intricate electric guitar layers. Listen to Gatanga Boys Band and you’ll see by yourself…
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 […]
The Rise And Fall of Nigerian Rock
https://amf.didiermary.fr/wake-up-you-rise-fall-nigerian-rock/
Wake Up You! (1972-1977)
This compilation is a tribute to the many bands that formed this relatively unknown 1970s Nigerian Rock & Psychedelic circle. It includes tracks from Ify Jerry Krusade, The Hygrades, The Hykkers, Waves, The Funkees, Theodore Nemy and many more.
Miss Smodern
https://amf.didiermary.fr/miss-smodern/
Miss Smodern est l’une des raretés de la musique africaine, en particulier, car il n’y a pratiquement pas d’information sur le titre, ni les interprètes.
Le nom “S’modern” ou “Smodern” semble avoir été utilisé par de multiples variations de groupes des années 50 à 70, a priori pour des groupes vocaux Zulu féminins… […]
Paul Ndlovu – Tsakane!
https://amf.didiermary.fr/paul-ndlovu-tsakane/
Before Shangaan Electro, there was Shangaan Disco in the 80s & 90s. It’s township pop music, just like Kwaito, but the difference is based on its ethnic origin, the Tsonga (Shangaan) language. Although the sound evolved and reached a larger audience, the ethnic name remained. […]
Youssou N’Dour – Nelson Mandela (live)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/youssou-ndour-nelson-mandela/
This version of “Nelson Mandela” is from “Youssou N’Dour & Le Super Etoile de Dakar – Fatteliku” released in 2015.
This album was recorded live in Athens on Peter Gabriel’s So tour in 1987.
#LiveMusic #Madiba #Sénégal #SouthAfrica #YoussouNDour #OldAfricanMusic
Slim Ali and the Hodi Boys – You Can Do It
https://amf.didiermary.fr/hodi-boys-slim-ali-you-can-do-it/
Slim Ali was born in Mombasa, Kenya back in December of 1947 and started playing music while in high school at Hamisi Secondary School. He played some stints with the Kitale Hotel Band and the Tusker Band before deciding to join the Hodi Boys […]
Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux – Mandjou (TV)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/les-ambassadeurs-internationaux-mandjou-tv/
Avec Salif Keita au chant et le guitariste Manfila Kanté, le titre “Mandjou”, extrait de l’album éponyme sorti en Côte d’Ivoire en 1978, est un hommage au Président guinéen Ahmed Sekou Touré. C’est ce titre qui va révéler Salif Keita et propulser le chanteur au rang d’idole.
Le contenu de cette chanson est à rapprocher […]
Les Ambassadeurs du Motel de Bamako – Mali Denou
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ambassadeurs-motel-bamako-mali-denou/
The original version of Mali Denou, by Les Ambassadeurs du Motel de Bamako.
In 1969, an ambitious army lieutenant, a key member of the new junta which had seized power only the previous year, decided that a band was needed to entertain customers at the Motel De Bamako, […]
El Gusto, l’orchestre d’Alger
https://amf.didiermary.fr/el-gusto-chaabi-algiers-alger/
El Gusto est le nom de ce groupe fondé dans la casbah d’Alger “il y a très très longtemps.” La guerre, puis l’indépendance dans les années 60, ont séparé les musiciens. Ce documentaire (El Gusto – Casbah Blues), sorti en 2012, montre le cheminement de leurs retrouvailles au nom de la musique Chaâbi. […]
Le Mystère Jazz de Tombouctou
https://amf.didiermary.fr/mystere-jazz-tombouctou/
The Orchestre Regional de Tombouctou, also known as “Le Mystère Jazz de Tombouctou”, did not release a recording until 1977.
During the era of Mali’s first President, Modibo Keita (1960-1968), the government created regional orchestras and arts troupes in each of the nation’s seven regions. These groups were state-sponsored and from 1962 they competed in […]
