Sierra Leone (Palm-wine music)
Palm-wine music, named after the naturally fermented palm oil that people usually sipped while sitting and listening to African guitarists, originated in Sierra Leone. While Sierra Leone was still a British colony, sailors brought to the country Portuguese guitars and slaves from the Caribbean. Palm-wine music emerged from the fusion of these guitars, the calypso beat influenced by the Trinidadian slaves, and indigenous African sounds. The result is an easy-going, folksy, unpretentious sound.
One of the earliest well-known palm wine musicians was Ebenezer Calender who, in the 1950s and 60s, made the genre famous with his Maringer Band. Here is a sample of 3 tracks from the album, “Marvelous Boy”:
http://www.amazon.com/Ebenezer-Calen.../dp/B001W2YKCO
Unfortunately, Calender’s music is hard to come by—it has not been preserved on CD, and the few album tracks above are available only through Amazon. If you go to BBC’s link:
BBC - Africa On Your Street - Hosts - Rita Ray - February 2007 - looking at the Musical Legacy of Slavery and scroll down to the link for “Fire, Fire, Fire,” you will hear a short clip of Calender’s most famous song, which is as recognized in Sierra Leone as its national anthem.
Palm-wine music heavily influenced African Highlife music and Congolese Soukous, but itself began to wane in the 70s and 80s. It threatened to die out as an important genre; but one musician, SE Rogie, almost single-handedly was responsible for its continuation. Rogie’s following clip might be the best existing example of traditional palm-wine. Note the simple tapping of the bottle with a table knife, which illustrates the humble and laid-back nature that always characterizes palm-wine--
So Good:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aJqa...ature=related\
With Rogie’s death in 1994, the genre was threatened again. However, a few current musicians, most notably, Koo Nimo, who is from Ghana not Sierra Leone, serve to keep the tradition alive. Free samples of his work can be found on his myspace page:
Koo Nimo Palm Wine Guitar Ensemble feat. Alissa on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads
The latest and freshest musician who integrates palm-wine with Afro-pop, world, and jazz is Ebenezer Calender’s grandson, Seydu! Free videos and tracks are available at his myspace page:
SEYDU on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads
Of all the genre’s I’ve talked about in this thread, I think palm-wine is most in danger of becoming extinct. It’s a shame, because it is one of the most easy and honestly soulful styles. So, I hope people will grab a glass of wine, sit back and relax, and give palm-wine a listen...