Eba Aka Jerome & Sanwi Star - Trahison vol. 1 (Soukous form Ivory Coast, 1978)

(PAPA-DISCO 001).

A great soukous track from Ivory Coast, with interesting lyrics dealing with cheating in a couple (trahison = betrayal). Long track but with incredible guitar break (from 9th minute), those particularly apreciated by colombian picoteros (I found in a colombian uncredited bootleg these 3 minutes "repique" guitar part, which is actually the only part of the track they play on sound systems).

Carlos Alberto "Katchas" Martins - Broda (Funana pioneer and Bulimundo mentor, 1977)

(DMC 111-101).

One aspect I could not guess when I begun Muzzicaltrips blog, is the number of people around the world it would lead me to meet or to exchange with.  Today's post comes from one of theses interesting exchanges, as it's a contribution from Norway, proposed by Olav Aalberg, great connoisseur of music from Cabo Verde.

Okoi Seka Athanase L'Empereur du Kete Rock (Ivory Coast, 1977)

(Badmos BLP 50).

Okoi Seka Athanase recorded this wonderfull album in Decca studio (Lagos) with help of Black Santiagos horn section. This goes from deep afro soul to highlife and soukous. The funky "Melokon Membun Ou" cannot be shared via souncloud but many good tracks on this LP, and Mubades may be my favorite, including serious guitar plays and sebene.

Okok Rachar Band (Benga music, 1977)

(JICCO JCLP 017).

I have few information about this band and record, but it's just great music from Kenya (benga music) released on the nigerian label Jicco.

Lemed Janvier et l'Orchestre African Allstar (Soukous from Benin, 1981-82)

(Oueme LJ001).

Lemed Janvier took part of recordings with Orchestre Poly Rythmo, Les Volcans du Benin and Tabu Ley from Congo.
Being form Benin but having lived in Kinshasa, he can also sing in lingala like a congolese  musician (and generally alternating some french or english parts). This late album was released in Benin and contains infectious soukous ryhtmic guitars (Señores Picoteros, pienso que le va a gustar). Global sound remains more in the 70s with African Allstar band, and includes also few suprisingly funky short breaks.

First tracks deals with a topic often adressed: the fact that the slanders and rumors do not affect the musicians.

Dangerous trips to Angola by Muzzicaltrips (Semba, merengue, kizomba selection from Angola 70s)

Muzzicaltrips taking part of various musical projects including radioshows, I'd like to share some "dangerous trips" or "viagens perigosas" in Angola realised recently for Radio Capsao. A special musical selection based on dusty records, archives from golden era from this country culturally influenced by portuguese colonists, by other lusophone colonies, by Cuba and the Caribbean, and for sure by specific african musical  heritage. Wars and instability during the 60s to 80s also influenced a unique musical production : semba, merengue, kizomba, but also political music and struggle songs (or propaganda songs, depending on point of view), reflecting a wide spread imperialist oppression feeling.

Djali Madi Tounkara & Rail Band du Mali (1979)

(Kosmo KS230).

This tape is a senegalese 1983 reedition of a rare malian LP released in 1979 by Disco Stock (DS7918).

MIX /// Tropical Roundtrip by Muzzicaltrips (Palmwine Radioshow #50)

(PWRS50).

Here's a Muzzicaltrips selection recorded for Palmwine Radioshow. A special repost as some really nice tracks there...

Cutlass Dance Band of Ghana - Lassissi vol. 2 (Highlife, 1980)

(Lassissi LS26).

Ghanaian guitarist Osenkafo I.K. Anin (Annin) played within Police Dance Band in Kumasi, or Parrots Band, before creating the Cutlass Dance Band.
Initially heavily influenced from religous beleives, their music turned progressively into real highlife, giving space for horns to blow wonderfull solos. Great production by Ivory Coast label Sacodis.

Orchestre G.O. Malebo - Vive Faza DIABIM 4 (Zaire, 70s)

(AFRICAN 90.781).

This band has been created in the 70s by African Jazz sax player Samu Bakula, G. O. meaning "Giant Orchestra" (Geant Orchestre).

This really hypnotic congolese break has been composed and is sung by Menghe Mulyampene. 

Minguito and Conjunto Merengue - Pensando Conforme o Tempo (Angola 70s)

(Merengue MPA-4056).

Blind accordeon player Domingo Luis Garcia (Minguito) recorded throughout the 70s with various bands  from Angola as Os Kiezos, and here with Conjunto Merengue on this beautiful 7 inch.

Jonah Moyo and Devera Ngwena Jazz Band (Zimbabwe, 70s)

(Gramma Afro Soul AS1107).

Take some rumba from Congo, boost it with benga from Kenya and mbaqanga from South Africa, and blend with mbira-influenced rhythms from Rhodesia/Zimbabwe...

Here's an early job (late 70s) by guitarist Jonah Moyo leading the Devera Ngwena Jazz Band ("Follow the Crocodile" Jazz Band), who became a prolific band from Zimbabwe's final independence in 1980.

Jazz Hot magazine views about Fela and Afrobeat in 1981

Every year is celebrated a Fela Day (few weeks ago in Paris), proving that Fela Kuti's spirit is still gliding around, despite a very varied comprehension. Good occasion anyway to search in muzzicaltrips archives, and look at how evolves perception of african music along the years. Here's an article about Fela Kuti which reveals part of the perception of a jazz magazine from 1981 (Jazz Hot, first jazz magazine in Europe created in 1935).

Ange Ebogo Emerent (Ozima rhythm from Cameroon, 1976)

(Africana Star AFRI005).

Singer from Cameroon, Ange Ebogo Emerent recorded his first 7inch in 1974 with Orchestre Essian on Sonodisc.

MIX /// Tropical Roundtrip Selection (from Colombia to Africa)

(Muzzicaltrips TRT019).

A real tropical roundrip, beginning in colombia with classy 60s cumbia, guiro y guaracha, merecumbe, maracumba, currulao, afrocolombian...
A selection warmly advised to people still convinced that all latin music is more or less salsa... Actually we begin with few examples of the countless styles having emerged in Colombian regions, as merecumbe, being a blend of merengue+cumbia initially popularized in the 50s by Pacho Galan, and here played by Lucho Bermudez.

Kossou Houechehoun et son Groupe Folklorique Guê (Benin, 70s)

(PALP 002).

This folkloric music comes from Mina people (South of Benin and Togo) which have a very rich musical heritage.

Dieuf-Dieul de Thies (Unreleased senegalese sounds from early 80s)

(TRLP017).

An obscure 80s band from Thies in Senegal have just been brought back to life by label Teranga Beat. Dieuf-Dieul played from 1979 to 1982, but it appears their music never have chance to be released on a proper vinyl nor tape album until today. That's why i found interesting to present this record on Muzzicaltrips and to discuss with Teranga Beat Label founder, about these recordings and amazing piece of senegalese musical heritage.

Dieuf-Dieul was run by Pape "Abdou Aziz" Seck, ex member of Guelewar from Gambia,  not to be mismatched with  70s figure Pape "Serigne" Seck (from Star Jazz de Saint Louis, Star Band de Dakar, Number One du Senegal). To have an idea of  his carreer, Pape Seck played guitar in following bands:

Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Barrister - Erin Goke (Fuji music, 1987)

(Omo Aje, OLPS1338).

Fuji is a kind of smooth transe music...

Presence Africaine Catalogue (1980)

Here's a particular Muzzicaltrips post for book diggers and african literature lovers... Just to have an idea on what was Presence Africaine catalogue in 1980. This Paris-based editor has been since its creation by Alioune Diop in 1947, a real amplifier for african and diasporic written forms of expression, novels poetry, or essays.

This booklet proposes list of titles, list of 2nd hand books, list of authors, list by theme and list of librairies in Africa where you can find Presence Africaine books. A very interesting document for research and to discover new authors, as many titles have not been reedited.

The book store still exists, and always great books to find.

Discover Ahmadou Kourouma's Suns of Independences here.

Gansou Nestor et son groupe folklorique de Tchingounme (Benin, 70s)

(Ets PHILI D'OR AZP003).

Initially a sacred rhythm played to put the curse aside after a death, "Tchinkoumé" became a popular celebratory music from Savalou region (in Benin, just north from the coastal areas when the hills begin).