As demanded by EvilC and proposed by ursus, here's a mix of African music. I've tried to put together a mix which can serve as an introduction to African pop which draws from local musical traditions (hence a few obvious tracks), and as a Best Of Africa type of compilation (holding back tracks for a second volume), and perhaps to introduce the aficionados to a couple of tracks they haven't yet heard.

Of course, by trying to cater too widely, the whole thing might not work at all. Feedback would be most welcome.

Touré Kunda's "Wadini" is my earworm today. And check out the Cesaria Evora song; what a fantastic dance track.

1. Mory Kanté - Yeke Yeke (Guinea/Mali)
2. Cesária Évora - Nho Antone Escade (Cape Verde)
3. Touré Kunda - Wadini (Senegal)
4. Salif Keita - N B'I Fe (Mali)
5. Ismaël Lo - Tajabone (Senegal)
6. Fortune Xaba - Mi Fe Le Wa Kuti (South Africa)
7. Papa Wemba - Le Voyageur (DR Congo)
8. Khadja Nin - Mama Lusiya (Burundi)
9. Kampi Moto & George Phiri - Maio Maio (Zambia/Malawi/South Africa)
10. Habib Koité & Bamada - Wassiyé (Mali)
11. Hugh Masekela - Happy Mama (South Africa)
12. Thomas Mapfumo - Set the People Free (Zimbabwe)
13. Remmy Ongala - Inchi Vetu (Our Country) (Tanzania)
14. Youssou N'Dour - Mame Bamba (Senegal)
15. Koffi Olomidé feat Coumba Gawlo - Si Si Si (DRCongo)
16. Khaled - Aicha (Algeria)
17. Tarika - Aretina (Madagacar)

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G.Man wants a hyphen wrote:

QUOTE:
As demanded by EvilC and proposed by ursus, here's a mix of African music. I've tried to put together a mix which can serve as an introduction to African pop which draws from local musical traditions (hence a few obvious tracks), and as a Best Of Africa type of compilation (holding back tracks for a second volume), and perhaps to introduce the aficionados to a couple of tracks they haven't yet heard.

Of course, by trying to cater too widely, the whole thing might not work at all. Feedback would be most welcome.

Touré Kunda's "Wadini" is my earworm today. And check out the Cesaria Evora song; what a fantastic dance track.

1. Mory Kanté - Yeke Yeke (Guinea/Mali)
2. Cesária Évora - Nho Antone Escade (Cape Verde)
3. Touré Kunda - Wadini (Senegal)
4. Salif Keita - N B'I Fe (Mali)
5. Ismaël Lo - Tajabone (Senegal)
6. Fortune Xaba - Mi Fe Le Wa Kuti (South Africa)
7. Papa Wemba - Le Voyageur (DR Congo)
8. Khadja Nin - Mama Lusiya (Burundi)
9. Kampi Moto & George Phiri - Maio Maio (Zambia/Malawi/South Africa)
10. Habib Koité & Bamada - Wassiyé (Mali)
11. Hugh Masekela - Happy Mama (South Africa)
12. Thomas Mapfumo - Set the People Free (Zimbabwe)
13. Remmy Ongala - Inchi Vetu (Our Country) (Tanzania)
14. Youssou N'Dour - Mame Bamba (Senegal)
15. Koffi Olomidé feat Coumba Gawlo - Si Si Si (DRCongo)
16. Khaled - Aicha (Algeria)
17. Tarika - Aretina (Madagacar)

DOWNLOAD

What the...?

Did I?

I don't remember...

Oh well - no matter - I'm quite looking forward to this anyway. As it happens, I chanced across Yanju, the other day (Homepage / Myspace) and he's rather good.

I'll be putting my Electropop 20 up tonight. (As I meant to do, last night! Grrrr!)

Woohoo. This will make packing up the house go a little quicker.

Me wrote:

QUOTE:
...and where's the download link for that, G-Man, eh?

Eh?

;-)

Ah! I suppose I did, didn't I? I was only kind of joshing, as I thought the thread was going to be a 'care & share' one from the start, rather than just a list one. Still, I'm glad you made the effort. :-) I think the idea of having to make 'care & share' mixes on such a theme was too much for most people, though.

Yeah, I know you were joshing, EvilC. It's not like I'm going to jump at your command....

G.Man wants a hyphen wrote:

QUOTE:
Yeah, I know you were joshing, EvilC. It's not like I'm going to jump at your command....

No-one ever does. I tell yer - come the revolution, though...!

Looks good Gman, thanks for the upload.

Herzlichen Dank, G.

Will be on each of our Ipods shortly.

Thanks for the nice comments.

I'd be intrigued what those who have listened to this mix make of the Cesaria Evoria track. The grand lady doesn't usually do music you can get really funky to, so the song on the mix is not really representative. Did I fuck it up by not choosing a more representative number, or would people agree with my view that it's a phenomenally catchy mother of a song?

it's brilliant.

PM for g-man

Hey, G-Man:

Have you got Hardfloor's remix of 'Yeke Yeke'? If not, I can upload it for you. If you're a fan of dance music you'll love it - it's stunning!

I don't. Yeah, please upload it.

G.Man wants a hyphen wrote:

QUOTE:
I don't. Yeah, please upload it.

Here you go. Discogs info here.

Only just realised that the first track was engineered by Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins. However, it's track 3 - the full length version of the mix by Hardfloor - that is the amazing one. It was a bit of a dancefloor favourite at the time.

Had it playing all night,G. Thanksabunch.

And here's volume 2:

1. Baaba Maal - Mbaye (Senegal)
2. Manu Dibango - Soul Makossa (Cameroon)
3. Fela Kuti - Yellow Fever (Nigeria)
4. King Sunny Adé - Ma Jaiye Oni (Nigeria)
5. Brenda Fassie - Shikhebe Shamago (South Africa)
6. Manecas Costa - Ermons De Terra (Guinea Bissau)
7. Ali Farka Touré with Ry Cooder - Soukora (Mali)
8. Bayete - Mmaolo-We (South Africa)
9. Jean Bosco Mwenda - Tambala Moja (DR Congo)
10. Diogal - Samba Alla (Senegal)
11. Ringo Madlingozi - Sondela (South Africa)
12. Angelique Kidjo - Babalao (Benin)
13. Oumou Sangare - Ah Ndiya (Mali)
14. Souad Massi - Yawlidi (Algeria)
15. Yvonne Chaka Chaka - Makoti (South Africa)
16. Franco and OK Jazz - On Entre OK, On Sort KO (Congo)
17. Mose ‘Fan Fan’ - Lwambo (DR Congo)


The Franco and OK Jazz is the oldest of the tracks from wither volume, from the mid-50s. And after Baaba Maal's song, the mix kicks off with a trio of Afro classics. Personal favourites on this mix would be the tracks by Bayete (RIP Jabu Khanyile), Diogal and Jean Bosco Mwenda.

I've just noticed an odd quirk of sequencing: tracks 12-15 are all be women. I hadn't noticed when I played the mix last night.

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I'd very much like to know which tracks leave an impression and which are flops...