AfroLatino Vinyl Mix
https://amf.didiermary.fr/afrolatino-vinyl-mix/
Fascinating AfroLatino / Latin music from West-Africa. All original vinyl from Bénin, Côte d’Ivoire, etc.
Edited 68d ago
benin
Angélique Kidjo - Hope!!
New Album trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZthwhyNCUg
Featuring Pharrell Williams, Quavo, Ayra Starr, Davido, Nile Rodgers, Charlie Wilson from the Gap Band, IZA, PJ Morton, The Cavemen, Diamond Platnumz, Fally Ipupa, The Soweto Gospel Choir, Dadju, Florent Pagny…
Ouinsou Corneille – Vinon So Minsou
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ouinsou-corneille-black-santiago-vinon-so-minsou/
“Vinon So Minsou” is from a 7″ vinyl released in 1979, composed by Ouinsou Corneille and recorded with Black Santiago de Cotonou as backing band. It’s available on the African Scream Contest compilation. […]
Edited 233d ago
Léon Keita – Gnanassouma
https://amf.didiermary.fr/leon-keita-gnanassouma/
From the legendary Rail Band from Bamako to les Ambassadeurs internationaux, Leon Keita, singer et guitar player, forged his manding sound and later recorded 2 solo albums. A fixture on the Malian music scene, Leon Keïta was born in Conakry on the Atlantic coast of Guinea in 1947. After completing his studies he found his […]
Medicine Man Orchestra – Les Rythmes
https://amf.didiermary.fr/medicine-man-orchestra-rythmes/
The Medicine Man Orchestra project was born from the meeting between the Beninese griot Seidou Barassounon and the French producer Mathieu Insa. It is a true sensory journey that brings together on stage the percussions of Mélissa Hié (Burkina Faso), the electronic machines of Alissa Sylla (Senegal) and the incantations of the griot. [...]
Edited 281d ago
Benin coup attempt...
I live in Benin, in the suburbs far from Cotonou. All the churches around the house seem active as usual on Sundays, so I'd say no threatening activity is happening or visible right now... at least far from the political center.
Will tell you more if anything happens...
Manu Dibango – Waka Juju
https://amf.didiermary.fr/manu-dibango-waka-juju/
Waka Juju is an ode to Juju Music on this 6-track album from 1982.
Mixing Afrobeat, Highlife and Jazz Funk influences across 6 tracks, Dibango incorporated electronic elements into his sound, with synths played by legend Wally Badarou.
#80smusic #Bénin #Cameroon #Highlife #Jazz #JujuMusic #LiveMusic #ManuDibango #AfroBeat
Edited 277d ago
Tchico Tchicaya – The Golden Voice
https://amf.didiermary.fr/tchico-tchicaya-golden-voice/
“The Golden Voice of Africa” is the nickname of Denis Pambou Tchicaya (aka Tchico Tchicaya), Congolese songwriter, guitar player and arranger, born near Pointe-Noire.
Between 1972 and 1976, he’s part of Les Bantous de la capitale, one of the main orchestras during this period, where he’s one of the solo singers.
[…]
Edited 1y ago
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 [...]
Edited 1y ago
The Cavemen. + Angelique Kidjo + Fally Ipupa - “Nadi Balance”
Feat. Sheila Maurice-Gray on trumpet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snQ_XUMv_No
The Cavemen. are a Nigerian highlife band consisting of sibling duo Kingsley Okorie, a bassist, and Benjamin James, a drummer.
John Coltrane – Dahomey Dance
https://amf.didiermary.fr/john-coltrane-dahomey-dance/
“Olé Coltrane” is the ninth album by jazz musician John Coltrane, released in 1961 on Atlantic Records.
Dahomey is the ancient name of Bénin, a West African country.
Two days prior to the recording of Olé Coltrane, Coltrane had made Africa/Brass, his inaugural recording session for his new label, Impulse! Records. […]
Edited 122d ago
Nigeria Afrobeat Special
https://amf.didiermary.fr/nigeria-afrobeat-special/
Compilation “Nigeria Afrobeat Special: The New Explosive Sound In 1970’s Nigeria”
Edited 357d ago
Yesterday for Xmas Eve, water access was severely limited then cut. Came back later.
Today it's electricity's turn since about 6pm.
No comment but 
Somi – The Lagos Music Salon
https://amf.didiermary.fr/lagos-music-salon-somi/
The Lagos Music Salon is the 4th studio full-length album by jazz hybrid singer and songwriter Somi. It was released in 2014. Somi is an American Jazz and Pop singer and songwriter.
Her music is influenced by her Ugandan and Rwandan roots, and she resides between New York City and Lagos, Nigeria. […]
Edited 353d ago
Antoine Dougbé & Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou
https://amf.didiermary.fr/antoine-dougbe-poly-rythmo/
Who was Antoine Dougbé? Even the most dedicated crate-digger might go their whole life without stumbling across any of the three LPs he released in the late 1970s and early ’80s. Yet all the musicians who happened to cross paths with him remember him with a mixture of admiration and fear; for Antoine Dougbé was […]
Yehouessi Leopold & T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo: Volume 4
https://amf.didiermary.fr/yehouessi-leopold-poly-rythmo/
The T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou was formed in 1966. Their output has been extremely prolific numbering upwards of 50 LPs and a hundred 45s. Here’s an album with Yehouessi Leopold (drummer) from 1978, that was rereleased in 2021.
Edited 346d ago
Angélique Kidjo – Bemba Colorá (“Celia”)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/celia-angelique-kidjo-bemba-colora/
Angélique Kidjo’s album in 2019 is a tribute to Celia Cruz.
Angelique Kidjo reflects on an icon of the Americas, celebrated salsa singer Celia Cruz. Over ten tracks, Kidjo’s album Celia divests itself of the glamour to investigate the African roots of the Cuban-born woman who became the “Queen” of salsa [...]
#AfroCuban #AfroLatino #AngéliqueKidjo #Bénin #Cover #Cuba #Salsa
Edited 258d ago
15+ years ago, I worked with a young Beninese Brass Band. Here's one of the tracks we produced at the time.
Ignace de Souza & The Melody Aces – Asaw Fofor
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ignace-de-souza-the-melody-aces-asaw-fofor/
Born in 1937 in Cotonou, Ignace de Souza got involved in music at a young age, playing during the 1950’s in the country’s first professional dance band, Alfa Jazz. Zeal Onyia, a Nigerian trumpeter, encouraged him to drop the saxophone and play the trumpet instead.
In 1955 he moved to Accra and joined Spike Anyankor’s Rhythm […]
Edited 51d ago
Legends of Bénin
https://amf.didiermary.fr/legends-benin/
Legends of Benin “Afro Funk, Cavacha, Agbadja, Afro-Beat” is a collection of super rare and highly danceable masterpieces recorded between 1969-1981 by four legendary composers from Benin:
– Gnonnas Pedro et ses Dadjes
– Antoine Dougbé
– El Rego et ses Commandos
– Honoré Avolonto
Each one of [them] with their own distinctive sound...
#80smusic #AfroFunk #Agbadja #Bénin #Compilation #GnonnasPedro #OldAfricanMusic
Edited 51d ago
Gangbé Brass Band – Salam Alekoum
https://amf.didiermary.fr/gangbe-brass-band-salam-alekoum/
Salam Alekoum is one of the very nice songs, with a beautiful video filmed in Ganvié, by Gangbe Brass Band for their 2010 album “Assiko“.
Ganvié is known as the “venetian” part of Benin…
Edited 251d ago
Gangbé – Documentary
https://amf.didiermary.fr/documentary-arnaud-robert-gangbe-brass-band/
Preview of the 2014 documentary by Arnaud Robert relating Gangbé Brass Band‘s “quest” to record their new album and play in Lagos.
The adventure of a Benin brass band on the road to Lagos, to perform with Femi Kuti at the Shrine. […]
Edited 331d ago
Philippe Cohen Solal – Afro Bolero
https://amf.didiermary.fr/philippe-cohen-solal-afro-bolero-angelique-kidjo-mo-laudi/
A “Radio edit”, extended version and multiple remixes of Afro Bolero featuring Angelique Kidjo & Mo Laudi.
Edited 250d ago