Chiwoniso - Iwai Nesu (1998)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFZCaShc5uU
From album "Ancient Voices"
On AMF: https://amf.didiermary.fr/chiwoniso-rebel-woman/
mbira
Hukwe Zawose – Chibite (1996)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/hukwe-zawose-album-chibite-1996/
Hukwe Zawose was a prominent Tanzanian musician.
He played the ilimba, a large lamellophone similar to the mbira, as well as several other traditional instruments.
Enchanting, innovative songs from Tanzania’s national treasure, using the vital tools of his musical ancestors: thumb piano, fiddle flute and voice. There is a Swahili proverb, “Muziki Ni Chakula Cha Roho,” […]
Edited 1y ago
Kondi Band – It’s God’s World (So Don’t Do Bad)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kondi-band-god-world-dont-do-bad/
The album “We Famous” is Sierra Leone’s Kondi Band return in 2021.
Kondi Band is a collaboration between Sierra Leonean kondi (thumb piano) player Sorie Kondi and US producer / DJ Chief Boima, who himself has Sierra Leonean roots.
The project was spawned after Boima happened upon an online video of one of Sorie’s [...]
Edited 223d ago
Konono n°1 meets Batida – Nlele Kalusimbiko
https://amf.didiermary.fr/konono-n1-meets-batida-nlele-kalusimbiko/
Video for “Nlele Kalusimbiko” featuring AF Diaphra on vocals and Papa Juju on guitar, filmed in Portugal.
For this new album, the legendary Congolese band has joined forces with acclaimed Angolan/Portuguese artist Batida aka Pedro Coquenão. Along with producer Vincent Kenis, they convened in Batida’s garage-cum-studio in [...]
Edited 289d ago
Taa! – Field recordings from Botswana
https://amf.didiermary.fr/taa-field-recordings-botswana/
“Taa! Our Language May Be Dying, But Our Voices Remain” is an album of field recordings from Botswana.
Taa (“human being”) is a rich language as it possesses 112 sounds, the most of any language in the world, but is on the verge of extinction. This captivating music, shamanic ghostly ballads from the farthest reaches […]
Edited 1y ago
RIP Mbuya Stella Chiweshe
https://amf.didiermary.fr/rip-mbuya-stella-chiweshe/
Veteran award-winning musician and Mbira artist Mbuya Stella Chiweshe, the “Queen of Mbira” died in January 2023.She was internationally known for her singing and playing of the mbira dzavadzimu, a traditional instrument in Zimbabwe, that she learned to play between 1966 to 1969, when fewer females played this instrument.
“I am a rebel,” […]
Edited 361d ago
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 [...]
Edited 257d ago
Thomas Mapfumo
https://amf.didiermary.fr/lion-zimbabwe-thomas-mapfumo/
Thomas Mapfumo was the voice of a revolution, the icon whose music soundtracked the death of Rhodesia and the birth of Zimbabwe.
Thomas Mapfumo (born 1945 in Marondera, Zimbabwe) is a Zimbabwean musician known as “The Lion of Zimbabwe” for his immense popularity and for the political influence he wields through his music. Pre-Independence, his […]
Edited 93d ago
Prince K. Musarurwa – Nyamatsatse
https://amf.didiermary.fr/prince-kudakwashe-musarurwa-nyamatsatse/
RIP Prince K. Musarurwa (December 5, 1988 – February 15, 2020), also known simply as Prince, who was a Zimbabwean African Jazz singer, songwriter and producer. He played the guitar and mbira.
“Nyamatsatse” was released on his last album before his death at 31.
Musarurwa was born and raised in Zimbabwe. His career began within the […]
Edited 184d ago
Baloji Feat. Konono N°1 – Karibu Ya Bintou
https://amf.didiermary.fr/baloji-konono-n1-karibu-ya-bintou/
“Karibu Ya Bintou” comes from Baloji‘s album “Kinshasa Succursale.“
Video shot in the streets of Kinshasa.
Electric thumb piano (aka likembé) played by Konono N°1, the legendary Congolese band whose junkyard sonics and trademark “Congotronics” sound has had a major influence on the electronic and indie rock scenes.
Edited 168d ago
Chiwoniso – Rebel Woman
https://amf.didiermary.fr/chiwoniso-rebel-woman/
Chiwoniso Maraire (5 March 1976 – 24 July 2013) was a Zimbabwean singer, songwriter, and exponent of mbira music, traditionally used by male musicians.The Mbira Queen is gone so young.
One of Zimbabwe’s most powerful and influential voices, Chiwoniso passed away suddenly in 2013 at the young age of 37. Throughout her short life, Chiwoniso […]
Edited 32d ago
Francis Bebey – Psychedelic Sanza
https://amf.didiermary.fr/francis-bebey-psychedelic-sanza/
The incredible “Psychedelic Sanza (1982-1984)” album is a beautifully dreamy celebration of the uniquely affective timbre of the sanza, or African thumb piano, by Francis Bebey.
[…] I did not participate in the production of the various records that my father devoted to the sansa. He did it himself, you might say, in his “laboratory.” […]
Edited 88d ago
Linos Wengara Magaya – Ndakakutaurira
https://amf.didiermary.fr/linos-wengara-magaya-ndakakutaurira/
Linos Wengara Magaya is a UK-based Zimbabwean musician and bandleader. His band, Zimbaremabwe, covers a variety of styles, but specializes in the chimurenga style of electric mbira music pioneered by Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited.
Edited 150d ago
Pierre Didy Tchakounté
https://amf.didiermary.fr/pierre-didy-tchakounte-lui-moi/
Pierre Didy Tchakounté “Ou c’est lui, ou c’est moi”, from album “Magabe Man”.
Pierre Didy Tchakounté is considered the father of modern mangambeu, a traditional Bamiléké music and dance from Cameroon. He harmoniously merged traditional African instruments (sanza, balafon, drums, etc.) and Western instruments (drums, bass, guitar, synth, violin, brass, etc.). [...]
Edited 23d ago
Francis Bebey – Essok’am
https://amf.didiermary.fr/francis-bebey-essokam/
Né à Douala, Francis Bebey (1929-2001) est considéré comme l’un des pionniers de la musique africaine en Occident. Chanteur et guitariste, il était également poète, conteur et grand joueur de sanza, le piano à pouces, instrument relativement inconnu à cette époque hors d’Afrique.
Ecrivain, il publie plusieurs ouvrages. Il est aussi recruté [...]
Edited 59d ago
Congotronics Playlist on Spotify
https://amf.didiermary.fr/congotronics-playlist/
Listen to Kasai Allstars, Konono N°1, Staff Benda Bilili and more in my Congotronics playlist on Spotify (if you still use this platform – there’s a bandcamp link below, too). […]
Edited 13d ago
Konono No. 1
https://amf.didiermary.fr/konono-congotronics/
Le titre de l’album ”Assume Crash Position” (Bandcamp) de Konono No. 1, enregistré à Kinshasa, est une traduction libre de “Konono”…
Globalement, c’est “attachez vos ceintures, lorsque vous écoutez notre musique, et assumez…”
Le style de Konono n°1, c’est tout un ensemble de rythmiques qui vous hypnotisent et vous amènent aux portes de la transe (pianos à […]
Edited 13d ago