Keith Haring, Grace Jones, Fela Kuti and Jean Michel Basquiat at Mr. Chow in New York City, June 1986.
Photo taken by Andy Warhol.
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Afro-funk from Benin courtesy of Analog Africa
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Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, aka Fela Kuti - 1981.
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213: Pierre Sandwidi // Le Troubadour de la Savane
Le Troubadour de la Savane
Pierre Sandwidi
2018, Born Bad (Bandcamp)
In a reissue biz that has been absolutely rocking for the past decade, it takes something to stand out, but Le Troubadour de la Savane, 1976–1980 (The Savannah Troubadour) is easily one of the best compilations of recent years. It surveys the career of Burkina Faso great Pierre Sandwidi, collecting most of his singles and a few album tracks cut during the prime of his brief recording career. (Of note: The misnamed comp includes a number of songs from 1982.) Then as now, Sandwidi’s country was economically destitute thanks to the lingering effects of colonial rule, military coups, and drought, and opportunities to record physical music in the 1970s were rare. West Africa is rich in musical tradition, so it’s not a surprise the country produced an artist as distinctive as “the singer from the bush”—but it feels like a stroke of luck that he was documented at all. Sandwidi’s music reflects the sounds of Afro-Beat, high life, funk, and rumba that were ascendent in the region, but also French pop: his music has a sound of his own, pensive even when it dances, cosmic and twinkling even as it protests the state of affairs on the ground.
Sandwidi’s music is fairly lo-fi compared to some of the music being produced in neighbouring countries, but he makes a virtue of it. Much of is less beat-forward than I’m accustomed to in African music. On “Ouaga affaires” (“Ouaga Business”), the bass and drums fade into a kind of hypnotic tidal pull beneath a shimmering sea of organ chords and ultra clean high life guitar. The icicle gleam of “Je suis un salaud” (“I’m a Bastard”) and “Fils du Sahel” (“Son of the Sahel”) almost puts me in mind of ‘80s private press synth-pop, while “Tond Yabramba” (“‘Round Yabrama”) improbably finds a midway point between late ‘60s English prog and Middle Eastern pop of the same era. There are excellent funky tunes to be had here (e.g. “Mam Ti Fou,” “Yamb ney capitale”), but I feel like the relatively muted reaction to Troubadour may come down to the fact that this sound doesn’t quite fit the predilections of the beat obsessives who tend to be the most obsessive about this era and region. But if you’re looking for African music that sounds as apt on a rainy day as sunny one, give this one a try.
213/365
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The Highlight: January 2023 Artist Spotlight (New Music Video Alert)
Artist: Iniko
Song Title: "The King's Affirmation"
Genre: Alternative
Country: USA
Artist: Chlöe
Song Title: "Pray It Away"
Genre: R&B/Soul
Country: USA
Artist: Mikhala Jené
Song Title: "Black Love"
Genre: R&B/Soul
Country: USA
Artist: Masego
Song Title: "You Never Visit Me"
Genre: R&B/Soul
Country: USA
Artist: Ari Lennox
Song Title: "Waste My Time"
Genre: R&B/Soul
Country: USA
Artist: Boys World
Song Title: "Mantrum"
Genre: Pop
Country: USA
Artist: Libianca
Song Title: "People (Check On Me)"
Genre: Afro-Beat
Country: USA/Cameroon
-Highlighting International Artists-
Artist: Tyla
Song Title: "Been Thinking"
Genre: Pop
Country: South African
-Highlighting Independent Artists-
Artist: Sleep Theory
Song Title: "Another Way"
Genre: Rock
Country: USA
Artist: Kasheanna
Song Title: "All for you"
Genre: R&B/Soul
Country: N/A
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SAT 8/12 - DLabrie performing Live in Daegu,Korea - Hip Hop/Afro Beats/Caribbean/Dancehall/Latin/Soca... Bruk Out/Party + J-God,Big Easy,Woosah,Obie
SAT 8/12 - DLabrie performing Live in Daegu, Korea - Hip Hop/Afro Beats/Caribbean/Dancehall/Latin/Soca...Bruk Out Party + J-God, Big Easy, Woosah, Obie
SAT 8/12 – DLabrie performing Live in Daegu,Korea – Hip Hop/Afro Beats/Caribbean/Dancehall/Latin/Soca… Bruk Out/Party + J-God, Big Easy, Woosah, Obie
New Playlist – DLabrie – Afro Beat/Dance Hall/Hip Hop Mash UPS for DJ’s & Fans!
Remixes by J-God & Big Easy
Click to Listen to New Playlist – DLabrie – Afro Beat/Dance Hall/Hip Hop Mash UPS for DJ’s & Fans
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A Tribute To Fela by MAW
MAW Records
1999
Afrobeat / Deep House
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Fela Kuti - Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense (LP)
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'There's no way that's happening' - mighty Benin Afro-funk
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Afrobeat Session Mix 2022 by AlexSkyDj
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