Awesome Tapes from Africa

Kouyate Sory Kandia

Side A
Souaressi
Malisadio
Soli De Balafon
Sakhodougou

Side B
Conakry
Fouaba
Tinkisso
N'na

Someone requested this a long time ago and, since I didn't share the whole tape (or even more than one song), I thought now might be the right time. This is a classic—and the production sounds so good to me: the vocals, balafon (xylophone), horns, guitar tone, and deep deep bass. Swingin' music from Guinea. There's a whole nerdy history to this era/region that I know nothing about. Look it up.

Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz Sweet Mother

Side A
Sweet Mother
Wayo Inlaw
Peace Movement Social Club of Nigeria—Ikenga Super Stars of Africa

Side B
Aki Special
Christiana
Shakara School Girls—Ikenga Super Stars of Africa
Olu Ugbo (Operation feed The Nation)—Ikenga Super Stars of Africa

These songs are classics, if you don't have them already... Plus, the tape includes Ikenga filler. Sublime stuff all of it. Nigerian music from the 70s is so HOT right now.

Amadou Sangare dit Bari Histoire de Sabali

Face A
Histoire de Sabali 1

Face B
Histoire de Sabali 2


An oral history recording by a well-known griot from Mali. Simple musical phrases repeated for forever or so. Plucked and muted kora, spare melody, zero harmony. And the haunted-echo storytelling/non-singing from start to finish... Patient/attentive listening required. There's much to hear in between the notes, etc.

PS: Go see this spooky-sounding/looking "desert blues" group from Niger called Etran Finatawa if you can. They made an impressive New York City debut on Friday and are touring the US/Europe through November.

Mahmoud Guinia

Side 1
Track 1
Track 2

Side 2
Track 3
Track 4

This is the most magnificent and recommended tape I have heard in a while... enjoy this gnawa music from Morocco's Mahmoud Guinia. Google around (also under "Gania", a commonly-used spelling of his name) and you will see Guinia has collaborated with people like Hamid Drake (awesome) and Bill Laswell (interesting but less awesome). Not bad for a guy who also makes some of the illest spiritual/stoner music ever on hometown releases like this.

Thanks to Landon P for the tape!

Allan Family Ke Ofee Nɔ Nŋ Afeee

Side A
Gome
Ɔgɛ

Side B
Kpanlogo
New Creation

The Allan Family Culture Troupe plays Ga traditional music. They have been recording four-joint albums like this for years, this is only one I could find in my collection today. The Ga people live in Accra, Ghana, where their once-dominant language has been over-run by the influx of Ghanaians from other parts of the country. Not as many people need to speak Ga in Accra these days. I found the Ga language incredibly challenging, and more recently have had that notion reinforced by its baffling wikipedia entry. My goodness.

In any case, this tape is really good. These are the rhythms upon which the dzama (or jama) style of hiplife is based. But even without the now ubiquitous presence of these patterns in Ghanaian pop I would hasten to say this music is some of the most vital traditional music in Ghana. Pep bands even rock these jams in the stands at pro soccer matches. Everyone gets pumped.

Cheers to my friend Aaron of Denver/Berlin who introduced me to the Allan Family long before I ever thought of visiting Ghana.

Ibrahim Hamma Dicko

Face A
Mariana
Alfaro
Achagal

Face B
Hamidou
Mahanonga Koy
Andourinia

Go get some more music by Ibrahim Hamma Dicko.

Thanks to Landon P for this one.

Manou Fofana Ko-Te-Ban

Face A
Média Dani
L Pâh
Wola Dingné
Baden Gna
Koukouh

Face B
Tougnègnè
Djagha
N'gowilo
Walôh
Mo Kanignôh

This is a tape by a Toma artist from the forest region of Guinea. I'm told Manou Fofana is not very well-known in Conakry, Guinea's capital, but she's all over the radio in Macenta, southeastern Guinea. My friend Simon (of the much-revered Slow Music from Africa mixtape) brought this one back from there. Thanks for sharing this laid-back set of sublime (and dance-able) tunes. I really like tracks like "Walôh," which are apparently based on traditional ceremonial music from the forest.

Some of this tape sounds like modern urban music, other parts feel more traditional. All of it is chill.

Abdou Salam et les tendistes Bayun Maata

Side One
Dunia Labari
David Ko
Halima
Mu Maza

Side Two
Kukan Gobro
Assalatu
Bayun Maata

The CIA's World Factbook describes the geography of Niger as "landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world; northern four-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna, suitable for livestock and limited agriculture." Sounds like an intense place. I'm just kind of obsessed with music from this desert-y region. Sadly, this is one of the only tapes I have from Niger.

According to the Voice of America's African music blog (which I can't help but note looks a lot like mine at times), Abdou Salam is quite popular over there. Glad to know since this tape does everything right: nimble vocals, insistent Toureg drums, steadfast repetitions. Recipe for happiness.

I know the bass on side two wasn't recorded to sound that crunchy and distorted, but I happen to like it.

Ebenezer Obey The Horse The Man And His Son?

Side One
Ko Sogbon To Le Da
Baba Oni Ketekete
Ile Aiye Fun Igba Die Ni

Side Two
Eni Ri Nkan He
Agba Ilu Mo Juba
Eso Pele
Ere Ni Tiwa
Tani Ngo Ro Temi Fun
Igba Nba Jo

Ebenezer Obey is one the masters of Nigerian juju music. He made so many records. I just happen to have this one on cassette, and it just kills. If I don't get lost in the Yoruba language vocals, the secret discourse between guitar and drums makes me dance. You know: that really mellow kind of dance that rich people did at socialites' parties in 1970s Lagos? Yeah, you know the one.

Awesome Tapes from Africa in the FADER

Look out for the new Africa issue of best music/arts/fashion magazine ever the FADER, which you can download and read for free. So many great stories in there including, a piece on hiplife in Ghana and an article by Jace Clayton aka DJ /rupture.

Amharic speakers help us out...?

Side A
Track 1
Track 2
Track 3
Track 4
Track 5
Track 6

Side B
Track 1
Track 2
Track 3
Track 4
Track 5

This is a guest post from a guy named Scott Kiehl:

Ethiopian Amharic speakers help us out. Please. Who is this? I've no
idea, but it's definitely some kicking funk inna Ethio style, most
likely from the 70s (is that the Ethiopian calendar, where it's the year is now 2000, or "ours"?) and probably a compilation from some old vinyl
45s. Fans of the Ethiopiques series will surely enjoy.

One of the many highlights in a recent trip to Ethiopia was cassette shopping—especially from the guys selling them from street stalls, where they'd
give you the chance to "test" them. 13 Months of Sunshine indeed!
Plenty more where this came from. Thanks to thursdayborn for the guest
slot.

Ouedraogo Issaka dit Zougna Zaguemda
Ouedraogo Issaka En Concert A La Maison Du Peuple

Side One
B'Waa
Tond
Yiinga

Side Two
Tiengui
Bayir
Yelle

Magnificently bare bones traditional music from Burkina Faso. I tip my hat to Issaka and his cash-laden attire.

NPP Yebo Ho Biom

Side 1
Yebo Ho Biom
Dwewohoe
To Aba Pa

Side 2
Asodwie
Yebo Ho Biom (Inst.)
Asomdwie (Acapella)

Oh no it's election time in America. Hillary asked her pals to vote for her campaign song earlier this year to amusing effect. Back in 2004, John A. Kufuor's presidential re-election campaign in Ghana was bolstered(?) by this tape—with or without the express approval of the "gentle giant" himself (the cover misspells the man's name).

Praise-laden sloganeering via song and rap here. Buried in the cassette notes it says vocals by Oheneba E.K. Nana Tufour Jnr. When in Ghana vote with thumb and ink (see tape cover).

Tiken Jah Fakoly Françafrique

Face A
Françafrique
Missiri (featuring U-Roy)
Balayeur Balaye
Soungourouba
Africa
On A Tout Compris (featuring Anthony B)

Face B
Nazara
Charnier
Houphouet Reveillies-toi
Justice
A Wouli
Y'en A Marre

Best African reggae right now. (RIP, Lucky Dube.)

Purchase this album for real. The CD has a slightly different tracklisting.

The New York Times recently reported the Mali-based, Ivory Coast-born musician-agitator was barred from entering Senegal after talking shit about its president. Nice.

Kumasi Bantama Christ Revival Singers Wo Pe Nye Ho

Side One
Wo Pe Nye Ho
Meka Masem Akyere No
Su Gu Meso
Me Nyame Kae Me
Bisa Me Ho
Hye Den Na Mensuro

Side Two
Mewo Anidaso
Wone Nyame Nam Mensuro
Na Aden Ni Komm Yi, San Behwe Wo Mma
Agya Bedi Manim

This one's for the holiday coming up. Xmas in Hawaii, by way of Kumasi, Ghana. Bantama is the neighborhood in Kumasi where I saw a street performer eat glass and make a newspaper filled with wine disappear. That was kind of spiritual. Hawaiian guitar here kills it. Womb-y bass and angelic chorus make for an all around soothing holiday gait. Just imagine that crackliness is coming from the fireplace not the old vinyl from which this tape was sourced.

Dr. Orlando Owoh & His Omimah Band

Side One
Ero Ki Yeye Mi
Omiye Lala
Osupa Roro

Side Two
Iyawo Olele
Omo Ni Ye
Mo Baju Wo Oju Orun/Irawo Mi Ko Ni Ku

Orlando Owoh is a pretty big deal. Nigerian highlife is a pretty big deal. This tape enjoys that floaty highlife levitation thing but stays grounded with its ill battery of talking drums, etc. Juju refugees gone wild. Wayward highlife guitar meanderings jut out in the mix. It's all good. Watch out for calculated drum breaks toward the end of "Omiye Lala" and "Iyawo Olele."

This music on this tape was originally released in 1975, according to the meticulous Toshiya Endo.

Amagnon Koumagnon Musique Traditionnelle Du Benin

Face A
Aya Obakiwe Lodo

Face B
Gbessou


Sublime polyrhythms and snappy vernacular for the year's first snowy Sunday.

Mariam Bagayogo Vol. 2

Side A
Miniyan Ye Koloni Mme
Anytie Tjilalou
Kodialani

Side B
Bara Et Golo
Yayoye
Massafing

Um, yeah. This is scary. The other-worldly pentatonic balafon and its apocalyptic overtones repeat toward infinity, and I can't help but think of Reich's marimba ostinatos and Partch's microtones here. This is so good. And don't get me started on those vibrato-free vocals, hand claps and clickety-clacks, which make this echo-y doom-scape seem all too real.

Wakimbizi Raha

Side 1
Intro
Hallo Hallo (Radio Edit)
John
Raha
Nishike Pole Pole
Kwa Nini

Side 2
Wajidanganya
Baby Baby
Mika Kumi
Track 10
Track 11
Hallo Hallo (Latin Mix)
Track 13

This cassette from Kenya has three mysterious BONUS tracks on side 2, and it's missing two of the Hallo Hallo mixes. If you buy it you can hear the non-bootleg version with all the correct songs. As for me, I'm completely ok with the bootlegger having included the brilliant Track 11.

Wakimbizi is a really big deal in Kenya: check out their bio (if you can read around their company's enormous logo, you'll see what I mean).

Moolobali Traore Moolobali Traore

Side A

Samadona
Joulaou
Bakilou
Fezin

Side B
Labankassi
Delimagni
Djagneba

A good friend let me borrow some tapes. This is my favorite of the bunch so far. From Mali. This is all very amateur-sounding in a way (rough guitar, rough production quality), but we love it all the same.

The song "Labankassi" appears on this Karamoko Keita tape as well, which will be posted in its entirety shortly. Not sure which version came first or if it's a traditional tune or what. If you know, feel free to clue us in.

Ata Kak Obaa Sima

Side A
Obaa Sima
Moma Yendodo
Adagya
Medofo

Side B
Daa Nyinaa
Yemmpa Aba
Bome Nnwom

By popular demand, here it is. These are mostly love songs, by the way (as if you couldn't tell).

Esther Smith Gye No Di

Side A
Yesu Kristo Asore*
Adze Ko*
Ma Wo Nsa So
Gye No*

Side B
Gye No Di (Sharp One)
Befa W'asem Siesie Me
Agidifour Ataban*
Gye No Di*

*choice cuts

It was only a matter of time before we delved into the most important force in the Ghanaian music industry: gospel music. The scene is just too big to ignore. In Ghana, gospel music comes in all shapes and sizes, from the local church's traditional drum and vocals recordings (see prior post) to reggae-and-hiplife-infused blockbusters, like Esther Smith's Gye No Di, which are mass produced and aggressively marketed via radio, tv, internet and trucks-covered-in-posters-and-bullhorns-blasting-the-record campaigns.

There could not have been a bigger album than Gye No Di during my first visit to Ghana in 2002. Pretty much every song on the tape was a hit, played literally tens of times a day by gospel and mainstream radio stations nationwide. I recall waking up each morning to my home-stay sister Nana Akua blasting track 4 on repeat, from like 6am until she left the house an hour or two later. I hated it at first but it now confirms for me the sublime and hidden genius behind many of the commercial gospel productions in Ghana's top 40 music realm.

Love to hear such sick bass and dreamy keyboard tones amongst all this inspiring talk of faith in Jesus. Acapella breakdowns and sheeny soloist wails from what sounds like it must be a keytar enhance some of the strongest tracks, marked by an asterisk above. This record is just the tip of an enormous iceberg of pop-laden spiritual music that sells more than hiplife and highlife combined in some cases.

Oh and while you're at it, you should probably check out this Esther Smith music video, it's kind of amazing.

Awesome Tapes from Africa visits DJ /rupture

DJ /rupture has so kindly invited me to co-host his WFMU radio show, Mudd Up! this Wednesday October 17 at 7pm EST. It'll be an hour of awesome tapes from africa and a bit of discussion. I'll be playing lots of music which has yet to make it on the blog, along with some catalog favorites.

Update
Here's the playlist from that show:

artist song album country

Wakimbizi “Mika Kumi” Raha Kenya
Reggie Rockstone “Keep Your Eyes on the Road” Me Na Me Kae Ghana
Volcan “C Urgent” Vrai 2 Vrai Burkina Faso
Kontihene “Asesa” Nyankonton Ghana
Tic Tac “Philomena” Philomena Ghana
Tuba Clan “Jama” Dakoli Ghana
Nahawa Doumbia “Djankonia” Best of Nahawa Doumbia Mali
Masekela introducing Hedzoleh Soundz “Kaa Ye Ota” Rekpete South Africa/Ghana
Ensemble Traditional National du Mali “Aw Bissimlai” Musolu Mali
Prince Okla “Paa Dede” 2001 Dagbani Mega Mix 1 Ghana
Abu Sadic “Anti Bon Shei” Na Ni Goo Ghana
Awa Poulo “Abs” Awa Poulo Mali
Kouyate Sory Kandia “N’na” Kouyate Sory Kandia Guinea

See rupture's blog mudd up!, one of the most thoughtful and informative sites I've seen. Big ups.


Listen to Mudd Up! with DJ /rupture

Also, read his fantastic essay on Muslimgauze in Bidoun magazine.