The Kings of Benin Urban Groove
https://amf.didiermary.fr/the-kings-of-benin-urban-groove/
The album “The Kings of Benin Urban Groove 1972-80” is a compilation of songs by Orchestre Poly-Rythmo, released in 2004 as a double vinyl LP.
Orchestre Poly Rythmo are from the Republic of Benin in West Africa and are a household name in their home country… Arguably West Africa’s best-kept musical secret, Orchestre Poly Rythmo […]
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou – Se Ba Ho
https://amf.didiermary.fr/orchestre-poly-rythmo-cotonou-se-ba-ho/
“Se Ba Ho” est un titre du Poly-Rythmo, basé sur un rythme traditionnel Vodoun nommé Sato.
“On adorait ce mélange de rythmes africains bien dansants qu’on connaît puisque le Bénin est à un carrefour culturel” dit Mélomé Clément, éternel leader du groupe dans une interview. Il poursuit : “Si notre musique marie des rythmes comme […]
Fatoumata Diawara – Ambe
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fatoumata-diawara-ambe/
Composed during the first lockdown, Fatoumata enlisted revered female musicians Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves, China Moses, Inna Modja, Somi, Mayra Andrade, Thandiswa Mazwai and Terri Lyne Carrington to collaborate on the track.
Ambe” means “altogether” in Bambara.
Some of these artists are also known for their own campaigns, against sexism and other causes, [...]
Angélique Kidjo's upcoming project "HOPE!!" to be released on April 24, 2026.
"Surrounded by stars like PHARRELL WILLIAMS, AYRA STARR, NILE RODGERS, QUAVO, DAVIDO, FLORENT PAGNY, DADJU, FALLY IPUPA, CHARLIE WILSON, IZA, PJ MORTON, DIAMOND PLATNUMZ, THE CAVEMEN., SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR."
Mostly collabs now...
Melome Clement & TP Poly-Rythmo
https://amf.didiermary.fr/melome-clement-poly-rythmo/
RIP Melome Clement : TP Orchestre Poly-Rythmo bandleader (vocals, guitar) died on 12/17/2012.
Shirazee – African in New York
https://amf.didiermary.fr/shirazee-african-new-york-sarz/
Afropop singer/songwriter Shirazee was born in Cotonou, Benin. Here’s “African in New York” his cover of Sting’s “Englishman in New York,” that later transformed into a duet with the ex-Police member.
Arriving fresh faced in New York with big dreams, Shirazee ended up bouncing around trying to make ends meet while hustling to get a […]
Eyo’nle Brass Band – Africa Night
https://amf.didiermary.fr/eyonle-brass-band-africa-night/
Le groupe Eyo’nlé Brass Band (“Réjouissons-nous” en Yoruba), créé par Mathieu Ahouandjinou avec certains de ses frères (une famille avec de nombreux musiciens inspirés par leur père), a fait le chemin inverse du Gangbé Brass Band. D’abord fanfare, dont la motivation est de valoriser la musique béninoise hors des frontières du Bénin en produisant une [...]
Tchico Tchicaya & Orchestre African Kings – L’amour rend aveugle
https://amf.didiermary.fr/tchico-tchicaya-orchestre-african-kings-amour-rend-aveugle/
Soukous made in Bénin with Tchico Tchicaya and 2 great musicians:
— Bass: Gustave Bentho (TP Orchestre Poly-Rythmo)
— Drums: Sagbohan Danialou
Teriba Trio – Nonvi
https://amf.didiermary.fr/teriba-trio-nonvi/
Teriba (“humility” in Yoruba) was an all-female vocal trio from Benin.
Since 2006, Zékiath Abogourin, Tatiana et Carine Ahissou sing and dance across Africa. The trio created a sensation first during MASA 2007 (Marché des Arts du Spectacle Africain) in Côte d’Ivoire, then during Nuits Atypiques in 2008 (Koudougou – Burkina Faso).This same year, they were […]
Kiri Kanta – Sembé
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kiri-kanta-sembe/
Kiri Kanta (Aïna Sanni Dim Aïssatou) est une chanteuse tradi-moderne béninoise, née en 1956 à Parakou au nord du pays.
Elle se produit encore régulièrement sur scène, en particulier accompagnée du groupe Teriba, désormais en duo, [...]
Kaleta & Super Yamba Band
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kaleta-super-yamba-band/
With Afrobeat & Juju veteran Leon Ligan-Majek (aka Kaleta) —a native of Benin Republic— on lead guitar, the Brooklyn-based Afro-Funk band Super Yamba Band explores the psychedelic sounds from Benin & Nigeria.
“Mèdaho” is the debut album from Brooklyn based afro-funksters Kaleta & Super Yamba Band [in 2019]. Fronted by Afrobeat and Juju veteran Leon […]
Wally Badarou – Hi-Life
https://amf.didiermary.fr/wally-badarou-hi-life/
Retracer la carrière musicale et artistique de Wally Badarou peu prendre un certain temps… Né à Paris en 1955, musicien français d’origine béninoise, c’est un spécialiste du Home Studio et du synthétiseur.
Ce titre présent sur l’album Echoes de 1983 a fait la joie des chaines de TV du continent africain qui l’ont régulièrement diffusé […]
Gilles Gnonnas – La musica en vérité (2013)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/gilles-gnonnas-musica-verite/
Gilles Gnonnas singing “La musica en vérité”, a song by his father Gnonnas Pedro, in Cotonou in 2013 (@ CCF).
An awesome Afro Latin track with deep lyrics from the Beninese King of African Salsa, Gnonnan Sossou Pierre Kouassivi, better known as Gnonnas Pedro. […]
Viva Africando
https://amf.didiermary.fr/viva-africando-album-2013/
¡Viva Africando! ¡Viva! (2013)
Africando’s 8th (and last) studio album is the first not recorded primarily in New York. This time the Africando masterminds, producer Ibrahima Sylla and arranger Boncana Maïga, bring New York’s top Latin musicians – led by pianist Oscar Hernandez – to Paris. There they reunite with the group’s vocal stars, […]
Gnonnas Pedro et ses Dadjes
https://amf.didiermary.fr/gnonnas-pedro-dadjes-dadje-von-o-von-non/
Gnonnas Pedro [with or without his Dadjes band] had always excelled in many styles of music but if one had to associate him with a particular genre it would be Agbadja. Agbadja is a rhythm hugely popular in Togo, Benin and Ghana. Its based […]
#60smusic #70smusic #AfroCuban #AfroFunk #Agbadja #Bénin #Compilation #GnonnasPedro
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou
https://amf.didiermary.fr/poly-rythmo-minsato-le-mi-dayihome-marionnettes-typiques/
A nice old video with characteristic puppets from the West African region, with Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou in the classic “Minsato Le, Mi Dayihome.”
By the late 60s the earlier synthesis of western popular music and African idioms, purveyed by such luminaries as E.T. Mensah, Bobby Benson, the Star Band and Alfa Jazz was wearing […]
Roger Damawuzan & Les As du Benin
https://amf.didiermary.fr/roger-damawuzan-les-as-du-benin/
Nine unreleased and rare tracks from the amazing Roger Damawuzan also known as the “James Brown from Lomé”, backed by the tremendous “Les As du Benin” orchestra, and recorded between 1972 and 1981.
Born in 1952 in Aneho (Togo), “The king of Gazo” (a traditional rhythm) is one of the most popular singer of his […]
Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou – Segla
https://amf.didiermary.fr/poly-rythmo-cotonou-segla/
“Segla” was originally released in 1978 and was reissued in 2020.
“Segla” – hens-teeth rare Poly-Rythmo album from 1978 that was originally released without a sleeve as ALS059. Or at least, if it came with a sleeve, nobody outside of Benin seems to have seen one. Recorded at EMI Lagos, Nigeria, as per most of […]
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou – Ecoute ma Melodie
https://amf.didiermary.fr/orchestre-poly-rythmo-cotonou-ecoute-melodie/
“Ecoute ma mélodie” and “Houzou Houzou Wa” by Orchestre Poly-Rythmo are available on the compilation “The Skeletal Essences Of Afro Funk 1969-1980.”
Take Funk, Soul, Psychedelia and Rumba, mix it up with a thick dose of heavy local rhythms and throw everything in a Benin grinder. The brew is then mixed up with hypnotic [...]
Honoré Avolonto – Lonlon Simpé
https://amf.didiermary.fr/honore-avolonto-lonlon-simpe-orchestre-black-santiago/
Vinyl released in 1978. Composed and arranged by Honoré Avolonto with Orchestre Black Santiago.
Avolonto Honoré – Agbénon Hévi
https://amf.didiermary.fr/avolonto-honore-agbenon-hevi/
“Avolonto Honoré de Cotonou” (1944-2017), chanteur et musicien béninois, commence sa carrière en tant que percussionniste. On le retrouve ensuite avec l’Orchestre Black Santiago, puis accompagné par l’Orchestre Poly-Rythmo.
2 morceaux (Agbénon Hévi et Avi Yaman Houé) extraits d’un album paru probablement au début des années 80, avec Poly-Rythmo. [...]
Gnonnas Pedro – Yiri Yiri Boum
https://amf.didiermary.fr/yiri-yiri-boum-gnonnas-pedro/
The late Gnonnas Pedro was the first real Beninese hitmaker, long before becoming Africando’s lead singer in the 90s. Known for taking inspiration from his local music roots, he was also famous for using Salsa and other Latino rhythms in his songs, as a solo artist or with his Dadjes Band. Gnonnas started his career […]
Gangbé Brass Band – Remember Fela
https://amf.didiermary.fr/whendo-gangbe-brass-band-remember-fela/
Remember Fela is from Gangbé’s album Whendo (Roots) in 2004. It’s a tribute to Fela Kuti by the Beninese Brass Band.
[…]
Orchestre Super Borgou de Parakou
https://amf.didiermary.fr/orchestre-super-borgou-parakou-bariba-sound/
Super Borgou de Parakou was a band created by Moussa Mama and guitarist Menou Roch. This group, influenced by Afrobeat and Funk in the 1970s, also drew inspiration from Beninese folk music such as Bariba and Dendi.
Originating from the Kwara state of northwest Nigeria, the Bariba – a predominantly Islamic […]
