December 2011
7 posts
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John Collins (And West African Music History)...
I just received horrible news that John Collins’ Bapmaf Ghanaian Highlife Archives has been severely damaged along with Collins’ own personal family home and his belongs) in a terrible flood a couple of weeks ago. I urge any of you out there to PLEASE help and donate to the rebuilding of this invaluable collection of West African music history. Here’s a link to the story in...
7 tags
Morogoro Jazz Band feat. Mbaraka Mwinshehe
Now, let’s cross over to the other side of the continent and check out what they got to offer, shall we?
In the 1960s and 70s, the idea of nationalism was booming, as many Pan-African leaders came into power and wanted so desperately to create their own identity after the ousting of their colonial rulers. Taking cue form Kwame Nkrumah’s successful indoctrination of local highlife...
8 tags
The Juju Music of Dele Ojo & His Star Brothers...
Staying in Nigeria for a moment, we have the beautiful Juju rhythms of Dele Ojo & His Star Brothers Band. A good example of Juju coming into its own out of the Highlife movement that spilled over from nearby Ghana.
Dele Ojo & His Star Brothers Band 7’inch single
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Best Band name ever... seriously.
African Baby Party. Yup, that’s what I would’ve called my highlife band if Hebert Udemba hadn’t beat me to it some 50+ years ago.
Nigerian musician, Herbert Udemba, is one of the pioneers of Nigerian Highlife music, having recorded as early as 1958. This single, “Bottom Belly,” is his first foray into the world of music, a notable feat considering the stigma...
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'Round the World in 45 spins.. (WITH CORRECT LINK)
So, let’s take a musical trip through the African continent, shall we?
Here’s a few 45s from varying countries in Africa. We start with one from my trip to Mali back in January of this year. I used this song for the short clip of me in Mopti and have been humming it to myself ever since. Funny enough, my homegirl from Tanzania ragged on me as she thought they were saying...
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...And More Dr. K. Gyasi!
Seeing as we’re making multiple offerings from artists, I might as well throw in another slow-burning highlife number from one of favorite highlife artists, Dr. K. Gyasi.
The more I hear his music, the more I crave it - along with a beer and some swaying palm trees as I lounge near that strip of beach you encounter on your way to Takoradi from Cape Coast… ahh yes.
Dr. K. Gyasi...
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More Poly-Rythmo 45s!
Alright, Here’s a whole round of uploads for y’all.
Today’s offering is yet another Poly-Rythmo 45. Lion managed to pick up a good amount of Poly-Rythmo singles as he made his way through Togo and Benin en route to Nigeria a few months back. He picked up a few of their LPs as well, which will find their way onto this blog soon enough.
As for this particular single,...