Charles & Frida Sonko – Nawuliranga (1968)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/charles-frida-sonko-melo-success-nawuliranga/
Nawuliranga, by Charles & Frida Sonko with Orchestre Melo Success comes from a rare compilation “THE KAMPALA SOUND – 1960s UGANDAN DANCE MUSIC” (Original Music, 1988, recorded in Kenya)
A lovely sampler of some rare and half-forgotten pop from mid-’60s Uganda.
A poor nation, Uganda’s music industry was modest, particularly [...]
Tony Allen – Afrobeat Revolution
https://amf.didiermary.fr/tony-allen-afrobeat-revolution/
The Afrobeat Revolution started in Lagos at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation in 1963 when Tony Allen met Fela Kuti. Allen was working as studio engineer at the time and Kuti had been hired as a disc jockey with his own jazz request programme.
The Nigerian drummer Tony Allen is credited with creating Afrobeat along with […]
When the Drum is Beating
https://amf.didiermary.fr/when-the-drum-is-beating/
“When the Drum is Beating – Music is a Weapon” is a 2011 documentary by Whitney Dow.
The 20-member band Septentrional has been making music for 62 years as Haiti’s most celebrated big band. This inspirational doc charts the history of Haiti from its independence from French colonialism to 2010’s devastating earthquake-all set to the […]
Tunji Oyelana - A Nigerian Retrospective 1966-79
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLsfENQU2UY
"Equal parts singer-songwriter, actor, bandleader, dramatist, comedian and academic, Oyelana elevated the realm of pop music by infusing it with the poetic storytelling of Yoruba folklore."
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.
Ogyatanaa – Yaa Amponsah
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ogyatanaa-yaa-amponsah/
In the 1930s, Sam’s Trio, led by Jacob Sam, was the most influential of the high-life guitar-bands. Their “Yaa Amponsah”, three versions of which were recorded in 1928 for Zonophone, was a major hit that remains a popular staple of numerous high-life bands.
The Ogyatanaa Show Band, aka Burning Fire Show Band, was one of […]
Ngozi Family – Happy New Year!
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ngozi-family-happy-new-year/
Ngozi Family is one of the famous Zamrock bands in 70s Zambia.
Paul Ngozi (1949–1989), born Paul Dobson Nyirongo, was a Zambian musician who was prominent in the Zambian music scene in the 1970s and 1980s. He first became popular as the band leader of a top local rock group which was one of the […]
#70smusic #FullAlbum #Rock #Soundcloud #Zambia #Zamrock #HNY
Soriba Kouyate – Kanakassi (1999)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/soriba-kouyate-kanakassi-1999/
Soriba Kouyate was a Senegalese Kora virtuoso (Korafola). Just before his death in 2010, he played in the Kora Jazz Band, after Djeli Moussa Diawara left the Kora Jazz Trio.
He played with musicians like Youssou N’Dour, Salif Keita, Peter Gabriel, Dizzy Gillespie, Harry Belafonte, Toure Kunda, etc.
Coltrane Quartet – Africa/Brass
https://amf.didiermary.fr/coltrane-quartet-africa-brass/
Africa/Brass is the eighth studio album by jazz musician John Coltrane (Coltrane Quartet), released on Impulse! Records on September 1, 1961.
Its big band sound, with the unusual instrumentation of French horns and euphonium, presented music very different from anything that had been associated with Coltrane to date.
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.
Batsumi (1974)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/batsumi-apartheid/
Many years after the fall of Apartheid, Batsumi remains sublime… and transformative, and its resonance hasn’t faded at all over the years.
During the brutal era in South African history known as Apartheid, the minority-white ruling party forcibly moved millions of black South Africans from their homes to segregated areas, stripping them of their citizenship […]
#70smusic #Apartheid #FullAlbum #SouthAfrica #AfroJazz #Jazz
Balla et ses Balladins
https://amf.didiermary.fr/syliphone-balla-balladins/
Si vous avez découvert Balla et ses Balladins via le sampling de Paulette par J. Cole en 2011, et que vous souhaitez en écouter plus de cet orchestre “monument de Guinée”, écoutez la compilation “Syliphone Years” (28 titres en tout, plus de 2h de musique). […]
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 [...]
Matadi – Dance My Love
https://amf.didiermary.fr/matadi-dance-my-love/
Matadi était un groupe de musiciens “mercenaires” africains basés à Paris et réunis pour un album unique afro-disco-funk en 1978 avec le célèbre bassiste et arrangeur camerounais Haladji Touré.
5 titres de cet album ont été utilisés pour la BOF du film et comédie musicale “Dance my love” (Danse mon amour) réalisé par Alphonse Beni, sorti […]
Manu Dibango – Electric Africa
https://amf.didiermary.fr/manu-dibango-electric-africa/
Released in 1985, Electric Africa is an album with Herbie Hancock, Wally Badarou & Mory Kante, produced by Bill Laswell. […]
#80smusic #AfroFunk #Cameroon #FullAlbum #Jazz #ManuDibango #AfroJazz #HerbieHancock
African Brothers Dance Band (International)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/african-brothers-dance-band-international/
The African Brothers Dance Band was formed in 1963. They gained popularity after their first record “Agyanka Dabere” in 1966.
The band’s name had many variations over the years: African Brothers Band, then African Brothers International Band in 1970, etc. […]
Jorge Ben – África Brasil (Zumbi)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/zumbi-jorge-ben-africa-brasil-1976/
África Brasil is a great funky album by Jorge Ben in 1976…
[This album] represented a milestone in Ben’s career with Ben’s switch to electric guitar and incorporation of both Afro-Brazilian and African-American funk music styles into his sound.
Mahmoud Guinia – Colours of the Night
https://amf.didiermary.fr/maalem-mahmoud-guinia-colours-night/
Mahmoud Guinia (Gania or Guenya) was born in 1951 in the city of Essaouira, the second son of a master of Gnawa music. His family of both the father’s and mother’s sides came from present day Mali. They were employed as soldiers in the sultan’s army.The Guinia family is regarded as the main representative for […]
Eboni Band
https://amf.didiermary.fr/eboni-band/
Motown meets West Africa. This self-titled 1980 debut album by Eboni Band features Motown session musicians, producer and arrangers.
Reinventing itself as a record for the ages, a tour-de-force of cross continental soul and funk, it features session musicians from Motown and Ivory Coast’s Eboni Records alongside Fred Wesley (James Brown/Parliament). It was produced by […]
Orchestre de l’Université d’Abidjan (OUA) – Pétrole mouillé
https://amf.didiermary.fr/orchestre-universite-abidjan-oua-petrole-mouille/
Créé dans les années 70-80 en Côte d’Ivoire, pour faire de la musique un élément d’épanouissement intellectuel et artistique des étudiants ainsi qu’un excellent instrument de pacification et d’éveil des consciences, voici l’Orchestre de l’Université d’Abidjan (OUA), groupe mythique de la scène [...]
#70smusic #80smusic #CôteDIvoire #FullAlbum #OldAfricanMusic
African Scream Contest
https://amf.didiermary.fr/african-scream-contest-full-album/
Raw & Psychedelic Afro Sounds From Benin & Togo 70s
Verckys – catalogue Éditions Vévé
https://amf.didiermary.fr/verckys-catalogue-editions-veve/
James Brown dubbed Verckys “Mister Dynamite” after seeing him perform in Kinshasa in 1974.
In 2015, Sterns Music released the most comprehensive digital reissue of Editions Vévé catalogue : 10 singles featuring their original covers, 15 albums with original covers and sequence, 6 compilation albums including rare tracks. In addition to being a talented [...]
Philip Tabane – Malombo
https://amf.didiermary.fr/rip-philip-tabane/
Philip Tabane (1934 – 2018) was a South African musician, vocalist, jazz guitarist and band leader, part of the group Malombo in the 60s.
Akido – Afro-psych Rock
https://amf.didiermary.fr/akido-afro-psych-rock/
Akido released this self-titled album in 1972, produced by Small Faces/Faces bassist Ronnie Lane. The band for this unique record consisted of Ghanaian percussionist Neemoi “Speedy” Acquaye (who also worked with The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Ginger Baker’s Airforce (1970), Rod Stewart and many others), Nigerian bassist Biddy Wright (a member of Blo), [...]
El Rego et ses Commandos de Cotonou
https://amf.didiermary.fr/el-rego-commandos-cotonou-1976/
Beninese band originally formed by Théophile Do-Rego in Cotonou, Benin (ex-Dahomey) in 1963 as The Jets. The band was renamed to Los Paras, in 1964, then to Los Commandos in 1965 and finally to El Rego et Ses Commandos in 1966.
Here’s the album “Rep Pop Du Benin” in 1976 as “Commandos de Cotonou”. […]
