This Week's Playlist #119 - The Africa edition with Sylvain P.
Sylvain is picking up 5+1 songs from his travels to Africa
Hello everyone!
This Week's Playlist - Season 3, Episode 15.
This week, we have a new guest: a former colleague and music geek sharing some of the gems of his African music collection (some of the picks are not on Spotify—you'll have to stick to the YouTube links).
I hope you enjoy it and see you next weekThere is a YouTube link for each of the songs on the cover, and here are the playlists for each streaming platform:
Guest of the week: Sylvain P
Hi,
My name is Sylvain, and I come from Belgium.
Being a music addict and fan of metal, I share that passion with Thomas (even though I have to say, where I'm a vague fan page on Wikipedia, he is an encyclopedia).
We met in London a few years ago and since then, we make each other discover new bands or songs we love.
So, what an honour (and a challenge) to contribute to his enlightening and entertaining newsletter!
For it, I suggest a selection of songs that express my love for Africa and its music, through some personal and emblematic songs or movements over the continent. I would need more with 5 to express the diversity (even though I'll find a way to cheat with links). Let's acknowledge that this selection is not academic but personal and illustrates discoveries I made over years of life and travel in Africa.
Enjoy and feel free to get in touch with me via Thomas if you wish to share your preference or help me discover new stuff.
1. The Royal Drummers of Burundi - Gishora Village (2011)
I must start with "The Burundi Drums".
Having lived in Burundi, I became addicted to that drumming sound that has stuck in my mind since then. A cultural, political and religious institution in the ancient Burundi, the Ingoma became an emblem of the country after the royal era but also a musical expression that was subject to a (mis-)appropriation and gave birth to the "Burundi beat", represented by "Burundi Black" of Mike Steiphenson, that then inspired the song "King of the Wild Frontier" to Adam and the Ants (a song ranking high in the British charts) and was sampled by the Beastie Boys (and many others) when the original sound was sampled by Joni Mitchell and one band played live with Echo and the Bunnymen on "Zimbo".
2. Ancien Combattant - Zao
In the neighbouring country, The Democratic Republic of Congo, The Congolese rumba also brings me back to my childhood and listening to my father's audio tapes.
Zao provides a chaotic but touching version of an anti-war song, "Ancien combattant", that my memory associates with the famous song of independence, "Independence cha cha" from Le Grand Kallé (later remixed by Baloji) and "L'argent appelle l'argent" from Pamelo Mounka.
3. Orchestre Universite Abidjan – Uprisin' (OUA) 198?
Then, up north, the Abidjan University’s orchestra (Orchestre de l’Université d’Abidjan) made people dancing in the 80’s with that great song Uprisin’.
A song tainted with reggae vibes that reminds us that the country counts as one of the iconic countries for Reggae music (probably the place in Africa where the music style is the most popular – if you go to Abidjan, go to the Parker Place or the Blockhauss) represented by artists such as Alpha Blondy or Tikken Jah Fakoly. But don't forget to listen to some Coupé-décalé or Zouglou songs as well;
A good Magic System has already called many people to the dancefloor.
4. Fela Kuti - Zombie
There is nothing much to say about the inevitable Nigerian artist Fela Kuti, the representative of the "Afro-beat," a genre that was apparently created in Ghana (or in the UK with bands like Osibisa and their psychedelic sound) but became popular thanks to Fela Kuti and the drummer Tony Allen.
5. Mulatu Astatke - Tezeta (Nostalgia)
Ethio-jazz is another famous genre in Africa. Mulatu Astatke's wonderful melody, "Tezeta," simply takes me back to the mountains of Ethiopia. If you visit Addis Ababa, don't miss an evening at the Fendika. If you wish to listen to more ethio-jazz, I suggest listening to the compilation "Ethiopiques."
5+1. Tinariwen - Nànnuflày
And now, I am cheating a bit with a proposition that will please Thomas. He made me discover the band, and we went together to their wonderful show in London. I can listen for hours to the Touareg blues rock of Tinariwen.
And if they invite one of my idols, Mark Lanegan, to sing with them, I cannot resist.
Until the next time, Godspeed!
Thomas
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