Les Bantous de la Capitale (1976)

A challenging return home and a subsequent software update issue have delayed my posting a few days, so to celebrate my cyber-return I offer a superb album from this influential and pioneering Congolese band. Les Bantous de la Capitale, led by Jean Serge Essous and Nino Malapet, played a pivotal role in transforming Cuban rumba into rumba Lingala. This record has two Cuban songs on it, proving that the transformation was not yet complete in 1976.

This album was posted previously on the inimitable Global Groove site, but I think I was lucky in finding a much cleaner pressing of the disc, and so offer it with respect.

Enjoy!

Mbilia Bel - Phenomene (1989)

In late 1989 my partner Jess and I prepared to go see Mbilia Bel at a Bay Area club. We gently filled our infant first son's ears with cotton, and then swaddled his head in bright African cloth. He fit perfectly into a large New Guinean string bag in a miniature sleeping bag. At the dynamic gig we took turns holding him, dancing as well as we could. Many of the songs we danced to are on this album, which was new at the time, published in the U.S. It brings me bittersweet memories, as life's changes can transform memory.

I bought this record at the gig, and came to love the song Manzil-Manzil. In fact the whole album is deeply imbedded in my core.

It finally made it to CD in Europe, ten or so years ago, and perhaps it still is available there. I urge you you search for it. Meanwhile I offer this gem to the rest of the world because it should not be missed: Neither the music, nor the great cover picture that did not make the digital release.

Enjoy!

Ekambi Brillant - Reason (1987)

Ekambi Brillant is a makossa star who trends towards a truly funky edge, but this album of his suffers from an overly programmed production and terribly mediocre singing. The best thing about it might be the welcoming album art, but judge for yourself.

I hesitate to post this non-brillant record, but I am thousands of miles from home and it is the best I can do today. Try to. . .

Enjoy!

Jonah Moyo & Devera Nqwena - Ndabvezera (1990)

Jonah Moyo & Dvera Ngwena have to be one of the most dynamic bands from Zimbabwe. Their fusion of Congolese rumba with traditional mbira rhythms proved to be a potent mix that became known as rhumbira. It kept the band at the peak of popularity for decades, in Zimbabwe, through a plethora of albums. Unfortunately, as is all too common, this stellar band had limited success internationally, and music did not translate into wealth for the band members.

For a decent biography of the band, and a link to possible recordings still available to purchase, you can go to the Music of Zimbabwe site. Explore it while you listen to this uplifting record.

Enjoy!

P.S. Although on the road, I've figured out how to post a trickle over the next week or so. Enjoy. . .

Masasu Band - Masasu (1989)

Another foray into the relatively rare Zambian pop music library, with this nice slice of guitar-driven kalindula dance music from the Copperbelt. We already sampled this addictive style here.

Masasu Band leader John Mulemena sings well and achieves a splendidly twangy guitar sound that propels the mantyantya, the particular dance flavor played by this band. Released in England, this album quickly went out of print. The band had a CD published a decade after this record, but little trace of it can be found. I suggest listening to this second Zambian offering on this site, and while it plays, search the ether sphere for somewhere to buy the band's CD .

Enjoy!

P.S. This may be my last post for a short while. I have a family responsibility that takes me away from home and technology.

Bembeya Jazz National - "Yekeke" (1986)

The third and final of this phenomenal series: Exquisite singing, luscious horns, dreamy and driving guitars, the timeless Malinke classic "Yekeke," and a lovely, nostalgic revisit to Cuban roots in "Yarabi." This album has it all.

If you would like a comprehensive collection of Bembeya Jazz National during the golden years, I recommend searching for Bembeya Jazz National: The Syliphone Years, a double-CD released by Sterns Africa a few years ago. But here is your chance to complete this superb collection from a golden era.

At least one friend had problems with this download file that might be a name-sensitivity issue with a particular browser/operating system combination, so I've re-upped this and the previous post's files.

Enjoy (new link)!

Bembeya Jazz National - "Moussokoro" (1986)

After posting yesterday's tasty slice of Bembeya Jazz National, I was in the mood to listen to the other recordings done during the same Paris sessions. I thought you might be too, so decided instant gratification would satisfy us both! Besides, I thought this set of three albums would look great on the site, grouped together as they should be.

It's a pity that no information is provided on the albums concerning the many musicians who made these great albums, apart from Sekou Diabaté. I believe the lead singer is the fantastically talented Sekouba Diabaté, but who are the delicious horns, for example? Please contribute information if you can.

Enjoy (new link)!

Bembeya Jazz National (1985)

Bembeya Jazz National is an extraordinary band that helped define modern Guinean music during the fecund decade beginning in the late '60s. The untimely death of its leader and great singer, Aboubacar Camara, nearly killed the band, yet it surfaced with new vigor on this 1985 release, under the leadership of brilliant guitarist Sékou Diabaté. "Diamond Fingers", as he became known worldwide, is prominent on this excellent record.

This is another of the many Bembeya Jazz recordings you will eventually find on this site. It comes courtesy of my long-time, co-fanatic, music-collecting friend, J.D.

Enjoy!

Sam Mangwana - Canta Moçambique (1989)

This album collects two disparate recordings by the great Sam Mangwana: the Abidjan-recorded rumba set Consommez Local from 1982 and Canta Moçambique from 1983. Some compilation albums work very well, but the only thing that holds this one together is Mangwana's talent. Two songs are fine rumbas built for dancing, while the others are pointedly political homages to the anti-colonial struggle in Moçambique, sung in Portuguese with a completely different musical character. How could it be otherwise, recorded with local musicians in Moçambique?

While this album does not really hold together conceptually or musically, it does present two excellent recording sessions. That is fine by me, and a pleasure to hear.

Enjoy!

Kaba Mane - Kunga Kungake (Oiseau Messager) (1989)

In a recent post I introduced Kaba Mane with his first record. As promised, here is his second, a similarly excellent, high energy production different than most anything you have heard. While the guitar solos of Joinito occasionally lean towards soukous, amply supported by bass aces Pablo Lubadika and Miguel Yamba, the chorus and rhythms are unique.

Life leaves me with few words today, so you will have to just listen and come up with your own.

Enjoy!

Tshala Muana - Munanga (1988)

Congolese pop music has been dominated by men, as has the music of most African countries. During the '80s a few women emerged from the shadows of the grand rumba lingala bands, to make their mark. Tshala Muana was one of those, and this is a great album showcasing the traditional mutuashi rhythms she incorporated into her repertoire.

Souzy Kasseya arranged the album and provided solid lead guitar, supported by a stellar band including Maika Munan and Miguel Yamba on guitars, and Manu Lima and Phillippe Guez on keyboards. Only on one cut do programmed drums intrude, while on "Kapinga," the opening cut on side two, the synthesized sounds work perfectly.

This album was produced by the brilliant Ibrahima Sylla, and it reflects his astute packaging of talent to reach a global audience. Now it reaches you.

Enjoy!

Ledy Youla - Maitre Ledy Youla (1988)

Ledy Youla passed a formative time in Guinea's Boiro Band before spending years as a key saxophonist and vocalist in the Rail Band and Les Ambassadeurs Internationeax, before settling in Paris. This rare record is his only album. It's funny how one can forget about favorite music on records after being inundated with CDs for many years, but on hearing it again can be moved in exactly the same original way. From the excellent opening song, "Alou Kele Dabila," through the six following diverse tracks, I really like this record. I hope you will as well.

Enjoy! 

Kibwe - Casamance (1988)

Kibwe is an enigma. His debut album Casamance has a reggae-tinged title track that brings to mind Toure Kunda, and some people assumed that Kibwe was from Senegal. The reality is that he originates from Congo. Yet although the album was produced by soukous legend Lokassa Ya Mbongo, and lead guitar is taken by the wonderful Dally Kimoko, it is a Pan-African gumbo of music that reflects Kibwe's unique musical vision. There are Congolese threads, but Kibwe weaves in zouk, and several other international flavors to create one of the most interesting Afro-pop releases of 1988. The opening cut, La Nuit de Noces, is classic, a must for any dance floor.

Kibwe's musical peregrinations apparently led to wanderings that landed him in Canada. Search for other CDs he released through Kibwe Productions, Black Mormon, Dictatoria and Listen To Me, and all the links to the source are dead. There's a blog placeholder that indicates he is involved in a mind-boggling mix of commerce in Kibwe Enterprises, in addition to music, and another for a clothing company; in fact there is a plethora of blogs with no firm leads. On Facebook you can learn that he is running for the presidency of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Enigmatic.

I offer this album both as an old favorite and as a catalyst to find access to Kibwe's more recent recordings. Where can we get them??

Enjoy!

Wganda Kenya - Que Buena Esta (1979)

One of the most influential bands from the Caribbean coast of Colombia has to have been Wganda Kenya. I first heard Wganda Kenya in Central America, where in the early '80s two songs from this album absolutely ruled the airwaves and parties: Rosalia and Suavecito (Avispa). Other cuts of this great band can be found on recent Soundways releases, but here is a classic album.

African culture is prominent around the entire Caribbean rim, including the coastal communities of Central and South America. Sample coastal music from any of the rim countries, and you will find direct links to ancestral African cultures. Wganda Kenya, taking a name that itself invokes Africa, takes cumbia and mixes the rhythms up to create something completely different, more African. I hope Fabián can gives us many details in the comments.

Enjoy!

On a technical note: This is one of the most damaged records I own. The file I offer is remarkably cleaned using a program called ClickRepair, which removed a ton of surface noise without damaging the music, at least for my ears. The final cut on both sides have a vinyl material defect that creates some noise I could not remove. Oh well. If you would like to hear the album before processing with ClickRepair, you can get it here.

Apart from just plain great music, this post is un saludo a los muchos colombianos costeños que me han contactado através de este sitio. Thanks!

Samuel Ateba Mengue - Mebok Me Bulu (1980s)

Samuel Ateba Mengue is a session percussionist who has participated in many recordings, but I think this is his only record. Along with diverse percussion, Ateba sings throughout this set of traditional dance songs. There is very little information about this musician, and I only deduce he is from Gabon, based on the personnel participating on the album. Chief among them are Pierre Akendengue and his frequent choral singer, in his early recordings, Marianne Ndjongue.

Yet the structure of songs and the important dual role of response vocals as both rhythm and chorus, so similar to Akendengue's music, suggests Gabon. If you have further information about Ateba or this music, or even the exact date this record was released, please enlighten us in the comments.

Enjoy!

Moments after this post went live, Aduna helpfully commented with a link to Ateba's MySpace page, which indicates that he originates form Cameroon. I am so impressed with this online community!