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West African music
Anyone know any? I would like to hear some so please give me some reccomendations.
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iam from egypt do you need to hear some of our music of our king singer "AMR DIAB" ?????????
this link contain one song please copy the link in your explorer rapidshare.com/files/23665226/__1576___1593___1578___1585___1601_.mp3.html |
Thread moved and bumped on request.
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I'm a West African music geek, so I asked for thread to be revived. Forgive my geekiness, but I'm going to try an introduction to West African music here.
WA music is as diverse as, say British or American music. So, there is definitely not one example that fits all. Many WA countries have contributed to the large pool of music, but, in my opinion, some of the best comes from Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Guinea, Cape Verdi, and Benin. A good place to start if you want samples from various countries is a CD called "africa remix" by Ah Freak Iya. Despite the title, there is only 1 remix on the CD--it is a compilation of various African artists from all over the continent, not just WA. But it has a good selection of WA artists. Beyond this CD, here are some of my favorite WA artists/art forms: Mali (Mande music): Mali has produced a lot of musical forms, including Malian folk music. But, music in the country has been dominated by a type known as "Mande," stemming from an empire by same name. My favorite artist from this genre is Salif Keita, known as "The Golden Voice of Africa." Here is an example of a song from "Moffou," which I think is his best album: Salif Keita’s Music Videos – Listen free and discover music at Last.fm On the same album, he is joined here by another one of my favorite WA artists, Cesaria Evora, from Cape Verde: YouTube - YouTube - Salif Keita & Cesária Évora - Yamore Over the years, Keita has been front for several bands in Mali, including "Le Ambassadours" (later "Le Ambassadours Internationale" when they fled to Cote d'Voire during oppression in Mali). A rival band was "Rail Band," which Keita also sang with at one time. Both bands once played in same venue in Mali when the president was reviving Malian music and culture after the oppression, and people thought it was going to be uncomfortable. Instead, both bands got folks into a frenzy--it was a marker musical experience for Mande music. Here is a more recent cut of Rain Band when they were at the 2001 Grassroots festival in the U.S. (In spite of slow beginning and some mike feedback, I think they rock in this vid, and the "flappy lady" at the end is funny): YouTube - The Super Rail Band at the Grassroots Festival 2001 If you ever wanted to learn more about Mandee music, there is a great book about it (told you I was a geek): Eric Charry: Mande Music In next post, I'll review and provide links to some Nigerian music. |
Gotta love me some Fela Kuti. Everyone should have at least one of his albums in their collection (he made over 70 so there is no excuse). I like Manu Dibango too.
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All the best stuff comes from Mali I reckon. The aforementioned Salif Keita has done some wonderful work over the years. Tinariwen, Boubacar Traore, Ali Farka Toure and Toumani Diabate are a few more of my personal favourites from the area - well worth a listen.
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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. Here are some links: Ali Farka Toure and Toumani Diabaté both have free listens on their myspace pages; both pages have some tracks with Toure and Diabate together: Toure: http://www.myspace.com/alifarkatoureofficial Diabate: http://www.myspace.com/toumanidiabate Boubacar Traore YouTube - Boubacar Traoré "KarKar" Traore and Toure duet: YouTube - Boubacar "Kar Kar" Traore & Ali Farka Toure Tinariwen, myspace: http://www.myspace.com/tinariwen Tinariwen – Listen free and discover music at Last.fm I wouldn't say ALL the good WA music comes from Mali; wait til you hear the Nigerians!!! |
Nice links there Johne.
You're right, despite my own words all the best stuff doesn't come from Mali alone. What I meant to say was that in terms of quantity that's been the case from all I've heard of West African music. When it comes to Nigeria, Fela and Femi Kuti as well as King Of Juju himself take some beating. Then there's Manu Dibango from Cameroon and probably my favourite African artist Baaba Maal from Senegal, among a bundle of others. |
Nigera (juju, apala, fuji, afro-beat, highlife)
Nigerian music is so diverse, and there is so much, it's hard to know where to start. Here's just a sampling: Juju started in the 1920s as "bar music", but was updated and was made world-known by King Sunny Ade in the 1980s. Most have likely heard of him and his music, which is heavy on percussion, electric guitar, and vocals: King Sunny Ade – Ja Funmi – Listen free and discover music at Last.fm or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbIhmfZNBOE Apala is even more traditional than juju, therefore, it depends more on percussion and traditional instruments. It's roots are in the Yoruba people (like juju and fuji) and is closely associated with Islam. (If you've watched Ramadan observance on tv, you've probably heard traditional apala.) The most important apala musician is Haruna Ishola, but I'm linking to music by his son, Musiliu Haruna Ishola, who is keeping apala traditions but updating the music today. I would put this in the category of GREAT: Musiliu Haruna Ishola - Soyoyo :: ADERADIO :: Fuji is an integration of juju and apala. It uses more traditional instruments, mainly percussion and has roots in Islam, like apala, but it has more the energy and contemporary sound of juju, but even fresher. There are two leading fuji musicians, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister and Ayinla Kollington. I like Barrister a lot; here is a cut from a more recent album, Fuji London Garbage (again, GREAT): Chief Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister - Fuji London Garbage - Free MP3 Stream on IMEEM Music Adewale Ayuba is another fuji musician whom I really like (maybe the BEST one): Adewale Ayuba - Bubble - Free MP3 Stream on IMEEM Music I think juju, fuji and apala represent one strain of Nigerian music; another strain exists that begins with African folk music and pulls in influences from rock, funk and jazz (Afro-beat) and danceable "uptempo" and jazz (Highlife). All three are represented by a giant in Nigerian music, Baba Ken Okulolo. He has 3 different bands, each one representing one of these 3 types of music: African Folk (Nigerian Brothers); Afro-beat (Kotoja); and Highlife (West African Highlife Band). Here are 3 sample albums from each band, but only 30 second samples of all tracks: CD Baby: BABA KEN OKULOLO & THE NIGERIAN BROTHERS: Songs from the Village CD Baby: BABà KEN OKULOLO: Best of Babá Ken Okulolo & Kotoja CD Baby: WEST AFRICAN HIGHLIFE BAND: Salute to Highlife Pioneers Afro-beat: The most important Afro-beat musician is the pioneer of the genre, Fela Kuti . His most recognized song is probably Water No Get Enemy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdV1V...eature=related (See jackhammer's Fela Kuti thread, also.) Fela's son, Femi Kuti, is carrying on the tradition of his father and is definitely worth a listen as well. He has free tracks on his myspace page at: http://www.myspace.com/femikuti Highlife has even more roots in Ghana, so sometime later I will post full tracks of Ghanaian Highlife music. |
^ Nigerian music is something I'm not so familiar with. As I said earlier, Mali, Senegal and Cameroon are the areas I know best (musically). I've got a few King Sunny Ade and Fela Kuti albums, haven't heard of any of the others you posted - gotta get back to this thread and have a look at those links.
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I'd like to learn more about music from Camaroon
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Watch this space! |
This thread is great.
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I love the Kuti clan (with Seun being my current fave), and a good friend of mine has been hooking me on African tunes for a while now.
I have been trying to track down some stuff by Mwafrika ever since I first heard The Dusty Foot Philosopher by K'naan, but to date, no luck. This is a thread I am gonna be biting into a lot. Thank you Johne. \m/ |
Thanks guys for positive feedback, that helps.
Since Prophet mentioned Fela Kuti's youngest son, Seun, I found some links. The Egypt 80 band that Seun fronts was started by his father: YouTube - Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 in Dakar YouTube - Seun Anikulapo Kuti & Fela's Egypt80 Live Ah, K'naan and Mwafrica. Now you're getting into East Africa and current rap/hip hop. K'naan's from Somolia and Mwafrica from Kenya. I have heard of The Dusty Foot Philosopher, and went back and listened to The African Way with Mwafrica. I like them together. Only thing I could find on Mwafrica was his myspace page--see both the track and the video: Mwafrika on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads |
Ghana (Highlife): Though other West African countries produced Highlife music, Ghana invented and perfected it. Highlife is not necessarily my favorite WA music to listen to. But, then again, listening to it is not the desired end. It is meant to be danced to, and if Highlife musicians can't get people on their feet, then they have failed in their own estimation.
Highlife was likely first developed by bandleader, E.T. Mensah, in the mid-20th century. Though he is not alive, a myspace page is still dedicated to Mensah, and there you can hear an example of "old-school" Highlife, which is very danceable, jazz-influenced, and "big-band" sounding: E T Mensah on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads An exciting form of Highlife was developed by a band started in the late 60's called Osibisa. While still identifiably Highlife, you can hear the pop and rock fusion--nice listen: YouTube - Osibisa- Gong Gong Song In the early 80's, George Darko integrated a llittle German beat, a little disco, and a little funk into his music. His brand is called "Burger Highlife"--also good listens: YouTube - odo colour-george darko YouTube - prempremsiwa-george darko C.K. Mann was more influenced by Latin beat in his Highlife. This isn't great quality video, but it conveys the idea of Latin-fused Highlife: YouTube - mansa wo mu mann CK Man1 A last Ghanian Highlife artist I would like to have highlighted is probably the best guitarist of any of them, Ebo Taylor. But, I couldn't find a decent-quality track or video that showcased his Highlife style. I did find, however, a nice video of him paying tribute to Ali Farka Toure. So, this is not an example of Highlife, but a Highlife guartarist playing the more Mande-"blues-y" music of Toure: YouTube - Guitar Virtuoso Ebo Taylor plays tribute to Ali Farka Toure Next post: Djembe drumming |
I got to admit, I had forgotten that was East Africa. Still, I love K'naans music.
but I will be pursuing all the names you have in this thread with great intensity (minus the ones I know already). |
Drumming: You can’t have a thread on West African music without paying some attention to drumming. While there are many African drums, I’m going to focus on djembe drumming in this post, but will say something about dunan and tamani drumming.
Djembe (or jembe), is a goblet shaped hand drum. Traditionally, a djembe was used alone, but more often with other types of drums, to summon people to dance. Similar to contemporary break dancing, during drumming sessions, people jump in and out from the crowd, taking turns dancing. Here is a contemporary rendition of the traditional drummer/dancer interaction: YouTube - "ALLSTAR"! Gala Spectac: Guinee Dununba w "best of the best" players! Throughout WA, there are hundreds of rhythms that djembe drummers and ensembles play. The above is an example of Dununba (always fast and strong beat), and within Dununba, there are 20 or more sub-rhythms. West African djembe drumming became well-known throughout Africa and the world, largely because country governments sponsored international tours of djembe troupes (e.g., "Les Ballets Africains" from Guinea). Eventually, the emphasis began to be placed on the drummers more than on the dancers, so that today, there are master djembe drummers who perform stage concerts in front of large audiences. Probably the best known is Mamady Keita from Guinea: YouTube - Mamady Keita in "Djembefola"- documentary More contemporary djembe drummers include Fatala, a troupe from Guinea which has a number of full tracks on last.fm: Fatala – Listen free and discover music at Last.fm Farfina is a troupe from Burkina Faso and has a myspace page where their drumming can be heard (I especially like “Percus”): FARAFINA on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads Dunan is another type of drum—a double-headed cylinder that comes in 3 sizes and provides the rhythmic and melodic base for djembe ensembles. (While the djembe is the “show off” featured drum, the dunan sets the rhythm for most numbers.) Baba Olatunji, from Nigeria, played both dunan and djembe drums and is probably the African who had the first and most influence on percussion in European, American, and other Western music. His “Drums of Passion” album, released in 1959, has been very influential among percussionists and other musicians throughout the world. John Coltrane, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Quincy Jones all recognized elements of Olatunji’s influence in their music, and he played with the likes of Mickey Hart, Carlos Santana, the Grateful Dead, and Airto Moreira. Tamani (or tama) is a small drum held under the armpit of the drummer, who beats the drum with one bare hand and a stick held in the other hand. The best tamani drummer is probably Baba Sissoko from Mali. This guy is incredible and worth a listen: MySpace Video - Baba Sissoko's Video Channel & Video Clips |
Thanks for getting this thread started! To follow up with the great suggestions above, how about some love for Cameroon? Please add to these, as there are just a few to get started here and I’m not an expert at all, just some of my favorites below; please add if you love some Zouk, Soukous, Makossa, Ndombolo, Bikutsi…will follow up with some Central African favorites later.
Cameroon: Henri Dikongue Sally Nyolo is great too: Grace Decca is a longtime favorite, but hard to find some of her music online for some reason: Manu Dibango as many know Soul Makosa Of course, Petit Pays-a little 'Sans Visa': K-Tino (not so risque): I tried to post links to some videos/music, but MusicBanter won't allow me to do this until I've posted 15 times...sorry, but the names are there for you to look up! I'm sure I'm missing a lot here, any others anyone can share? |
^^^Here are some links for the Cameroon artists that koza13 mentions:
Henri Dikongue: Henri Dikongué – Listen free and discover music at Last.fm Sally Nyolo: Sally Nyolo – Listen free and discover music at Last.fm Grace Decca: YouTube - video Cameroun - (Grace Decca-oyo iyo) Manu Dibango (Soul Makosa): Manu Dibango – Listen free and discover music at Last.fm YouTube - Manu Dibango 'Lion of Africa' Petit Pays (some full tracks and videos): Petit Pays – Listen free and discover music at Last.fm K-Tino: YouTube - video - Cameroun (k-tino - viagra) Nice listens, koza. Nice to have some women artists on here. Also, Manu Dibango's "Lion of Africa" seems to be a good example of Afro beat and jazz fusion--I see he did some things with Fela Kuti. Petit Pays--WOW--sexy, sensuous! Thanks, koza. |
Awesome links man, this thread is getting lots of attention from moi.
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Nigeria
I've been looking into the country. A number of new genres have come up in the Nigerian music scene.Styles of music common amongst the young people but there's still what's left of the vintage which still has it's evergreen market. Highlife- highlife music began in eastern and southern nigeria in the 1930s.Was brought to limelight by the late Dr osita Osadebe and his band.There are others but I'm still checking. Folk-soul or some extension of worldfusion - seems to be a novelty that just entered Nigeria amongst other new genres which are evolving amonst the young people.Nnena is one amongst the many artistes in the country carrying along this music trend reminiscent of what I hear from the malians . There is even afro-hiphop and some kind of popular 'street' vibe they are yet to define but I think it's better termed as 'afro-pop'.We have the likes of 2faceidibia and 9ice.The latter even got a world music award this year or so I hear. Indeed,Nigerian music is so diverse and I'm still investigating. |
@ javalover: I'll put some links up to artists you mention since you can't put up links til you have 15 posts. Hope these are representative of the artists you mention:
Nnena: http://www.myspace.com/nnenaomali 2faceidibia: YouTube - 2Face - See Me So (New Track) YouTube - If Love Is A Crime by 2face 9ice: Welcome to 9ice Online |
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.
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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 – Listen free and discover music at Last.fm N’Dour has a large number of tracks himself: Youssou N'Dour – Listen free and discover music at Last.fm One of his videos: Youssou N'Dour’s Music Videos – 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 Diamono’s Music Videos – 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 – 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. |
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But yeah, I have no idea what their songs are about. |
I have plenty of Fela Kuti (about 20 albums) if anyone needs any just holler.
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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... |
Senegal (Mbalax), Part 2:
I think Baaba Maal is an one of the most exciting (and physically beautiful) artists alive. In Africa, he is known as “The Nightingale” for his clear tenor voice. He left Senegal to formally study music in Paris, but on returning to Africa, integrated what he learned with traditional Senagalese music. It's hard to pin him down to one genre--he definitely has mbalax (drum beat/dance rhythm) roots, but you can hear reggae, Euro-American, and traditional WA folk (apala) influences as well. Maal has lots of free, full tracks at last.fm: Baaba Maal – Listen free and discover music at Last.fm Some good videos are: "Yela," with Jamaican reggae artist (Baaba Maal is the one without the beard :) )--a better quality version is at: Baaba Maal Yela Music Video on Yahoo! Music ...but if that doesn't work for you, on youtube at: YouTube - Baaba Maal - Yela "Gorel"--better quality video at: Baaba Maal Gorel Music Video on Yahoo! Music ...or at: Senegal - Baaba Maal - Gorel - NMETV Latest Music Videos and Clips "Souka-Nayo" with Celtic female vocalists at: Baaba Maal Souka Nayo Music Video on Yahoo! Music (Also, see Bulldog's thread on Baaba Maal!) Toure Kunda is a fusion band started by a group of brothers in the late 1970s. After developing a traditional Senegalese music style, they moved to Paris where they eventually adopted a mbalax-inspired Afro-rock style they called “djambaadong.” Here’s a short sample of Toure Kunda: Dailymotion - Concert Toure Kunda, une vidéo de TKofficiel. Toure, Kunda, concert Xalam is a high energy band started in 1969 by 2 brothers. The band is named after a Senegalese stringed instrument that they use a lot in their numbers. They really should have been included in my first post about Senegalese music because, like others in that post, they are heavily influenced by Cuban music and started by playing lots of salsa and Afro-Cuban rhythms. They are still going strong and now incorporate a number of rhythms besides Cuban, including a heavy jazz influence. Definitely worth a listen, a number of tracks are available at: Xalam on IMEEM ...or their Website at: Xalam - mp3 afro-jazz samples of music to download Last, Thione Seck is a mbalax artist, but unlike those others above, is heavily influenced by Indian and Arabic rhythms. When talking about Senegal musicians, he is often overshadowed by Youssou N’Dour and Baaba Maal. But I feel he is equal to them in talent, and if you listen to nothing else in this post, I would at least give Thione Seck a try--his music is beautiful! He has 22 full, free tracks at last.fm: Thione Seck – Listen free and discover music at Last.fm ...and one of my favorite songs by Seck is on the video: YouTube - Thione Seck - Mathiou |
awesomeness
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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... |
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. :clap: |
^^^
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. |
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... |
Hi Johne,
Nice to see you are back on the site. I have only recently discovered this forum so I spend time flittering around all the different categories. I have started what I would call a "musical sketch pad' where I lay down pretty basic recordings of anything that I happen to be experimenting with at the moment. I play my djembe then maybe come up with a guitar accompaniment, them maybe add some bass or cabassa. What I end up with is not any defined style but really just a coming together of all the different stuff I have been listening to and therfore influenced by. So far, I am still learning how to use my digital recorder, (I am pretty slow on the techy side), but I do have a couple of African style tunes that I mananged to capture. Each one is less than a minute long but that is enough for me to go back to in the future and maybe develop them further. If I can figure out how to do it, I will post them here as attachments and it would be nice to hear what you think. (Or anyone else who might happen to hear it). All the best, Gordon.:hphones: |
Hi there,
As mentioned in my last post, here I am attempting to attach a couple of short African guitar samples I have been working on. Not sure how to do this so I'll keep my fingers crossed...... Gordon.:p: Sorry, can't get that to work. It won't allow an mp3 as an attachment. |
^^^
You might try posting on you myspace page and creating link to that. The mods sometimes think of these kinds of posts as self-promotion and look down on that. I know that's not what you are doing, you just want to share something you are excited about. But the forums in MB don't make this easy to do. Best thing is to place your stuff in myspace and letting people know they can go there to hear it. Glad you are back too. Continued good luck with the experimentation. |
thank you
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you can listen to Sheikh Yasin Al-Tuhami from Egypt
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