Classic African Tunes - Your Top Ten

[Guest]

Greetings people, since I've never met a smoker who didn't love good music when they heard it, I'm thinking this must be a good place to get recommendations

have here a compilation called Golden Afrique - Orchestra Baobab, Super Eagles, Miriam Makeba, Rail Band etc. - and it's fucking amazing


if anyone knows of some more stuff like this, albums, artists etc., esp. 60s and 70s roots, funk etc. I'd love to know - thinking of bands like The Daktaris (from New York) - super heavy Afrobeat, this kind of thing, but the genuine African article

downloading Bamba by Orchestra Baobab right now

Cheers,

Namkha

 

[malkop_zolkop]

I spent some time in Benin last year, and I happened across this bar/restaurant/nightclub called Repaire De Bacchus.
The house band at the time was a three piece outfit, drummer playing a three piece drum kit, a bassist and guitar playing vocalist. They played a chunky fat funk based version of the local jam. I haven't been so damned impressed with "local" variants of music anywhere in Africa. Sadly these guys hadn't cut anything so I only have my memory to go on but damn, it was brilliant, and did they know how to work a crowd!

Other than that, Senegalese music is pretty good. Baba maal and the like. As well as the Francophone hip hop scene is pretty good.
Nothing else really grabs my attention.

 

[malkop_zolkop]

Oh, yesterday a song popped into my head. I have no idea why, but it seems applicable even though it isn't African per se.
Eddie Grant - Give me hope Joanna.

 

[Guest]

you bastard, if I had a short-term memory, that could stick in my head for hours!

(next thing you will be talking about Boney M - cf. "Touching the Void" where he thinks he is near dead on a mountain and one of their tunes pops into his head, the poor bastard)

Re. Senegalese hip-hop, I had a listen to Daara J - not for me, I think

Maybe I should just stick with Mozart, since it's what plants are said to dig - but fuck it, I swear mine prefer King Tubby

Namkha

p.s. - "and she looks like a sugar in a plum - plum, plum!"

Revenge!!!

 

[malkop_zolkop]

Speaking about plants and music, I believe there was a "Mythbusters" episode where they tried that whole music for plants thing.
I'll search around for what the outcome was.

 

[malkop_zolkop]

Ah, mythbusters deemed a bad experiment:
http://www.bio.net/bionet/mm/plant-ed/2004-December/007770.html

 

[afropips]

I Love African Music.
This is not really the top ten but a list of my most favourite, famous & Cool South African Musicians of varying styles for different moods.
I will start with SA & work North.
So Here's the first 10.

Miriam Makeba for melodic vocals featured in the Hit show of the 70's
Ippi Tombe.
Married & Divorced from the Dynamite Trumpet Player Hugh Masekela.
Both Freedom Fighters returned from Exile to the New South Africa.

Soweto String Quartet for Classical African Music.

Lucky Dube for Reggae.

Mahlathini & the Mahotella Queens for Mbaquanga Music, a strong and explosive potion of various types of traditional music (Zulu, Sotho, Shangaan, Xhosa) mixed with Marabi (South African jazz) and American r&b, soul and gospel.

PENNY PENNY & JOE SHIRIMANI for Shangaan-Tsonga neo-traditional music.

Johnny Clegg with Savuka & Juluka for English Zulu Cross over Beat.
Artist Johnny Clegg merged the white, English-speaking culture with the Black, African culture of South Africa to form South Africa's first interracial band Juluka. In the days of apartheid, Juluka encountered their share of problems, including the banning of their first album by the South African government. After this group disbanded in the mid-80's, Clegg formed another band, Savuka, which blended European pop with African music. Savuka toured North America, opening for Steve Winwood and George Michael, as well as garnering a Grammy nomination in the Best World Music Category.

Simba Morri (Kenyan Born) & the Mapuntsulas for a unique brand of cross-cultural music, which he calls Mashariki Muziki - an exotic mix of melodic African tunes that crisscross with a combination of rhythms from West Coast hi-life, embracing elements of East Coast benga, Central African socca, Zimbabwean chimurenga, Southern African mbaqanga and township jive, with a hint of reggae and a touch of the blues. And if that is not enough this intriguing blend is overlaid with the distinctive tropical Creole feel of Palm Wine music.
http://www.3rdearmusic.com/reissue/simbamorris.html

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a Grammy Award winning a cappella singing group.
http://www.mambazo.com/pages/1/index.htm

Shakes penny whistle Kwela style.

Here is an Interesting Link:-
http://africanmusic.org/glossary.html

Happy Listening.........

 

[Guest]

nice one, appreciated, downloading that Miriam Makeba album and others will definitely be following

have Bamba by Orchestra Baobab now, and it's truly brilliant, recommended

Namkha

p.s. first two Malawi 99 had nuts, damn them, but man did they grow fast and look mean, if only one of the other two turns out to be a gal I will be happy still, they have a great look to them already, and a very promising smell

 

[Ronley]

Juluka - Work for All is my most favourite album. I love that and never tire from hearing it.

 

[afropips]

Hi Namkha,
Sorry to here about the nuts. Did you use the cotton wool method of germing?
Small pots of soil covered with a sheet of glass works best for producing females as there is no stress due to handling the seed growing tip.
For maximising the female to male ratio,
transplant the sprouts when about 5cm tall from the small pots into large pots before the root tip reaches the bottom of the plant pot.

Best of Luck.........

 

[afropips]

Hi Ronley.
I also dig the Juluka work for all album. I still have the original vinyl
& December African Rain has to be liked by All that hear it.

I was at the UCT Cape of good hope tour concert & managed to pull
a few bottle necks with the drummer & guitarist backstage.

I also like the Ubuhle Bemvelo album with the Woza Friday Hit.

Thanks for sparking the cool memories of when I used to live in Cape Town.
Making a "U" turn in Woodstock & all.

Cool Runnings.........

 

[afropips]

Maljims assorted Top African Music Continued........

OSIBISA's HighLife Style from Ghana is a unique fusion of African, Caribbean, Rock, Jazz, Latin and R&B that paved the way for other potent music forces such as Bob Marley and the emergence of African music in the 1980's. Indeed OSIBISA are seen by many as the Godfathers of World Music.
Listen to a few sample tracks here :-
http://www.osibisa.co.uk/

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the legendary Nigerian Afrobeat musician and Human Rights activist who sadly passed in 1997 has to be in the top 10.
Wikipedia says:-The musical style performed by Fela Kuti was called Afrobeat, which was essentially a fusion of jazz, funk and Traditional African Chant. It was characterized by having African style percussion, vocals, and musical structure, along with jazzy, funky horn sections. The "endless groove" was also used, in which a base rhythm of drums, muted guitar, and bass guitar are repeated throughout the song. This is a common technique in African and African-influenced musical styles, and can be seen in funk and hip-hop. Some elements often present in Fela's music are the call-and-response with the chorus and figurative but simple lyrics. Fela's songs were almost always over ten minutes in length, some reaching the twenty or even thirty minute marks. This was one of many reasons that his music never reached a substantial degree of popularity outside of Africa. His songs were mostly sung in Nigerian pidgin English, although he did also perform a few songs in the Yoruba language. Fela's main instruments were the saxophone and the keyboards but he also played the trumpet, horn, guitar and made the occasional drum solo. Fela refused to perform songs again after he had already recorded them, which also hindered his popularity outside Africa. Fela was known for his showmanship, and his concerts were often quite outlandish and wild.
For the website & sample music:-
http://www.felaproject.net/

Youssou N'Dour & The Super Etoile from Senegal - The most famous band in Africa, has crafted and invented a thoroughly modern African pop style.
http://www.youssou.com/

Baaba Maal ,singer and guitarist from Senegal:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/profiles/maalbaaba.shtml
http://www.palmworldvoices.com/baabamaal.aspx

Mory Kanté & Salif Keïta are also tops.

From Zimbabwe:-
Andy Brown & the Storm are definately Hot.
I have been to many live concerts & met Andy & the Potato man at several Harare venues. Traditional Mbira Shona Music!
Listen to samples Here:-
http://worldmusic.nationalgeographi...nt.album/best_of_andy_brown___the_storm_34927

Black Umfolosi - One of the Zimbabwe`s most powerful and exuberant acts on the current world music scene, Black Umfolosi are a dance singing sensation. A potent mix of traditional Zulu war dances and haunting "imbube" songs from southern Africa, their dances are performed with energetic frenzy and their capella songs with serene beauty. Their repertoire includes songs of celebration, comic songs, hymns and love songs, either taken from the Ndebele tradition or composed by the group themself. This is a marvellous blend of rhythm and harmony that is just bursting with energy.

That's All for Now,
Hope you enjoy the Cracking African Music as much as I do.

Cool Listening...............

 

[mace_ecam]

osibisa's version of pata pata rocks!!!

 

[malkop_zolkop]

Mory Kanté is simply brilliant. When I DJ'd many years ago, I'd lay Yeke Yeke over something with a fast pace, to get the pill heads worked into a frenzy. I shot a good many trippers into orbit with that.

 

[afropips]

Hiya MZ.
Yeke Yeke is Tops - I have a couple of versions on Video.
One of these days I will tranfer them onto the mediaplayer.
Here is the link to the Versions:-
http://www.global-trance.co.uk/fr_index.html?/Mory_Kante.html

How's the PM slugs these days?
I used to score the Bookie Paper long sticks in a 20 bundle for R1
in Eersterust in the early 80,s.
Mamelodi was strictly Jat & Teviel Tsotsies in them days.

Cool Runnings.......

 

[malkop_zolkop]

20 for a ront?
Jirre times have changed.

I have to admit, I pay (in my humble opinion) a fair amount for gear nowadays. I end up paying for two things. Convenience, and Quality. I don't have to do dodgy scores, I get my skins, screens and other stuff at the same time too and the quality is always high.
I am sure if I wanted to run around I could get better prices, but I run that ever present risk of getting shafted, especially in situations where checking quality on the spot will get me killed.

I do however remember days where I could score cob for 10 ront, and jat(Mobil!! You know what I'm talking about...) for 2.
The cob was always scored around the back of a general dealer in the middle of nowhere between Springs and Nigel. Ah, good times.

 

[highonthechroni]

hey namkha!

try get yourself som Ismael Lo - guy from Senegol, makes really good music

peace

 

[Guest]

cheers

 

[highonthechroni]

oh.. and if you find some, please let me know! i need it

 

[zamalito]

I can't believe fela kuti has only been mentioned once. He is a badass. When he died a million people came to his funeral. He was married to something like 20 women and had started his own country before the govt took it from him. He tried to run for president and the govt wouldn't let him run because they knew he'd win. Ali Farke Toure is always good. A little known ghanaian musician from the 70's named K. Frimpong is one of my favorites. His music sends chills up my spine. Tinariwen is a phenomenal group of traditional tuareg musicians whose music was made illegal because it contained hidden messages for the tuareg resistance. These guys literally carried ak 47smost of their lives. Since traditional tuareg music requires sometimes dozens of musicians they decided to take up electric guitars and such and perform traditional style of music that way. Issa bagayogo is ok but compared to the many othe musicians from mali is not one of my favorites (too technoish) . I can't remember the title but I have a legends of jajouka album where they play with ornette coleman. These guys are morrocans who've been playing the same style of music for 1000s of years. They even have ancient documents where they are given certain powers over the sultan like free range of the palace. Their music can be abrasive at times but is considered healing. Sometimes the women will have the most delicate melodies but most of the music is friggin intense. Many of the beat writers and jazz musicians and members of the rolling stones were really into these guys. Takamba super onze is another great mali musician. Ghana sounds is a phenomenal collection of ghanaian afrobeat and funk from the 60s and 70s. There's a ghana sounds 2 and 3 which are great but not as good as the first one. Tartit is another intriquing group born from the tamashek refugee camps of mauritania and burkina faso. They have a type of breath and throat singing that can literally make your head spin yet is beautiful and intense at the same time. Hukwe zawose and the master musicians of tanzania is good. Sedoum ehl Aida is another mauritanian blues musician who is excelent. I am on a big sub saharan blues kick right now. Madagascar produces a very diverse array of traditional music also.