West African music (lyrics, singer, music video, dance, drum)

javalover · 03-20-2009, 09:06 PM

Thanks for the update.Looked them up just now.The links are all valid except for the first one which did not quite tally with the artiste I'd mentioned.When i watched the video,wasn't the same person.A case of similar names but different artistes.However,they are both Nigerians,but the one in your link (I discovered) isn't based in Nigeria.

johne · 03-21-2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by javalover

Thanks for the update.Looked them up just now.The links are all valid except for the first one which did not quite tally with the artiste I'd mentioned.When i watched the video,wasn't the same person.A case of similar names but different artistes.However,they are both Nigerians,but the one in your link (I discovered) isn't based in Nigeria.

^^^ fixed. The other gal was Nneka--I replaced the vids with Nnena's mypace link with free listens....

johne · 03-23-2009, 03:01 AM

Senegal (Mbalax): Senegal—wow! There is so much good music that has come from here that this may take 2 posts.

The most recognized names from Senegal are Youssou N’Dour and Baaba Maal. Both come out of a Senegalese tradition of popular dance music called “mbalax,” but N’Dour and others like him where influenced by mainly Cuban and other music from the Americas, and Maal and others like him were influenced by Paris and Western Europe. A third important musician is Thione Seck, who merges traditional Senegalese music with Arabic and Indian influences. I will give examples of these three strains of influence below.

In the 1950s and 60s, because of heavy colonialism from the West, the most-played music in Senegal was jazz, soul, Latin and rock. But, in the 70s when colonialism began to wane, there was a new emphasis on merging more traditional Senegalese music, which depended on drumming and singers-storytellers called the “griots,” with the imported Western music. This blend of music was called “mbalax” after the name of the actual rhythm used in traditional drumming. So, in mbalax there is a definite strong drum beat as the base, a strong message in the words, and dance rhythms.

Youssou N’Dour and the band, Etoile de Dakar, were the most influential in introducing traditional music from Senegal with Latin beat. Etoile de Dakar has a large number of full tracks on last.fm, both with and without N’Dour:
Etoile De Dakar â€“ Listen free and discover music at Last.fm

N’Dour has a large number of tracks himself:
Youssou N'Dour â€“ Listen free and discover music at Last.fm

One of his videos:
Youssou N'Dourâ€™s Music Videos â€“ Listen free and discover music at Last.fm

His 2005 album, Egypt, caused a stir in Senegal because it so heavily incorporated messages about Islam. The following trailer for a documentary about N’Dour shows a little about this controversy and his insistence that religion had to be part of at least some of his music:
YouTube - YOUSSOU NDOUR: I BRING WHAT I LOVE trailer

N’Dour has collaborated with many Western artists, such as Peter Gabriel, Sting, Paul Simon, Bruce Springstein, Tracy
Chapman, and Branford Marsalis, to name a few.

Other mbalax artists with Cuban influence are:

Alioune Mbaye Nder: SenVideo - Alioune Mbaye Nder - Confiance or: http://www.videosurf.com/video/confi...-nder-54453193

Omar Pène and the Super Diamono band: Omar Pene Et Super Diamonoâ€™s Music Videos â€“ Discover music at Last.fm

Ismael Lo was also with Super Diamono until he went solo. His solo work is not as much influenced by Cuban rhythm, but is more
singer/songwriter in style. He is known as “the Bob Dylan of Senegal" because of his use of guitar, harmonica, and thoughtful, sometimes
political, lyrics. Beautiful music:
YouTube - Ismael Lo - Tajabone

YouTube - Ismael Lo - Jammu Africa

Here is a nice duet between Ismael and English singer, Marianne Faithful--very soulful:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfehKorG_Qs

+++

There is a large number of contemporary female mbalax artists from Senegal:

The most fun (and beautiful!), Coumba Gawlo:
YouTube - Coumba Gawlo Seck, Fa fa fa fa fa fa

….and her Senegalese rendition of Mariam Makeba’s, Pata Pata--the ultimate feel-good dance song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LE-BxIQ3z8A

My favorite, Fatou Guewël, who has a number of full tracks on last.fm:
Fatou Guewel â€“ Listen free and discover music at Last.fm

Rap fusion and sexy, Viviane N'Dour:
YouTube - African Divas - Senegal - Mbalax - Viviane Ndour

Other women worth checking out are: Fatou Laobé, Kiné Lam, Amy Mbengue, and Ndeye Marie Ndiaye.

This is enough for now. I will provide some Baaba Maal and others in next post.

iksosept · 03-28-2009, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johne

Tinariwen are from a different strain of Malian people--Tuareg rebels. Their music is much more "Arabic" influenced and political rather than the more mellow traditional Mande. Good stuff.

I didn't know that. I came across them last week, and I really like their record "Amassakoul", it's definitely worth a listen folks!

But yeah, I have no idea what their songs are about.

johne · 04-01-2009, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iksosept

I didn't know that. I came across them last week, and I really like their record "Amassakoul", it's definitely worth a listen folks!

Full tracks of Amassakoul on last.fm:
http://www.last.fm/music/Tinariwen/Amassakoul
I agree, it's a good album. I've been listening more to them since I've been involved in this thread. Some videos of them playing with Carlos Santana, Robert Plant, others are online, too.

@jackhammer: do you have Fela's '69 Los Angeles Sessions? That's an obscure one--I've wondered what songs it contains...

jackhammer · 03-28-2009, 03:55 PM

I have plenty of Fela Kuti (about 20 albums) if anyone needs any just holler.

5-Track · 04-04-2009, 01:50 AM

awesomeness

johne · 04-06-2009, 11:06 AM

For those interested in music coming from West Africa, just a quick update on music from Mali. Check out new album from Amadou and Mariam: "Welcome to Mali."

Here is their myspace link--especially see the promo about their upcoming tour with Coldplay in the U.S.: Amadou & Mariam on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads

A video of them live: AMADOU et MARIAM

New album tracks: Welcome to Mali | Nonesuch Records

And a short abc world news clip about them, their relationship, and their music:
MySpace Video - Amadou & Mariam's Video Channel & Video Clips

They are not exactly my cup of tea (not thrilled with the vocals, though instrumentation is good), but their new album seems to be making a spash on the world music scene...

Daktari · 10-28-2009, 01:58 PM

Hi there,

I just found this site a few days ago but I am into African music, both listening and playing. Check out the website called Djembefola.com. This is mainly a drum site but if you check the video section it has some really good examples mainly of west coast music.

My first instruments are bass and guitar but I have recently bought a djembe and I am about to order a gyil which is a wooden xylophone type instrument as played in North Ghana. Look up these three guys to get an idea of the amazing sound these things can produce.

Aaron Bebe Soukoura, Bernard Woma, and Kofi Ameyaw.

Also for some great African guitar demos just search for 'Soukous guitar style on youtube'.

Some good stuff. Gordon.

johne · 11-27-2009, 09:31 AM

^^^
I have been off MB since June, but visited today. Seems like the West Africa thread still gets some views even though posts are infrequent. I looked up the artists you mention, thanks for info on the gyil.

I especially like Aaron Bebe Sukura; here is a link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAqmo9ovaSQ

Woma and Ameyaw have plenty of tracks on last fm.

Good luck with the djembe and gyil.

03-23-2009, 03:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
johne Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Long Island, NY, USA Posts: 114	Senegal (Mbalax): Senegal—wow! There is so much good music that has come from here that this may take 2 posts. The most recognized names from Senegal are Youssou N’Dour and Baaba Maal. Both come out of a Senegalese tradition of popular dance music called “mbalax,” but N’Dour and others like him where influenced by mainly Cuban and other music from the Americas, and Maal and others like him were influenced by Paris and Western Europe. A third important musician is Thione Seck, who merges traditional Senegalese music with Arabic and Indian influences. I will give examples of these three strains of influence below. In the 1950s and 60s, because of heavy colonialism from the West, the most-played music in Senegal was jazz, soul, Latin and rock. But, in the 70s when colonialism began to wane, there was a new emphasis on merging more traditional Senegalese music, which depended on drumming and singers-storytellers called the “griots,” with the imported Western music. This blend of music was called “mbalax” after the name of the actual rhythm used in traditional drumming. So, in mbalax there is a definite strong drum beat as the base, a strong message in the words, and dance rhythms. Youssou N’Dour and the band, Etoile de Dakar, were the most influential in introducing traditional music from Senegal with Latin beat. Etoile de Dakar has a large number of full tracks on last.fm, both with and without N’Dour: Etoile De Dakar â€“ Listen free and discover music at Last.fm N’Dour has a large number of tracks himself: Youssou N'Dour â€“ Listen free and discover music at Last.fm One of his videos: Youssou N'Dourâ€™s Music Videos â€“ Listen free and discover music at Last.fm His 2005 album, Egypt, caused a stir in Senegal because it so heavily incorporated messages about Islam. The following trailer for a documentary about N’Dour shows a little about this controversy and his insistence that religion had to be part of at least some of his music: YouTube - YOUSSOU NDOUR: I BRING WHAT I LOVE trailer N’Dour has collaborated with many Western artists, such as Peter Gabriel, Sting, Paul Simon, Bruce Springstein, Tracy Chapman, and Branford Marsalis, to name a few. Other mbalax artists with Cuban influence are: Alioune Mbaye Nder: SenVideo - Alioune Mbaye Nder - Confiance or: http://www.videosurf.com/video/confi...-nder-54453193 Omar Pène and the Super Diamono band: Omar Pene Et Super Diamonoâ€™s Music Videos â€“ Discover music at Last.fm Ismael Lo was also with Super Diamono until he went solo. His solo work is not as much influenced by Cuban rhythm, but is more singer/songwriter in style. He is known as “the Bob Dylan of Senegal" because of his use of guitar, harmonica, and thoughtful, sometimes political, lyrics. Beautiful music: YouTube - Ismael Lo - Tajabone YouTube - Ismael Lo - Jammu Africa Here is a nice duet between Ismael and English singer, Marianne Faithful--very soulful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfehKorG_Qs +++ There is a large number of contemporary female mbalax artists from Senegal: The most fun (and beautiful!), Coumba Gawlo: YouTube - Coumba Gawlo Seck, Fa fa fa fa fa fa ….and her Senegalese rendition of Mariam Makeba’s, Pata Pata--the ultimate feel-good dance song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LE-BxIQ3z8A My favorite, Fatou Guewël, who has a number of full tracks on last.fm: Fatou Guewel â€“ Listen free and discover music at Last.fm Rap fusion and sexy, Viviane N'Dour: YouTube - African Divas - Senegal - Mbalax - Viviane Ndour Other women worth checking out are: Fatou Laobé, Kiné Lam, Amy Mbengue, and Ndeye Marie Ndiaye. This is enough for now. I will provide some Baaba Maal and others in next post. __________________ http://www.last.fm/user/jenyc Last edited by johne; 11-27-2009 at 09:42 AM.

03-28-2009, 03:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	I have plenty of Fela Kuti (about 20 albums) if anyone needs any just holler. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

04-04-2009, 01:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
5-Track Music Addict Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Echo Park, Earth Posts: 197	awesomeness __________________ music for your life: http://www.5-Track.com/NeptuneResearch

04-06-2009, 11:06 AM	#8 (permalink)
johne Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Long Island, NY, USA Posts: 114	For those interested in music coming from West Africa, just a quick update on music from Mali. Check out new album from Amadou and Mariam: "Welcome to Mali." Here is their myspace link--especially see the promo about their upcoming tour with Coldplay in the U.S.: Amadou & Mariam on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads A video of them live: AMADOU et MARIAM New album tracks: Welcome to Mali \| Nonesuch Records And a short abc world news clip about them, their relationship, and their music: MySpace Video - Amadou & Mariam's Video Channel & Video Clips They are not exactly my cup of tea (not thrilled with the vocals, though instrumentation is good), but their new album seems to be making a spash on the world music scene... __________________ http://www.last.fm/user/jenyc

10-28-2009, 01:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
Daktari Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Originally from Lancashire, England, lived near Largs, Scotland and now live in Rocky Face, Georgia Posts: 154	Djembefola Hi there, I just found this site a few days ago but I am into African music, both listening and playing. Check out the website called Djembefola.com. This is mainly a drum site but if you check the video section it has some really good examples mainly of west coast music. My first instruments are bass and guitar but I have recently bought a djembe and I am about to order a gyil which is a wooden xylophone type instrument as played in North Ghana. Look up these three guys to get an idea of the amazing sound these things can produce. Aaron Bebe Soukoura, Bernard Woma, and Kofi Ameyaw. Also for some great African guitar demos just search for 'Soukous guitar style on youtube'. Some good stuff. Gordon.

03-20-2009, 09:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
javalover Groupie Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 4	Thanks for the update.Looked them up just now.The links are all valid except for the first one which did not quite tally with the artiste I'd mentioned.When i watched the video,wasn't the same person.A case of similar names but different artistes.However,they are both Nigerians,but the one in your link (I discovered) isn't based in Nigeria.

11-27-2009, 09:31 AM	#10 (permalink)
johne Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Long Island, NY, USA Posts: 114	^^^ I have been off MB since June, but visited today. Seems like the West Africa thread still gets some views even though posts are infrequent. I looked up the artists you mention, thanks for info on the gyil. I especially like Aaron Bebe Sukura; here is a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAqmo9ovaSQ Woma and Ameyaw have plenty of tracks on last fm. Good luck with the djembe and gyil. __________________ http://www.last.fm/user/jenyc