oldafricanmusic

Burger Highlife

https://amf.didiermary.fr/burger-highlife/

The first ever compilations focussing on the phenomenon of “Burger Highlife”, a crossover of West African melodies with synthesizers, disco and boogie that took over Ghanaian airwaves during the 1980’s and beyond.

The 1970s had witnessed an increased Western airtime and physical presence in Ghana introducing funk, soul and disco sounds [...]

#80smusic #90smusic #AfroFunk #Compilation #Disco #Ghana #Highlife #OldAfricanMusic

Nana Kwame Ampadu – Yaa Amponsah

https://amf.didiermary.fr/nana-ampadu-african-brothers-band-yaa-amponsah/

Nana Kwame Ampadu (31 March 1945 – 28 September 2021) was a Ghanaian musician and composer credited with numerous popular highlife tracks and he is known to have composed over 800 songs. He was the lead singer, chief songwriter, and founder of the “African Brothers Band”. He is regarded as a pioneer of highlife music […]

#Ghana #Highlife #OldAfricanMusic

Bembeya Jazz National

https://amf.didiermary.fr/bembeya-jazz-national/

Tout au long de sa longue carrière, jusqu’aux années 90, le Bembeya Jazz a compté dans ses rangs de nombreux grands musiciens : son fondateur et chanteur Aboubacar Demba Camara, le grand guitariste Sékou “Bembeya” Diabaté (aka “Diamond fingers”), et le chanteur Sékouba Bambino qui y débuta à 19 ans. […]

#Guinea #OldAfricanMusic

Tribute to Almamy Samore Lafiya Toure

Guinean band Bembeya Jazz National commemorated Samori Ture (Almamy Samore Lafiya Toure) in their 1969 release "Regard sur le passé."

https://amf.didiermary.fr/tribute-almamy-samore-lafiya-toure/

The album draws upon Mandinka Djeli traditions and consists of two epic recordings recounting Ture’s anti-colonial resistance and nation-building. […]

#Guinea #Wassoulou #60sMusic #OldAfricanMusic

Orchestra Baobab – Pirates Choice

https://amf.didiermary.fr/orchestra-baobab-pirates-choice-full-album/

Réédité en 2001, puis en 2015 pour les 50 ans d’Orchestra Baobab, c’est l’occasion de redécouvrir Pirates Choice, enregistré à Dakar en 1982. […]

#80smusic #AfroLatino #FullAlbum #Sénégal #OldAfricanMusic

Manu Dibango – New Bell (Hard Pulsation)

https://amf.didiermary.fr/manu-dibango-new-bell-hard-pulsation-1972/

New Bell (Hard Pulsation) was released as a single in 1972 (B-side: Hibiscus), as the B-Side of an unofficial release of Soul Makossa in the US, and is of course part of the tracklist on the original Soul Makossa album.

#70smusic #AfroFunk #Cameroon #ManuDibango #OldAfricanMusic

Dieuf-Dieul de Thiès – Na Binta

https://amf.didiermary.fr/dieuf-dieul-thies-na-binta/

Dieuf-Dieul de Thiès, 3 singers Assane Camara, Bassirou Sarr and Gora Mbaye together with their chef d’orchestre and guitar player Pape Seck (an ex-member of Guelewar) compose traditional rhythms from all the regions of Senegal, with fuzz guitars, horn sections and hallucinatory percussion. The result is an explosive mixture of an Electric Psychedelic sound [...]

#Psychedelic #Sénégal #OldAfricanMusic

Dieuf-Dieul de Thiès – Short documentary

https://amf.didiermary.fr/dieuf-dieul-thies-promo-documentary/

The band Dieuf-Dieul de Thiès did not manage to release any of its recordings for 30+ years. Here’s a short documentary for the release of “Aw Sa Yone Vol. 2” in 2015, after Vol. 1 in 2013.

On Vol. 1 the tracks were well divided among three singers: Assane Camara with his unique style, […]

#Documentary #Mbalax #Sénégal #OldAfricanMusic

Kabaka International Guitar Band

https://amf.didiermary.fr/kabaka-international-guitar-band/

Kabaka International Guitar Band, lead by G. Kabaka Opara, who was part of the legendary Oriental Brothers Band International, but walked out of the group in 1977, to set up his own band. […]

#70smusic #Highlife #Nigeria #OldAfricanMusic

Hi-Lifes You Have Loved

https://amf.didiermary.fr/hi-lifes-loved/

Hi-Lifes You Have Loved is an old compilation (1972) of early African highlife tracks, featuring Stargazers Band, ET Mensah & His Tempos Band, Black Beats, Broadway Dance Band, The Rhythm Aces, etc. […]

#Ghana #Highlife #OldAfricanMusic

Ebo Taylor – Palaver

https://amf.didiermary.fr/ebo-taylor-palaver/

“Palaver” is a long-lost, previously unreleased 1980 album from Ghanaian guitarist and songwriter Ebo Taylor.

“This was done with my touring band, pretty much the same guys as on the Essiebons records I was making back then,” Ebo Taylor says […]

#80smusic #EboTaylor #EPK #Ghana #Highlife #OldAfricanMusic

Remembering Leonard Dembo

https://amf.didiermary.fr/remembering-leonard-dembo/

Death snatched the legendary artist Leonard Dembo when he was only 37, on April 9, 1996, leaving a rich discography.

"That man was talented. He taught me a lot about music. I worked with him from 1988 until his death in 1996. I was the youngest in the band when I joined Barura Express. He […]

#80smusic #Zimbabwe #OldAfricanMusic

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...

#Drums #Nigeria #OldAfricanMusic

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 […]

#60smusic #Nigeria #SirVictorUwaifo #OldAfricanMusic

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. […]

#90smusic #Disco #Mbaqanga #SouthAfrica #OldAfricanMusic

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 […]

#60smusic #70smusic #Congo #Rumba #OldAfricanMusic

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 […]

#80smusic #GuineaBissau #LiveMusic #OldAfricanMusic

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]

#Nigeria #Remixed #OldAfricanMusic

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 […]

#80smusic #AfroFunk #Ghana #Highlife #OldAfricanMusic

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

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, […]

#80smusic #OST #Tchad #OldAfricanMusic

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…

#70smusic #Kenya #Remixed #OldAfricanMusic