Itadi - Ayala (Togo, 1977, Sonafric)

Itadi K. Bonney was a singer and guitarist, born in Anonoe village (Togo) in 1948.

This track, Ayala, is a pure gem of afrosoul, taken from his first album, recorded live in Ghana in 1977.

In the early 1990's, he has to flee Togo for the United States because of a song he recorded, "Mayi Africa", that was against the political situation in Togo.

He recorded there several albums on his own record label "Bonney I. Productions", and toured in the United States, West Africa and Europe.

He died in 2013 in Washington DC.

Itadi - Ayala

Have a nice sunday,

Armand

Pat Thomas and Marijata - I Need More (Ghana, 1977, Gapophone)

Born in 1951 in Agona (Ashanti region of Ghana), Pat Thomas is, with Ebo Taylor (an old friend of him, who plays guitar on the track presented here), one the greatest figures of the Ghanaian music.

Immersed in the musical scene since his childhood, Pat Thomas has recorded more than 20 albums, dozens and dozens of singles, and has played with many bands through the years, from Highlife to Afrobeat : The Blue Monks, The Satellites, The Sweet Beans (his own band), Marijata..

Pat Thomas - who lives in Ghana today - is, like Ebo Taylor, still playing and recording nowadays, and is regularly on tour.

The track presented here, "I Need More", is taken from his last album on the Gapophone music label (one of the best record label from Ghana) and was recorded at the time by Kayode Salami and Monday Oki, the two mythical recording engineers of the EMI NIGERIA Studio based in Lagos.

Pat Thomas and Marijata - I Need More

Enjoy,

Armand

Orchestre Les Bakubas (Zaire, 1972, Editions Bakuba)

Some rumors link the band presented here, "L'Orchestre Les Bakubas", with "L'Empire Bakuba", one the most influent soukouss Congolese (Zaire) bands back in the days.

The name of the band refers to the Bakuba Kingdom, in the South East of the modern day Zaire (Democratic Republic of the Congo), and is also called sometimes "Empire Bakuba du Grand Kalle", refering to Joseph Athanase Tchamala Kabasele ("Grand Kalle"), one of the father of the Congolese music that founded the band in 1972.

Unusual for this period, "Requiem", the track presented here, is a very refreshing afro soul track, roughly recorded, sung in Lingala.

Orchestre Les Bakubas - Requiem

Truly yours,

Armand