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Al compas del mundo - programa 68 - Music from the African continent – modern and traditional

 

Mi KPLE DOGBEKPO ("My dog Skip")

I always enjoy running a program of music from Africa – so many choices and such incredible diversity from all corners of the continent. Where to start? At the beginning, of course. Everyone knows (or should know) Fela Kuti, political activist and pioneer of Nigerian Afrobeat. His music has influenced dance bands all across the planet and is carried on today by his son and legions of followers. Randomly picking and choosing here…the UniZulu Choir does not lack for enthusiasm! The only thing I can compare it to in our United States would be fans at an Alabama football game. The truly traditional music samples serve as a reminder that the roots run deep. Much of this song and dance is still found, mostly, on the village levels. But even in the big cities the sounds of today often borrow from the precedents of yesterday. Benin strikes yet again with another hit, this time by the Orchestre Les Volcans. There must be something in the water there. Benin combos seemingly never stop producing catchy, melodic, savory musical moments. Hasso Akotey contributes more evidence of a flourishing creative scene…in…the…middle (sort of)…the…Sahara desert! Can’t attribute it to the water this time. Hussein Bashir, is an all-time favorite ever since I discovered his cassette in the streets of 1982 Cairo. I asked the vendor if he had any Sudanese or Nubian music and he reacted “You mean monkey music?” I bit my tongue and shook my head “yes”. Sad, but true, and Hussein Bashir remains above the fray, obviously a sophisticate of sound. And I still haven’t learned how the Hallelujah Chicken Run Band got their name.

TRACKLIST Music from the African continent – modern and traditional first broadcast on RadioActiva March 16, 2023

01 Fela Kuti - Wayo (Nigeria)

02 BKO Quintet - Strange Wassolon (Mali)

03 Hallelujah Chicken Run Band - Mudzimu Ndiringe (Zimbabwe)

04 Wagogo marriage ritual (Tanzania)

05 Tadèlè Bèqèlè - Enafqeshalèhu (Ethiopia)

06 Sagbohan Danialou - Afelele (Guinea)

07 Hussein Bashir - Ashwaq 'ashaq (Nubia, Egypt)

08 Umaru Sanda - Yadda Da Allah (Ghana)

09 The Black Santiagos - Ole (Nigeria)

10 UniZulu Choir - Halala Syanibongela (University of Zululand, South Africa)

11 Tsuaka Ngolo - Muyonhgo (Gabon)

12 anonymous - Enanga (a string instrument) (Uganda)

13 Badenya Les Freres Coulibaly - Boroto (Burkina Faso)

14 Hasso Akotey - Djedahi Idji Saman (Tuareg, Niger)

15 The Heartbeats - Kayi Kayi (Sierra Leone)

16 Twa (Batwa) traditional song and dance from Uganda

17 Orchestre Les Volcans - Mi Kple Dogbekpo (Benin)

18 Nabintou Diakite – title unknown (Mali)              

Going to Wa-gogo!



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