AfroCubism
https://amf.didiermary.fr/afrocubism/
AfroCubism was a dream project: the original intention for Buena Vista Social Club was to be a stellar collaboration of musicians from Mali and Cuba.
The original plan finally came to life in 2010, with an incredible line-up including Eliades Ochoa, Bassekou Kouyate, Djelimady Tounkara, Toumani Diabaté, Grupo Patria, Kasse Mady Diabaté and Lassana Diabaté. […]
Cheikh Lô – Maame
https://amf.didiermary.fr/cheikh-lo-maame-2025/
Celebrating 50 years in music, Cheikh Lô returns in 2025 with his brand-new album “Maame.”After a decade long wait since his last studio album, the Senegalese legend returns.
Named after his spiritual guide Maame Massamba Ndiaye, the album is not only a tribute but a spiritual and political offering. [...]
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
Roots of Rhythm
https://amf.didiermary.fr/roots-rhythm-documentary-latin-music/
Hosted by Harry Belafonte, this 3-part documentary traces the Roots of Rhythm, the musical form that is known as Latin music.
Featuring performances by some of the best known Latin performers [...]
Connecting 4 continents through music…
https://amf.didiermary.fr/djeli-moussa-diawara-salsa-cora/
One song, 4 continents connected…
A few years ago, I had an interesting exchange on ex-Twitter, after a radio DJ in Auckland, New Zealand, opened his show with a nice “old” song, associating it with the wrong artist…
A radio DJ in NYC who was listening to the replay was also wondering who could “really” […]
Africando – Fouta Tooro
https://amf.didiermary.fr/africando-fouta-tooro/
“Fouta Tooro”, sung by Medoune Diallo, is from Africando‘s “Martina“, composed and arranged by Boncana Maïga, released in 2003. The album features multiple lead vocals: Amadou Balaké, Gnonnas Pedro, Medoune Diallo, Ronnie Baro, Ismael Lo, Nyboma, Kester Emeneya, Joe King, Shoubou and Seka.
Africando – Dagamasi
https://amf.didiermary.fr/africando-dagamasi/
“Ati Mawuin Dagamasi” is one of the classic songs by Gnonnas Pedro, covered here by himself under the Africando banner.
This cover appears on Africando’s album “Gombo Salsa” in 1996. This 3rd album was produced by Ibrahima Sylla and was the group’s first release to include Gnonnas Pedro, with songs arranged by Boncana Maiga and […]
Africando – Aicha (Salsa)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/salsa-africando-aicha/
This version of Aicha by Africando is a cover of Khaled’s song, but arranged in Salsa style and sung in Wolof by Nicolas Menheim, a Senegalese singer.
It’s from Africando’s album “Baloba !” in 1998 (with 2 songs by Gnonnas Pedro, “Dacefo” and “Huenouhwo”).
This version in Wolof is kind of a bonus track on the album, as […]
Elage Diouf – Dama la nob
https://amf.didiermary.fr/elage-diouf-dama-la-nob/
Elage Diouf, né El Hadji Fall Diouf à Dakar, est un artiste québecois, passé par le Cirque du Soleil, comme chanteur et percussionniste. Il sort en 2010 son premier album solo nommé “Aksil” (Bienvenue en Wolof).
Aksil est un mot wolof, ma langue maternelle, qui pourrait se traduire par “Entrez, soyez les bienvenus”. C’est aussi […]
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. […]
Africando – Yaye Boy
https://amf.didiermary.fr/yaye-boy-africando-1994/
“Yaye Boy” is a Salsa song, composed by Pape Seck, arranged by Boncana Maiga, on the second album by Africando, named “Sabador ( Vol.2)” and released in 1994.
Africando was initiated by producer Ibrahima Sylla from Côte d’Ivoire and Malian arranger Boncana Maiga of Fania All Stars. Some of the musicians initially involved were: […]
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, […]
