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

Nkotti Francois and The Black Styl 77 - De Bonaberi A Douala (Cameroun, 2017, Nanga Boko Records)

Nkotti François And The Black Styls 77 - De Bonaberi A Douala

OUT NOW ON MY NEW LABEL : Nanga Boko Records !!!!

40 years after the original release, Nangaboko Records is very proud to present you the official reissue of the first album from the Cameroonian musician Nkotti Francois and his band, « The Black Styl », one of the best albums from there.

High quality remastered sound.

Reissued by Armand de Preseau.

A very detailled biography in both English and French langages with exclusive pictures come with the record, for a better comprehension of the work of the musician.

Each vinyl includes a voucher to download the album in a HD digital format for free.

Available in LP vinyl record and HQ digital format.

Approuved by the artist himself, 100 % legit, all 8 tracks are under exclusive license of Nanga Boko Records.

Limited edition.

You can grab your copy on the links below :

Official Website : www.africangrooves.fr
Official Bandcamp : nangabokorecords.bandcamp.com
Official Facebook Page : www.facebook.com/nangabokorecords
Official Discogs Page : https://www.discogs.com/…/Nkotti-Fran%C3%A…/release/10812365

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A l’occasion des 40 ans de la date de sortie de l’album original, Nangaboko Records est fier de vous présenter la réédition officielle du premier album de l’artiste Camerounais Nkotti François et de son groupe, « Les Black Styl », un des meilleurs albums enregistrés à l'époque dans le pays.

L’ensemble des morceaux de l’album a été soigneusement re-masterisé, dans le souci d’apporter aux auditeurs un son de très haute qualité.

Une biographie détaillée de l’artiste en anglais et en français ainsi que des photos inédites du groupe accompagnent le disque, pour une plus grande compréhension et appréciation de l’œuvre du musicien.

Chaque disque vinyle est accompagné d’une carte de téléchargement permettant de télécharger l’album en haute qualité audio.

Disponible au format vinyle 33 tours et en téléchargement en haute qualité audio !

Réédition approuvée par l’artiste lui-même !

Edition limitée.

L’ensemble des 8 titres de l’album est sous la licence exclusive de Nanga boko Records.

Vous pouvez acheter votre exemplaire en cliquant sur l'un des liens ci-dessous :

Site officiel : www.africangrooves.fr
Bandcamp officiel : nangabokorecords.bandcamp.com
Page Facebook Officielle : www.facebook.com/nangabokorecords
Page Discogs de la réédition : https://www.discogs.com/…/Nkotti-Fran%C3%A…/release/10812365

Sebastien Marini - Fatou Bolingo (Congo, 197?, Sonafric)

Sebastien Marini was born on the 20th of January 1950 at Pointe-Noire (Congo-Brazzaville).

During his childhood, he learnt how to play music with the great Cameroonian producer Tino Baroza in Yaounde (Cameroon), then after with Gracia, the former drummer of the great congolese band Ryco-Jazz.

Arrived in Paris in 1969, he decided to travel to the United States in 1970 to try his luck.

Fatou Bolingo, the track presented here, is an interesting funky track with good breaks and solo guitar parts, taken from the only single I know from him !

Sebastien Marini - Fatou Bolingo

Regards,

Armand

Segun Bucknor - The Price Of Your Love (Nigeria, 1975, Afrodisia)

Following to this article, I wanted to make you rediscover for this sunday another high level afrobeat track by the Nigerian master Segun Bucknor, who greatly influenced Fela Kuti at the time, but who was unfortunately less known.

Segun Buknor - The Price Of Your Love

All the best,

Armand

Jerry Boifraind - Natto Messiah (Armand De Preseau edit) (Nigeria, 1981, Clover Recording Organization)

Hi everyone !

Here is a short edit I did on one of my favourite songs from the most funky reverend from Nigeria, Mr. Jerry Boifraind !

He relased a few LP's back in the end of the 70's / early 80's before giving his entire life to his church - enjoy !

Reverend Jerry Boifraind - Natto Messiah (Armand De Preseau edit)

Have a nice day,

Armand

Okyerema Asante - Sabi (Ghana, 1980, Atumpan records)

Isaac Okyerema Asante was a Percussionist, born the 16th of June 1949 in Koforidua (Ghana).

He recorded a few albums in Ghana and in the United States, and was a member of the famous "Oneness of Juju band", that did many concerts in America.

I decided to make you discover "Sabi", a 14min long Afro Boogie track on which Okyerema plays the drums and sings - enjoy !

Okyerema Asante - Sabi

Have a nice sunday evening,

Armand

The Lijadu Sisters - Amebo (Nigeria, 1976, Afrodisia)

Originated from Ibadan (Nigeria), Taiwo and Kehinde Lijadu are two identical twin sisters who where very prolific from the 1960s to the 1980s in the Nigerian musical scene.

They recorded 5 albums and a few 7 inches, and were also famous in the United States, made several concert there and in Europe and are now living in New York.

I decided to make you discover one track, "Amebo", a slow psych afro rock / reggae track taken from their 2nd LP (my favourite, full of winner tracks !), recorded in 1976 !

The Lijadu Sisters - Amebo

Have a really nice sunday evening,

Armand

Eddy Pollo - Money (Nigeria, 1978, EMI NIGERIA)

Nee Quaison-Sackey was a Nigerian studio guitarist, who played on many albums between the 70's and the 80's.

He played for Tony Grey, Manu Dibango, Christy Essien, Melvin Ukachi and many other artists.

The song I want to present you today, Money, is taken from is one and only album, released in 1978 on the mythical EMI NIGERIA record label, and engineered by, as always on the good NEMI albums, Kayode Salami and Monday Oki.

You'll notice the typical moving bass playing style of the great Kenneth "Kenny" Okulolo on the track !

Eddy Pollo - Money

Best regards,

Armand

Dan Ian and his Spades - She's A Monarch (Nigeria, 1976, Go Gay Records)

 

Happy New Year to everyone !!! Wish you the best !!

It's been a long time without any articles but, now, I'm back for your ears only !

Let's begin this new year with a Nigerian living legend, Dan Ian !

Born in the village of Umuezeawala in the early 50's, Dan Ian Mbaezue is a guitarist and a singer, who began his musical career in the early 60's.

He played in many well known Nigerian bands, such as The Wings, Wrinkar Experience and with other big names (Sonny Okosun..).

He recorded many singles, and a few albums through the 70's and 3 LP's with his own band, Dan Ian Spades.

He still lives today in his village.

I decided to make you discover "She's a Monarch", one of the songs taken from of his third album, accompanied by The Friimen Musik Coy, a very cool Afro Rock track !! 

Dan Ian and his Spades - She's A Monarch

Best regards,

Armand

The Apples - Mind Twister (Nigeria, 1978 , EMI NIGERIA)

"The Apples" was an high school band of 4 Nigerian teenagers, composed of :

Frank Ikpefuran : Drums / Vocals / Percussions

Vieira Georges : 1st Guitar Lead / Vocals

Clifford Nadi : 2nd Guitar

Gerard Nadi : Bass Guitar

They recorded one a only album in 1978 in Lagos, that was remixed at the mythical EMI Abbey Road Studios in London.

The Apples - Mind Twister

Best regards, 

Armand

Voices Of Darkness - Bonjour cherie (Nigeria, 1974, Decca)

 

Picture courtesy of Voodoofunk / Superfly

The "Voices of Darkness" was a band created in the early 70's in Douala, Cameroon, and composed of 6 Nigerian and Cameroonian musicians :

Joe Brown (the leader of the band) on the Organ, Lead Guitar, Vocals, Rhythm Guitar 

Cel Anderson on the Bass and Vocals

Emmanuel Ovo on the trumpet and Congas

Paul Mony on the Drums

Emmanuel Ebot on Congas, Timbals and Vocals

Dennise Kenneth on the Percussions and Alto Saxophone

"Bonjour Chérie" (Hello Darling) the track presented here is taken from their one and only LP, recorded in 1974 in Nigeria.

This album never had a properly release, it was mispressed in France with an Ebenezer Obey LP (check the picture of my personal copy at the end of this article), on DECCA, the French divisionary of the Afrodisia label, and never had a cover..

Beautiful Afro Soul Ballad, this track relates a phone conversation between a man (Cel, the bassist of the band) and his ex-girlfriend, who raised alone their child - Enjoy !

Voices of Darkness - Bonjour Cherie

Best regards,

Armand

The Identicals - Akwa Kayi Ji Bia Nuwa (Nigeria, 1977 , EMI NIGERIA)

The Identicals was a Nigerian band composed by two twins brothers, Peter (Bass) and Paul (Guitar), who played around Lagos clubs and studios (as backing members for other musicians) back in the 70's.

The song presented here, "Akwa Kayi Ji Bia Nuwa" is taken from their one and only album, "Rock Exponent".

The title of this song could be translated (in Igbo language) as "We Come Into This World Crying" - Enjoy !

The Identicals - Akwa Kayi Ji Bia Nuwa

Sincerely yours,

Armand

The Apostles - Battery Rock (Nigeria, 1973, BEN)

 

Down Down The Valley / Battery Rock is the very first single from one of the best Nigerian Afro-rock band from this era, The Apostles.

The Apostles was a band composed by members from Aba, a city in the east of the country, in the Abia state.

The Apostles recorded 6 albums (or more, who knows ?), several singles and backed many other artists during between the 70's and the early 80's.

Very rough track, furiously funky with acid psychedelic influences, "Battery Rock" is a very precursor and innovative track for the period - Remember we were only in 1973, Nigeria..

The Apostles - Battery Rock

All the best,

Armand

This one is for you Uchenna ! Thanks..

Harry Mwale Experience - Don't Feel Shy (Zambia, 1976, Mwale Records)

Hi Folks !

Zambian mood tonight, with a quiet soul ballad from Harry Mwale, an obscure artist of the Zamrock scene back in the 70's in Zambia.

Perfect for a Sunday evening, I decided to present you "Don't Feel Shy" from Harry Mwale, backed with his band "Osaye", taken from his one and only album.

Harry Mwale Experience - Don't Feel Shy

Hope you liked it,

Armand

This article is dedicated to my beloved Soum

Clement Melome et l'Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou - Nous Avons Gagné

Hi !

Today we stay in the beautiful country of Benin, with a veeeery well known band, l'Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou, with a slow Afro rock track, "Nous avons gagné" ("we won"), out on the "Polydisco" label (actually the shop werecame out exclusively the records of the band at the time).

Not  a common track track but one of my favorite, because it's not "another jerk thing", its a track about love and evil..

Clement Melome et l'Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou - Nous Avons Gagné

Have a good sunday, take care of you,

Armand

Selection of the Week : Take Me Back To Lagos, Nigeria (Mansion /Celebrant / Identicals / Visitors / Mary Afi Usuah / Super Wings..)

Hi dear readers !

It's been a while since the last time we met ! This week, we travel to Nigeria, this strange and continuously moving country, with a few tracks from several well known Afro Rock / Funk and Disco bands back in the 70's ! Hope you'll enjoy this selection, it took me some time to prepare it, because those LP's are reaaally hard to find nowadays, especially in such exceptional condition !

See you really soon for another Selection !

You can download the selection here (as usual, right clic, "save as")

Armand de Preseau - Take Me Back To Lagos

Tracklist :

1 - The Visitors - Togetherness

2  - Mansion - Devil Woman

3 - The Identicals - Akwa Kayi Ji Bia Nuwa

4 - The Celebrant - Funky Music

5 - Mary Afi Usuah - What's A Woman to Do

6 - Clement Djimogne - Africa

7 - Etubom Rex William - Disco Baby

8 - MFB - Boredom Pain

9 - Super Wings - Men of the People

Sincerely yours,

Armand

Aktion, Blo, Comrades : A New Nigerian Afro Rock Fuzz Funk Selection

Hi dear readers !

Au menu cette semaine (as promised for a loooong time !) a selection of several huge afro rock tracks, taken from very hard to find Nigerian bands, such as Aktion, The Comrades, One world, Bongos Ikwue and The Apostles..

First part of the mix : Acid Fuzz Rock oriented

Second part of the mix : Afro Funk oriented

Third part of the mix : Afro Transe oriented

Fourth part of the mix : Soulful and Deep funk oriented

Enjoy !

Armand de Preseau - Nigeria Rock Fuzz Funk Selection

(be patient with the flash player, it works but loading may be slow due to the size of the file )

Download the selection here (right clic, save as)

 

Selection of the week - African Garage Jerk Rock Selection

Hi there !

Au menu cette semaine, a selection of 10 tracks taken from terrific Afro Garage Jerk & Rock seven inches, from West To South Africa during the Golden 70's era - enjoy !

Armand de Preseau - African Garage Rock Selection

Download it here (right clic, save as)

A little game for you, dear readers : guess who are the artists or the songs of this selection, as some clues I give you the countries from where the bands are (not the countries where the songs were recorded!)

1 - Gabon
2 - Gambia
3 - Congo
4 - Burkina Faso
5 - Cameroon
6 - Ivory Coast
7 - Ivory Coast
8 - Cameroon
9 - Benin
10 - South Africa

Good search !

The Sweet Talks, City Boys, Vis a Vis, K Frimpong, Psychedelic Aliens, Kelenkye Band, Gyedu Blay Ambolley : A Sunny Sunday In Accra, Ghana

Hi everyone !

This week, as promised for a long time, a 70' minutes Funky & more "traditionnal" Highlife selection of several Bands from Ghana, including : The Sweet Talks, The City Boys, The Vis-a-Vis orchestra, K. Frimpong, Gyedu Blay Ambolley, The Kyeremateng All Star, The Psychedelic Aliens & many more !

Armand de Preseau - A Sunny Sunday In Accra

To download, as usual, right clic and "save as" just right here

Take care,

Armand

The Hygrades, The Funkees & Wrinkar experience : A Selection of Afro Rock & Funky 7 Inches from Nigeria

Hi everyone !

As promised, here comes a little summer selection of 10 funky / afro rock tracks taken from some seven inches of my personal collection.

These 7', from famous Nigerian bands, were issued at the time on the Nigerian division of the well known English label EMI / HMV (remember the deaf dog ?) and are really hard to lay hands on, specially in this condition.

Armand de Preseau - A selection of Afro Rock & Funky Nigerian 7 inches

You can download this mix here (as always, right clic, save as or download), and listen to it near the beach or the pool, drinking a fruit cocktail.

(due to an imminent travel from the rainy Paris to the Southern France, i didn't have the time to clean some of the records before recording the selection, so sorry for the dusty quality of some tracks !).

Tracklist :

1 - The Hygrades : In The Jungle (Vocal)
2 - The Funkees : Breaktrough
3 - Dan Satch & His Atomic Dance of Aba : Je nr'okan
4 - The Apostles : Your Bussiness
5 - The Ceejebs - Life In Cannan
6 - Founders 15 - Amen
7 - Danie Ian & His Spades : New Day
8 - Wrinkar Experience - I am a natural Man
9 - Mono Mono : Wake Up the Ded Onez
10 - Wrinkar Experience - Soundway

See you soon dear readers !

With love from the Southern France,

Armand