From Nubia to Cairo – Ali Hassan Kuban
https://amf.didiermary.fr/nubia-cairo-ali-hassan-kuban/
Ali Hassan Kuban is considered The Godfather of Nubian Soul. “From Nubia to Cairo” was first released in the 80s, and revisited in 2018 as “the first milestone in urban Nubian Pop”.
From a self-taught musician exploring his Nubian people’s musical roots to a professional, successfully leading his various bands into new, vibrant, international pop […]
A quick selection of Brenda Fassie songs.
https://amf.didiermary.fr/brenda-fassie-songs/
In 1983, Brenda Fassie formed “Brenda and the Big Dudes” (with Blondie and Pappa Makhene), and that same year she had a breakthrough hit with “Weekend Special,” singing in the disco-flavored “bubblegum” [...]
#80smusic #90smusic #Disco #Documentary #Kwaito #LiveMusic #SouthAfrica #OldAfricanMusic
Ghana Special 2: Electronic Highlife
https://amf.didiermary.fr/electronic-highlife-ghana-special-2/
“Ghana Special 2: Electronic Highlife & Afro Sounds In The Diaspora, 1980-93” is a collection of 18 Burger Highlife, Electronic Afrobeat and Reggae tracks, highlighting a time when the burgeoning Ghanaian diaspora across Europe and North America was utilising new music technology and recording techniques. [...]
#80smusic #90smusic #Compilation #Ghana #Highlife #AfroBeat #Electro
Wazimbo – Nwahulwana (“night bird”)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/wazimbo-nwahulwana-night-bird/
Wazimbo was the long-time performer/leader of Orchestra Marrabenta Star de Moçambique (1979-1995).
The song Nwahulwana (“night bird”) was a main hit both for him and the band in 1988.
Paul Simon – Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes
https://amf.didiermary.fr/paul-simon-diamonds-soles-shoes/
“Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes” recorded live @ The African Concert in 1987 with Joseph Shabalala & Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The song features on Graceland, the seventh solo studio album by the American singer-songwriter Paul Simon.
“Graceland: The African Concert” was given in Zimbabwe, featuring such South African musicians [...]
Paul Simon & Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Homeless
https://amf.didiermary.fr/paul-simon-ladysmith-black-mambazo-homeless/
Graceland is the seventh solo studio album by the American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was released on August 25, 1986. The song “Homeless” was the first recorded by Simon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo with lead singer Joseph Shabalala. It is considered one of the first modern “WorldMusic” albums, although [...]
#80smusic #Apartheid #Documentary #LiveMusic #SouthAfrica #Global
Francis Bebey – Lily
https://amf.didiermary.fr/francis-bebey-lily/
Francis Bebey‘s song “Lily,” from the album "Si Les Gaulois Avaient Su" (1986), tells the story of a migrant who must overcome racism in France.
French singer Pierre Perret released this anti-racist song in 1977. […]
Kuku Sebsibe
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kuku-sebsibe/
Kuku Sebsibe is one of Ethiopia’s premier singers. She has performed with all the top bands of the 70s and 80s including Walias, Roha and Ibex, and is still performing today.
Available for the first time on record, these tracks are all from her first album originally released in 1982 on cassette only. […]
Maurice Poto Doudongo – The Lost Album
https://amf.didiermary.fr/maurice-poto-doudongo-the-lost-album/
During the 80s in Brussels, a Congolese musician, Maurice Poto Doudongo, starts musical experimentations, after working with Zaïko Langa Langa in Kinshasa.
Poto Doudongo is in his 20s, works with Zazou Bikaye, and decides to record a solo album, where he plays all instruments. The result is a mix of [...]
Petelo Vicka et son Nzazi – Sungu Lubuka
https://amf.didiermary.fr/petelo-vicka-et-son-nzazi-sungu-lubuka/
En septembre 1974, le festival “Zaïre 74” avait fait monter la pression sur toute une génération de musiciens locaux, en les poussant à injecter une bonne dose de Funk dans la Rumba congolaise.
Dans la compilation Congo Funk!, on retrouve des groupes de Kinshasa et Brazzaville, tels que l’Orchestre OK Jazz et Les Bantous de [...]
#70smusic #80smusic #AfroFunk #Congo #Rumba #OldAfricanMusic
Ebo Taylor & Uhuru Yenzu – You Need Love
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ebo-taylor-uhuru-yenzu-you-need-love/
Conflict was originally released in 1980 and was partially remade as part of Taylorʼs 2009 “Love and Death” album. […]
Next Stop Soweto
https://amf.didiermary.fr/next-stop-soweto-compilations/
“Next Stop Soweto” is a compilation series, to remember an era of South Africa’s musical history where such genres as Funk and Soul were being played by bands even as apartheid firmly gripped the country’s music culture.
Volume 1 explores the vibrant energy of the township jive sound, whilst Volumes 2 and 3 cover [...]
#60smusic #70smusic #80smusic #AfroFunk #Apartheid #Compilation #Jazz #Mbaqanga #SouthAfrica #AfroJazz
Bibi Den’s – “The Best Ambiance”
https://amf.didiermary.fr/bibi-den-tshibayi-best-ambiance-kinshasa-abidjan-1982/
Kinshasa meets Abidjan in 1982, with Bibi Den’s Tshibayi and “The Best Ambiance”, released as a 12” single in the UK in 1984.
Bibi Denis Tshibayi was born in Luebo, in the Kasai Occidental province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaïre). He composed his first song at the age of 14, “Moninga Alingi […]
Ismaël Lô – Jelebi
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ismael-lo-jelebi/
Jelebi is found on Ismaël Lô’s solo album Diawar in 1989. Ismaël Lô is a Senegalese musician, born in Dogondoutchi in Niger in 1956.
“Jeele Bi” with Super Diamono in 1988 on cassette “Jigeenu Ndakaru.”
Kanda Bongo Man – Malinga
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kanda-bongo-man-malinga/
Bongo Kanda (born 1 January 1955), aka Kanda Bongo Man, is a Congolese Soukous musician and singer. His career debuted in 1973 when he became the singer for the Belle Mambo band, developing a sound influenced by Tabu Ley.
His solo career only started to take off after he moved to Paris in 1979, where his […]
Zazou Bikaye – Nostalgie
https://amf.didiermary.fr/zazou-bikaye-nostalgie/
The track “Nostalgie” is from “Mr Manager” by Zazou Bikaye, reissued in 2020 in an expanded version.
Following the acclaimed 2017 vinyl reissue of the Noir et Blanc album, here’s a special edition of Zazou Bikaye’s second record, Mr. Manager, which only ever came out on vinyl, in 1985. This edition comprises nine additional tracks, […]
Ephat Mujuru & the Spirit of the People
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ephat-mujuru-spirit-people-mbavaira/
In 1972, Ephat Mujuru formed his first group, naming it for one of the most beloved Shona ancestors, Chaminuka. In the midst of the liberation struggle, mbira music became political. Singer and bandleader Thomas Mapfumo began interpreting mbira songs with an electric dance band, creating chimurenga (loosely “struggle”) music, named for the independence [...]
Remembering Pharoah Sanders
https://amf.didiermary.fr/pharoah-sanders-africa/
Africa is an album led by saxophonist Pharoah Sanders (born Farrell Sanders; October 13, 1940 – September 24, 2022), recorded in 1987.
Dr Victor Olaiya – Ilu Le O! (Country Hard O!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKieG5tj5Wc
More on AMF: https://amf.didiermary.fr/victor-olaiya-all-stars/
Pop Makossa
https://amf.didiermary.fr/pop-makossa/
Compilation “Pop Makossa – The Invasive Dance Beat of Cameroon (1976-1984)”
[…] all the tracks are a revelation. The beat that holds everything together has its origins in the rhythms of the Sawa people; Ambassey, Bolobo, Assiko and Essewé, a traditional funeral dance. But it wasn’t until these rhythms arrived in the cities of Cameroon […]
Toure Kunda – Labrador
https://amf.didiermary.fr/toure-kunda-labrador/
Labrador, title track from Toure Kunda‘s album Amadou-Tilo in 1983.
It’s a cover of the track that appeared on their first album and as a single.
Amadou-Tilo is dedicated to Amadou Toure, brother of Ismaila and Sixu-Tidiane and former member of the band who tragically died on-stage in 1983. […]
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 […]
Marcy Luarks & Classic Touch – Funky Boogie Woogie
https://amf.didiermary.fr/marcy-luarks-classic-touch-funky-boogie-woogie/
“Funky Boogie Woogie”, from the 1983 album, “Electric Murder”, the “mythical” American-Nigerian AfroBoogie masterpiece.
The product of the then husband and wife team of Marcy and Dan, ‘Electric Murder’ brought together both the former’s American and the latter’s Nigerian roots; recorded in London with UK-based session musicians, this mix [...]
Zani Diabaté & le Super Djata Band – Farima
https://amf.didiermary.fr/zani-diabate-super-djata-band-farima/
Zani Diabaté (1947-2011), prominent guitar player in the Super Djata Band, one of the most popular bands from Bamako during the 1980s, joined the Ballet National in 1963, where he sang, danced and played guitar, kora, balafon and percussion.
Connecting Wasulu hunter music, griot praises, Senufo pastoral dances, Fula and Mandingo repertoire [...]
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe
https://amf.didiermary.fr/chief-stephen-osita-osadebe-nigerian-tv/
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe had his own show on Nigerian TV in the late 80s, here singing the classic “Osondi Owendi” (1984) with his Nigerian Sound Makers.
His career spanned over 40 years, and he is one of the best known Igbo highlife musicians.
“Osadebe succeeded in breaking away from the conventional big band format established […]
