y first exposure to African music (and I think this is true for a lot of people) was Fela Kuti. His records regularly, albeit inaccurately, show up in funk bins and through the years I’ve obtained a bunch of his titles. Ignorantly, I thought that Fela Kuti was the end of the road for African music and it wasn’t until many years later that I realized Africa has one of the richest music histories; Kuti was just the gateway drug.
My infatuation with African music started a little over a year ago when I stumbled upon a comp called Ghana Soundz released by UK based Soundway Records. The comp explored rare, and for many, previously unheard of afro-beat, afro-funk and afro-fusion sounds from Ghana. I had also recently discovered Voodoo Funk, Frank Gossner’s blog documenting his time living in Africa with the sole mission of re-discovering Africa’s long lost archives of music. In some cases he sourced and found many of the artists who’s records he unearthed in dusty basements and abandoned warehouses. The stories of his travels are fascinating enough to write a book about, and in actuality, director Leigh Iacobucci followed Gossner during some of his time in Africa and will be releasing a documentary called Take Me Away Fast (see trailer below).
“Take Me Away Fast” Trailer from Leigh Iacobucci on Vimeo.
Frank also has a ton of mixes up on his blog highlighting some of his African finds. Some of my favorites are his Big Beats, Sweet Talks, and Psychedelic Aliens, Everybody Get Down and African Heat mixes, although they are all pretty fantastic. I’ve learned a lot from his blog and mixes alone, not to mention scored a bunch of great African titles from him. He also has had his hand in a number of reissue projects, including the amazing reissue of Pax Nicholas’ uber rare solo album, Na Teef Know the Road of Teef.
Everyone seems to be catching on to the hypnotic quality of African music as Soundway continues to release superb compilations (their latest Ghana Special is a must have) as well as Analog Africa, who’s comps are amongst the best across any genre. Academy Records has also recently reissued three rare African records, Ofege’s Try and Love, one of the best psychedelic Afro records out there, as well as SJOB Movement’s A Move in the Right Direction and Mebusas’ Blood Brothers. These compilations and reissues are a great place to start exploring the depths of African music, although I must warn you: addiction may ensue.
For the past year I’ve focused most of my attention on African records, and to punctuate this post I’ve made my first African mix. There is no real focus to this mix, just tracks that I dig and think may be a good introduction to the African sound. I am by no means an expert on African music, but strongly believe that stuff like this needs to be preserved, remembered and heard by anyone willing to listen. I hope you enjoy it.
Into the Fire Tracklisting:
01. Bob Pinodo – Africa
(from Show Master of Africa, 1978)
02. Uhuru Dance Band – Biribi
(from The Sound of Africa, 1975)
03. Bunzu Soundz – Zinabu
(from Bunzu Soundz, 1977)
04. Ogyatanaa – Akosua Manu
(from Yerefrefre, 1975)
05. Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou – Minsatole Mi Dayi Homin
(from Volume 1, 1972/1983)
06. Orchestre Picoby Band – Jo Ahi Nou Se
(from Jo Ahi Nou Se/Vikoue 7″, 197?)
07. The Big Beats – Kyenkyema
(from Kyenkyema/Mi Nsumoo Bo Donn 7″, 197?)
08. K Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas – Kyenkyen Bi Adi M’awu
(from Self Titled, 1976)
09. Ebo Taylor – Heaven
(from Self Titled, 1978)
10. Sweet Talks – Eyi Su Ngaangaa
(from The Kusum Beat, 1976)
11. Dan Satch – Je Nr’okan
(from Je Nr’okan/Woman Pin Down 7″, 1971)
12. Avolonto Honore – Na Mi Do Gbe Hue Nu
(from La Mort N’a Pas De Date Fixe, 197?)
13. The Funkees – Break Through
(from Break Through/Slipping Into Darkness 7″, 197?)
14. One World – I Need Your Help
(from Victory, 197?)
15. The Apostles – Play Girl
(from Self Titled, 197?)
16. SJOB Movement – You Only Live Once
(from A Move in the Right Direction, 197?)
17. Thony Shorby Nwenyi – No Wrong Show
(from Sweet Funk Music, 1978)
18. Akeeb Kareem – Tomorrow
(from Blackman, 1972)
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