The Blog is Moving to a new adress : www.africangrooves.fr !

Hello everyone ! 

Just a little word to inform you that this blog "African Grooves" is moving to a new adress !! This post is my last post on blogspot !

I have my own official Website now, the adress is : http://africangrooves.fr/category/blog/ !!

It's easier than with blogspot, you will know find a search tool bar to find articles easily (for instance, you'll just have to write "Cameroon" in the Search Tool Bar to find all the articles related with !).

More, you'll find appart from the blog section a special mix section, a label version (for my new "Nanga Boko Record" record label), a interview / video section and a shop section, to buy new releases or original records taken from my own collection !

See you there, and many thanks for all your support !

Armand de Preseau

www.africangrooves.fr

https://nangabokorecords.bandcamp.com/

www.facebook.com/nangabokorecords

Coulibaly Tidiani - Sie Koumgolo (Burkina Faso, 1979, Sacodis)

 

Coulibaly Tidiani, born on the 31th of December 1941 in Kankala town, was one of the most famous  singer from Burkina Faso (former Upper Volta) in the 70's, as well as Amadou Balake.

He began his carrer in the 60's playing with the Volta Jazz Orchestra, and founded his own band in the 70's, the "Orchestre Dafra Star de Bobo-Dioulasso", one of the most popular band at the time in the country.

He recorded three albums, and a few 7 inches records.

The song I wanted to present you today, "Sie Koumgolo", an uplifting melancholic ballad with psychedelic guitars and wild piano parts, is taken from his last LP, recorded in 1979 in Ivory Coast.

Coulibaly Tidiani - Sie Koumgolo

You can also listen to it on my Youtube channel : https://youtu.be/LQXeB6PsIUs

Have a nice week,

Armand

Liza Ngwa - Alima (Cameroun, 1980, Editions Drums)

Liza Ngwa was a folk singer and guitar player from Yaoundé (Cameroon), who released 2 albums in the 70's.

She was also involved into different forms of art (sculpture, dress-making, sport..) and cultural performances (theater performances, concerts..).

I decided to make you (re)discover "Alima", a very unique UFO-esque folk song with psychedelic bikutsi and cadence reminiscences, taken from her second album recorded in 1980.

Liza Ngwa - Alima

 

You can also listen to this track on my Youtube channel : https://youtu.be/stPKdmR2kyQ

Have a nice week,

Armand

Admiral Dele Abiodun and his top Hitters Band - 1000 Miles (Nigeria, 1982, Adawa Super Records)

Dele Abiodun is one of the most important figures of the Juju scene, a musical genre from Nigeria between Jazz, Highlife and Traditionnal music.

He was born in 1948 in Sobe (Nigeria), a town on the boundary between West and Mid-West Nigeria.

He made his first steps in music as a drummer in his school band, and studied music has a teenager in Accra (Ghana) at the Young Pioneer School of Music.

In 1970, he founded his band, Prince Admiral Dele Abiodun and His Top Hitters Band (influenced by musicians such as Cardinal Rex Lawson or I.K. Dairo), and recorded more than 20 albums from the 70's to the 90's.

He stills lives and performs in Nigeria today and he's the president of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria.

For today, I decided to presend you "1000 Miles", an incredible track showing that Juju music can sometimes be as bouncing as Afrobeat does - Enjoy !

Admiral Dele Abiodun and his top Hitters Band - 1000 Miles

See you soon,

Armand

Les Cheveux Crepus - Pere Eternel Mette Moin En Haut (Congo, 1960's, Fidsound)

Founded in Brazzaville (Democratic Republic of Congo) in 1960 by Jacques Loubelo, Les Cheveux Crepus was a Christian Afro Folk band composed by Jacques Loubelo, Prosper Nkouri, Kinouani Kazis, Maxime Kibongui, May Yarkos and Bruno Ntelassamou.

The track presented here, "Pere Eternel Mette Moin En Haut" is taken from their first LP - Enjoy !

Les Cheveux Crepus - Pere Eternel Mette Moin En Haut

Have a nice day,

Armand

MBT's - MBT's Sound (Congo, 1970's, MB Sound)

Devastating Afrobeat track from this super obscure band who released only this 7inches on a private record label, I have no info on this band, just that they are apparently from Congo.. But what a track !

M.B.T's - M.B.T.'s Sound

 

Best regards,

Armand

Cisse Abdoulaye - A Son Magni (Burkina Faso, CVD, 1975)

Cisse Abdoulaye was a guitarist born on the 5 of June 1948 in Sani, part of the Dafing country, Upper Volta (Burkina Faso).

Playing guitar since his chikdhood, he recorded one and only album, and a few 7 inches.

The track presented here, "A Son Magni", is taken from his second single, out in 1975 on the great "Compagnie Voltaique du Disque" record label, and is backed by the great Orchestre Super Volta de la Capitale !

Cisse Abdoulaye et l'Orchestre Super Volta de la Capitale - A Son Magni

Best regards, 

Armand

Colomach - Sweet Sounds From Colomachi (Nigeria, 1974, EMI NIGERIA)

 

Out in 1974 on the mythical "EMI Nigeria" record label, this album is the one-and-only from the band Colomach, led by the Togolese Gneni Mamadou.

This is one of my favourite Nigerian albums, because this band didn't try to copy American Funk ; it includes 10 tracks from very different musical genres, from deep traditionnal Sahel sounds to Fuzzy Zambian Afro Rock Style !!

I decided to present you my favourite track from the album, may you bewitched by this beautiful Sahelian flute !

Colomach - Sweet Sounds From Colomachi

Best Regards, 

Armand

Mamo Lagbema - Sind N'Bassa (Togo, 197?, Disques CVD)

 

Another storming single from the famous Togolese singer Mamo Lagbema (you can check here for another great single), percussive drums and funky saturated electric guitars !

Mamo Lagbema - Sind N'Bassa

All the best,

Armand

CK Mann Big Band - Fa Wakoma Mam (Ghana, 1976 , Essiebons)

C.K. Mann Big Band was one of the most popular and important Ghanaian band at the time, leaded by Charles Kofi Amankwaa Mann, who released many 7 inches and LP's from the 60's to the late 80's.

This album is my favourite, bringing together 4 outstanding talents : Oscar Sulley, Ebo Taylor, Papa Kofi Yankson and C.K. Mann).

I decided to make you discover my favourite track of the band, a melancholic Highlife ballad, "Fa Wakoma Band".

CK Mann Big Band - Fa Wakoma Mam

Have really nice Sunday evening,

Armand

Afro Train - Ode To Hendrix (Ivory Coast, 1973, Société Ivoirienne du Disque)

 

Afro Train was a studio-composed band, who released only one 7 inches back in 1973 on the famous "Société Ivoirienne du Disque" record label.

The band, reunion of Ivorian and Cameroonian musicians, was composed of :

Vincent N'Guini : Lead Guitar

Jean Ndjoh - Bass

Keith Banvo - Drums

Mohamed C. Cherif - Organ

Greg Skelton - Sax Tenor

Roger Nahum - Sax Alto

Harry Forson - Trumpet

Jean-Claude Kongnon - Tumba

I decided to make you (re)discover the A Side of this beautiful record, a tribute to the American Voodoo Guitarist Jimi Hendrix !

Afro Train - Ode To Hendrix

Sincerely yours,

Armand

Dyo Withs and Ferry Djimmy - Love Love (Ivory Coast, 197?, Revolution Records)

 

Sweet soul 2 tracks 7 inches composed and backed by the mysterious legend Ferry Djimmy from Ivory Coast, who released one LP and a few (I only know for of them..) on his own private record label "Revolution Records".

Dyo Withs and Ferry Djimmy and his Dji Kins - Love Love

 

Thanks, 

Armand.

Amara Touré 1973 - 1980 (2015, Analog Africa)

 

In anticipation of the forthcoming compilation "Senegal 70" that will be out at the end of the month on "Analog Africa", I decided to make you (re) discover the last compilation of this well known record label.

Out in last June, this superb compilation gather many songs from Amara Touré together, taken from his one and only LP and from some of his 7 inches.

Amara Touré, native of Guinea (Konakry), is the best representative of the Cuban-influenced music in Africa, brought in the early 40's by Cubanese sailors who stopped over in the country.

Amara, known for his crystal voice, played with the bests Orchestras through Africa, with the Star Band de Dakar in Senegal, L'Ensemble Black and White in Cameroon and L'Orchestre Massako in Gabon.

Highly, highly recommended, this compilation - limited to 1500 silk screened copies - comes in a Deluxe packaging with a superb booklet, that includes beautiful pictures and comprehensive liner notes and a nice screen printed poster.

You can buy it in a LP, CD or digital format here, for a very cheap price considering the amazing work that Analog Africa did on this superb compilation !

Get ready, close your eyes and let your mind fly to these mesmerising songs..

Amara Toure et l'Ensemble Black and White - Lamento Cubano

Orchestre Les Sympathics de Porto Novo - Benin To (Benin, 1978, Albarika Store)

  

The Orchestra "Les Sympathics de Porto-Novo" was a band created in 1972 in Porto-Novo, Benin, by Herman F. Laleye, the former leader of the very well known "Black Dragons Orchestra".

They recorded a few LP in the 70's (three as far as I know), and also backed other artists such as Singer Nahounou (Amédée Pierre).

The band was composed by :

Herman Laleye : Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar

Armand Pognon : Lead Guitar

Jean Apithy : Bass Guitar

Camille Zannou : Organ

Bonheur Gangbo : Vocals

Georges d'Assomption : Tumbas

Olivier Boke : Tumbas

Marc Laleye : Drums

Epiphane Zinsou : Drums

 This LP was recorded in Lagos, Nigeria, at the mythical EMI Studios, and was engineered by Mister Ayo and Mister Kayode Salami, great names of the Nigerian musical scene at the time.

I decided to make you discover "Benin To", a splendid slow Afrobeat and Sato Vodoun rhythm song !

Orchestre Les Sympathics de Porto-Novo - Benin To

 

Regards,

Armand

Etubom Rex Williams and his Nigerian Artistes - Satan Ke Mbiet Owo (Nigeria, 1974, Philips)

 

Born in Etinan, in Akwa Ibom State in the 1930's, Etubom Rex Williams is by far one of Nigeria's finest Highlife Trumpeters and bandleaders.

He started to play music in the early 1950's, playing the trumpet in the Salvation Army Band, and quickly began to perfom in hotels, leading Highlife bands, and quickly began to record his first albums.

From the early 70's to the late 80's, he have released more than 10 LP's and 7 inches.

The song presented here, Satan Ke Mbiet Owo, is a pure jewel, mixture of deep Highlife and slow Afrobeat music - Enjoy !

Etubom Rex Williams and his Nigerian Artistes - Satan Ke Mbiet Owo

 

Best regards,

Armand

Light and Sound Of Mogadishu (2015, Afro 7 records)

 

Very innovative, the highly recommended compilation "Light and Sound of Mogadishu" is the first release of the "Afro 7" record label (you can check this superb website here), specialized in Kenyan music.

This compilation is the very first of its kind, that deals with Somalian tracks from legendary bands such as Sharero band, Faadumo Qaasim, Magool or Ahmed Abukar, taken from some impossible to find 7 inches.

Limited to 1000 copies, it comes in a deluxe packaging, with inner sleeve, beautiful hand made illustrations and pictures and background informations of the songs, the artists and the bands.

You can buy it in a LP or CD format here, for a very cheap price considering the amazing work that Afro 7 did on this superb compilation !

Sharero Band – Caashooy

   

Sory Bamba du Mali - Kanaga 78 (Mali, 1979, Sonafric)

 

Hi dear readers !

Malian Mood today, with a song taken from the 3rd album by the singer Sory Bamba, who belongs to the Dogon ethnic group (Souh-East Mali, near the town of Bandiagara).

Sory Bamba released several single albums, and used to played also with great Malian bands such as "L'Orchestre Kanaga de Mopti" or "L'Orchestre Regional de Mopti".

This really hard to fin album, out on 1979 on the Sonafric label, contains 6 great tracks, and "Kanaga 78", the track I want to make you discover today is one of those.

A crossover of Disco, Traditionnal Malian music and furious psychedelic groove, close your eyes, you're in the Malian desert..

Sory Bamba du Mali - Kanaga 78

See you soon,

Armand

Orchestre Gorom - Yen Djigue Gni (Senegal, 1977, Sonafric)

 

 Hi !

Today a quick post, just wanted to make you (re)discover one track from a Senegalese Orchestra, l'Orchestre Gorom, taken from their unique LP called : Senegal "Authentic1977".

That record, out on the famous Sonafric label, has 6 tracks, all winners !

The track that you will hear in a few seconds, "Yen Djigue Gni" is the first track of the record, an incredible afro fusion song- Enjoy !

Orchestre Gorom - Yen Djigue Gni

Sincerely yours,

Armand

Francis The Great Mbarga - Ravissante Baby (Cameroonese Afro Disco Fusion)

Hi Everyone !

This week I decided to make a very special article on a Cameroonese artist, Francis "The Great" Mbarga, who released two Afro Disco records in 1977 ("Ravissante Baby") and in 1978 ("Crazy Tube"), at the age of 7.

Those two records were released on his father's label, "Cinafric Contacts", when the Mbarga family lived in Paris (France).

I decided to make you (re)discover one song taken from his first record, "Look Up In The Sky", an epic 13 minutes long afro disco track sung in English and French by the Mbarga kid, with some pychedelic synth moments - Enjoy !!

Francis The Great - Look Up In The Sky

 

Also, I had the greeeat chance to meet Mr. Mbarga ! So, as a BIG Bonus, here is the 45min long interview (sorry, it's in French..) I had with this great, interesting, nice, funny, natural and sincere man.

Thanks for all !!

Armand

Selection of the Week : En passant par le Cameroun - A Psychadelic Journey Into the country of The Bikutsi

Hi Everyone !

After a looong delay (sorry, I've been very busy these weeks..), here come the new selection of the week, one hour and half selection of (some) really hard to find Cameroonese tracks from the 60's, the 70's and the early 80's !

I'm very proud of this selection, it took me a lot of time to prepare it, hope you'll enjoy it !

Armand de Préseau - En Passant par le Cameroun

Download it here (right clic, save as)

See you next week, take care of yourselves,

Armand