African System Orchestra – Bad Friend
https://amf.didiermary.fr/african-system-orchestra-bad-friend/
Hybrid of Soukous and Highlife, courtesy of Cameroonian guitarist Tambwe Dongo Pecos and his band African System Orchestra that started playing in Nigeria…
Franklin Boukaka – Le Bucheron
https://amf.didiermary.fr/franklin-boukaka-manu-dibango-bucheron/
Franklin Boukaka (1940 – 1972) was a Congolese singer, guitarist, and songwriter, recognized as a pioneer of Congolese popular music. He performed in bands based in each of “the two Congos” and toured worldwide.
“Le Bucheron” is part of an album recorded in Paris in 1970 and arranged by Manu Dibango. […]
Manu Dibango – Ebony Tracks (Percussion Storm)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/manu-dibango-ebony-tracks-percussion-storm/
“Ebony Tracks (Percussion Storm)” is from Manu Dibango’s “B Sides” album, released in 2002. It contains short and long remixed versions of Soul Fiesta.
#70smusic #80smusic #AfroFunk #Cameroon #Compilation #Jazz #ManuDibango #OldAfricanMusic
Blo – Chant To Mother Earth
https://amf.didiermary.fr/blo-chant-mother-earth/
In 1973 in Nigeria, Blo were the first Rock Trio to emerge from Africa. Their 1st album “Chapter 1” contains 8 tracks of infectious afro-rock, with Afrobeat foundations, mixed with western psychedelia, Rock and Funk of the late 60s, including “Chant To Mother Earth”.
Taken together, the names Berkely ‘Ike’ Jones (guitar), Laolu ‘Akins’ Akintobi […]
Uta Bella – Monboulae
https://amf.didiermary.fr/uta-bella-monboulae/
Very old video from French TV (ORTF) in 1969, a live music show called “Pulsation.” The Diva Uta Bella starts singing @ 2:38. In the first part, you’ll see a very young Manu Dibango playing the organ. […]
Afro Super-Feelings led by Segun Okeji
https://amf.didiermary.fr/afro-super-feelings-segun-okeji/
Afrobeat Disco/Funk from the vault… A 2-track LP Afro Super-Feelings Led By Segun Okeji released in 1970.
This is an album comprised of two super-rare Afrobeat disco/funk tracks from Lagos by the band Afro Super-Feelings, led by musician Segun Okeji. Segun Okeji was the tenor sax player in Fela Kuti‘s Koola Lobitos band in Nigeria […]
Urbano de Castro – Fatimita
https://amf.didiermary.fr/urbano-de-castro-fatimita/
António Urbano de Castro (1941-1977) was an Angolan singer-songwriter, who perished in Sambizanga in the aftermath of the unfortunate protests of May 27th, 1977.
Fela Kuti – Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am (1972)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-trouble-sleep-yanga-wake-am-1972/
“Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am” comes from the 1972 album ‘Roforofo Fight‘. The Broken English translation of “Trouble Sleep Yanga Am” literally means: toying with a loaded gun or playing with fire. In the song, Fela sings about the limit to human endurance. It is unlike any other Fela song of the era – spacey, […]
Abdou El Omari
https://amf.didiermary.fr/abdou-el-omari/
Ultra rare Oriental psychedelic trilogy from the organ king of Casablanca, Abdou El Omari, combining traditional rhythms with spaced out modern sounds. Considered a pioneer of Moroccan psychedelia, his generation of musicians revolutionized traditional music and opened wider horizons without altering its soul.
EKO – Kilimandjaro My Home
https://amf.didiermary.fr/eko-kilimandjaro-my-home/
Bandleader Eko, Eko Roosevelt Louis, went from Cameroonian music prodigy to chief of an idyllic seaside village.
Kilimandjaro My Home is an album released in 1977.
Eko Roosevelt Louis has had a music career spanning over forty years, born the grandson of a Kribi tribal chief, his musical persuasion beginning humbly with his village’s local church […]
Funky Disco Music – EKO
https://amf.didiermary.fr/funky-disco-music-eko/
A trip to 1979 with “Funky Disco Music”, Eko’s third LP.
Eko Roosevelt Louis has had a music career spanning over forty years, born the grandson of a Kribi tribal chief, his musical persuasion beginning humbly with his village’s local church before his formal education at the Senegal conservatoire and Paris’ Ecole Normale de Musique. […]
Fela Kuti – Zombie
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-zombie/
Zombie was released around 76/77. It’s one of the iconic Fela’s songs, a harsh critique of the Nigerian soldiers who blindly follow, usually inhumane, orders.
Fela paid a big price for this bold condemnation of the military institution.One thousand members of the Nigerian army attacked and burnt down his house after the release of the […]
Welcome to Zamrock!
https://amf.didiermary.fr/welcome-zamrock-psychedelic-zambian-rock-funk-jams/
“Welcome To Zamrock!” presented in two volumes, was an overview of its most beloved ensembles, and a trace of its arc from its ascension, to its fall, to its resurgence.
Zamrock was molded in 1970s Zambia out of a dual influence of Jimi Hendrix’s acid guitar and James Brown‘s funk. […]
#70smusic #AfroFunk #Compilation #FullAlbum #Rock #Zambia #Zamrock
Voices Of Darkness (1974)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/voices-of-darkness-1974/
Voices Of Darkness was a Cameroonian group started in Douala, Cameroon in 1972. After many performances in several night clubs, they arrived in Lagos, Nigeria in November, 1972.
Idowu Funkyman Fakeye – We Gonna Make It
https://amf.didiermary.fr/idowu-funkyman-fakeye-we-gonna-make-it/
When I first found this video of Idowu Funkyman Fakeye, there was no info on the band… The reason why appears on Discogs: “This name is made up. Actual artist for this are the Voices Of Darkness from Cameroon, based in Nigeria.” […]
Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou – Iya Me Dji Kibi Ni
https://amf.didiermary.fr/poly-rythmo-cotonou-iya-me-dji-kibi-ni/
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou is arguably West Africa’s best-kept secret. Their output, both in quantity and quality, was astonishing.
During several trips to Benin Analog Africa managed to collect roughly 500 songs which Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou had recorded between 1970 and 1983. The cultural and spiritual riches of traditional Beninese [...]
Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Yinhle Lentombi
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ladysmith-black-mambazo-yinhle-lentombi/
Yinhle Lentombi translates to “This Lady Is Beautiful” and comes from their 6th studio album Shintsha Sithothobala which was released in 1975. […]
Tony Grey – Come Back
https://amf.didiermary.fr/tony-grey-come-back/
Nigerian showbiz legend Tony Grey led a band called “The Magnificent Zeinians“. Here he’s with Super7 in 1975.
The Magnificent Zeinians – Ngozi Chukwu Ka
https://amf.didiermary.fr/magnificent-zeinians-ngozi-chukwu-ka/
The Magnificent Zeinians was the first group led by Nigerian showbiz legend Tony Grey… The group’s name comes from the club at which they were resident, Zeina Nite Club in Warri.
Jo Tongo – Jangolo
https://amf.didiermary.fr/jo-tongo-jangolo/
Our hero, Jo Tongo (born Joseph Ekambi Tongo Mpondo) was raised in Douala, Cameroon. In 1964 he headed off to Paris to begin Pharmaceutical studies.
Somewhere along the way the music in his soul eventually won out and he embarked on a life of music. In 1977, he produced and recorded his debut self titled […]
Mombasa – Kenia (remixed)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/mombasa-kenia-remixed/
Essential and hard to find album with tons of true killer Afro Funk breaks.
Classic and sought after Afro Jazz Reissue of original debut LP by African jazz band “Mombasa” led by Lou Blackburn and recorded in 1975 at Cornet studio […]
Hugh Masekela & The Union of South Africa
https://amf.didiermary.fr/hugh-masekela-union-south-africa/
Jonas Gwangwa (1937 – 2021) was a genius trombone player from Soweto, South Africa. That’s him in the middle between 2 other South African geniuses, the late Hugh Masekela on the left, and Caiphus Semenya (born 1939), on the right, for their band Union of South Africa.
The album, released in May 1971, is […]
Fela Kuti – Roforofo Fight
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-roforofo-fight/
Roforofo Fight refers to senseless violence: it describes 2 fools who batter themselves into the mud as a crowd gathers to watch them.
Roforofo Fight is about human intolerance towards each other. Issues that could be resolved amicably usually end up in fist fights. Sometimes such fights end up bloody or muddy. Dramatizing the scenario […]
RIP Nana Ampadu
https://amf.didiermary.fr/rip-nana-ampadu/
Renowned Ghanaian highlife musician, Nana Ampadu (Nana Kwame Ampadu), died on September 28, 2021.
In this interview from 2007, historian Jennifer Hart talks with him about the music that made him famous: God was everywhere in the street.
Fela Kuti – Why Black Man Dey Suffer
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-why-black-man-dey-suffer/
On 1 January 1971, Fela changes his band’s name from Nigeria 70 to Africa 70. It is a breakthrough year for the group, which will remain the hottest attraction in Nigeria (and elsewhere in West […]
