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African music

Muad' Dib

Active member
I open this thread for those who want to listen some music from around the world.

So... It's well known that Africa might be the cradle of the music but also there are many external influences that come together with the autochthonous styles creating a very interesting fusion.


Fela Kuti, the afrobeat king:

[youtubeif]E0BhNPiq78k[/youtubeif]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0BhNPiq78k



And of course, some african reggae from Ivory Coast:

[youtubeif]-hbNK2TdwDU[/youtubeif]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hbNK2TdwDU


Please, feel free everyone to post on this thread.
 

Muad' Dib

Active member
Well, not very successful this thread... What can I say?... I love african music and overall african reggae. I don't know why I prefer it than jamaican. Maybe I'm a bit bored of classic reggae and dub but the fact is that african reggae sounds pretty good to me.

What I don't like is just that africans have to claim for things as that of the title of the song... In a continent for the most part black... It is an embarrassment for the entire world what is happening there.

Max Adioa -- Freedom for the black people

This band come from senegal but use to play concerts in Reunion Island... Maybe they like also taste some Zamal strain.

[YOUTUBEIF]m2KwqPVSJis[/YOUTUBEIF]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2KwqPVSJis
 

Jahnice

thicker skin in training
ICMag Donor
high Muab' Dib,

you are all alone here with your wonderful music. i thought i would join you.:biggrin:

i am a big fan of Ali Farka Toure (Mali).
beautiful lilting music to send you off into dreamland.
Niafunke is a good one and he also did a cd with Ry Cooder called Talking Timbuktu that is a really good fusion of African and blues guitars.

on our travels, we picked up a cd from a Moroccan Reggae band called
Gnawa Diffusion---Bab El Oued Kingston
does that translate as neighbourhood of Kingston?
it is super nice African reggae rhythms with a Moroccan spice.

Taj Mahal's -Cajun Waltz from Mo' Roots is one of my all time favourite songs,
but i have always thought of him as more of a blues artist.

my workmate just lent me a cd by Cheikh N'Digél Lo- Bambay Gueej
thanks for reminding me because i have not listened to it yet and want to burn it and give it back soon.

i will check out some of the links you put up.

you are so freaking cool:laughing:
 

Muad' Dib

Active member
Hey Jahnice, happy to read you, I already was thinking that nobody except Corpsey likes African music overhere.

I like also Ali Farka Toure, he's a legend. I already knew that collaboration with Ry Cooder, very good album.

I didn't know Gnawa Difussion and don't speak arab but it seems more like they are trying to establish some kind of comparison between their neighbourhood in Algeria (Bab El Oued) and Kingston in Jamaica.

Anyways, Gnawa music is great, mysticism and trance works very well on it and match with many other styles turning out in a delicious fusion.

I'll check out for those bands, don't hesitate to post links here.

Best vibes.
 

Jahnice

thicker skin in training
ICMag Donor
there is a 'spiritual music festival' in Essaouira Morocco. i think it is every June on the summer solstice.
lots of really interesting world music artists come to this quiet surfing mecca.
i would love to check it out sometime. i will try to pull up the link
 

Swamp Thang

Well-known member
Veteran
Congolese Guitar Magic

Congolese Guitar Magic

I am surprised nobody has mentioned the guitar wizardry that defines Congolese Soukous music. Here is a small sample from a Congolese man residing in the US, and who has published quite a few superb Youtube videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64bVdlGDpic


If this small sample gets your attention, look up a names such as Huit Kios, Santana Mongoley, Roxy Tchimpaka and Diblo Dibala. Here is a relatively new guitar maestro called Flamme Kapaya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdG56XA0NsY

The percussive touch with which the Congolese pick the guitar, and the complex, layered harmonic intervals they throw in, are just mesmerizing. Some of the haunting melodies they craft remind me of tropical birds calling back and forth through the jungle canopy at dawn. Just beautiful.

Finally check out any of the numerous Congolese guitar offerings published on youtube by Don Keller, who is one of the handful of non-Congolese guitarists that have truly mastered the technique and nuance of that unique style.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6K4MJr_jmI&hd=1


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVpN7vOeXDM&hd=1


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qdM1_nd4rc&hd=1
 
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The English Cut

Well-known member
Wot no Ethiopia?

Wot no Ethiopia?

Great thread, but no mention of Ethiopia yet? Or did I scan the thread too quickly and miss something?

This guy is a great place to start, Mulatu Astatke, the father of Ethio-Jazz:
[YOUTUBEIF]oh_nK-QwTo0[/YOUTUBEIF]
He still works and did a great album withthe heliocentrics a few years back.

It's pretty hard to find any original records out there but there's a load of compilations dealing with this kind of thing, for example a great series of 29 CDs called Ethiopiques. I don't have those but I have some vinyl comps called Ethiopian Urban Modern Music which are awesome.

On a Nigerian tip, I'm also a big fan of Tony Allen, he was one of Fela Kuti's drummers back in the day. He's worked with Damon Albarn a lot in recent years but I prefer the older afrobeat stuff:
[YOUTUBEIF]B8zRLJl1-xc[/YOUTUBEIF]

peace, TEC.
 
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Roms

.bzh
Veteran
Vibes Muad'

Madagascar gospel
[youtubeif]gQO8fA9BOMk[/youtubeif]

Danyel Waro
[youtubeif]xmaYzN-MDB8[/youtubeif]

Tinariwen
[youtubeif]DXfkm4L0bU4[/youtubeif]

Vincent Segal & Ballake Sissoko
[youtubeif]b8lhwx6nc0Y[/youtubeif]

Ali Farka Toure
[youtubeif]uvhvajBQv-k[/youtubeif]
 

stasis

Registered Non-Conformist
Veteran
Complete freak for the following:

Baaba Maal
Youssou N'Dour
Boubacar Traore
Rokia Traore
The cissokho Kora Griot family
"Aduna" new album
Alpha Blondy
Lucky Dube
Traditional drummers of Burundi
Lokua kanza
King Sunny Ade
Ebenezer Obey

Cheb Khaled
Cheb Mami
Much of the rest of Moroccan Rai Music

D'Gary
Mahaleo
Tarika
Rossy
All from Madagascar

Johnny Clegg Savuka/Juluka / S. Afr

Ephat Mujuru (mbira master)
Thomas Mapfumo

Nigerian afrobeat from the 70s
Tony Allen drummer extraordinaire from Fela kuti's band

Tinariwen
Habib Koite
Daby Balde
there are more and more

YES, some of us are into it.
 
Last edited:

stasis

Registered Non-Conformist
Veteran
Forgot those two - yes......

And the below from my downloads or Cds.

++ Tiken Jah Fakoly (reggae)
The album Opika Pende (old music)
Daara J Hiphop
Hukwe Zawose
Kassy Made Diabate (vocalist)
Ricardo Lemvo y Makina Loca
Salimata Diabate
Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars
Toumani Diabate
Mamadou Diabate

and there's of course many more.
 

Muad' Dib

Active member
Hey stasis, I also love Raï music, I really wonder how it was this music when it was starting being pupular and how it has evolved to the present day.

Here Cheb Mami in Oran (Algeria), 1982. When he and other many singers of Raï were criticized by the lyrics of their songs and some of them move to Paris...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2dQz6gLoAk
[youtubeif]a2dQz6gLoAk[/youtubeif]

Now they return to the countries on the north of Africa and for sure they are received as authentic stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo0hm6384iA
[youtubeif]Mo0hm6384iA[/youtubeif]


Vibes
 

Jahnice

thicker skin in training
ICMag Donor
Jaluka-Johnny Clegg and King Sunny Ade are 2 names that i have not heard from since the 80's :)

Tiken Jah Fakoly is a great live performer. i dont have any cd's but have met him once.
he is very humble and interested in spreading peace and love through music.
 
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