Gnonnas Pedro: El Cochechivo

I think this album from Gnonnas Pedro deserves a better sleeve. Nevertheless, this Cochechivo, one of the best album of the maestro, carries his signature. It was recorded in 1980.

Ce vinyle de Gnonnas Pedro meriterait une plus belle pochette. Néanmoins, cet album de 1980, l'un des meilleurs, est signé par le maestro.

Side A:

Yiri Yiri Boum

Nuevo Tambourini

Etrococo Masawenin

Side B:

El Cochechivo

Agbadja Moderne - synthèse

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Special Post: Amadou Traore Ballake

This single was recorded in 1969 in Burkina Faso and pressed in Benin by Satel label. I bought this vinyl on Ebay because of the title "Bar Konou Mousso". Ballake counts the story of a pragmatic prostitute. I think that this song is rare and beautiful enough to pay it 200 dollars...

She says: "Ballake, wait until tomorrow, i have a meeting with the white man at the Independance Hotel, it's 5000 Francs...

Ballake, leave me alone, you don't have enough money. Musician is not someone..."

Ce 45 tours a été enregistré en 1969 au Burkina-Faso et pressé au Bénin par la grande maison Satel. Je l'ai acheté sur Ebay à cause du morceau "Bar Konou Mousso". L'histoire de cette prostituée qui ignore le pauvre Ballake pour le blanc, à l'hotêl Indépendance, m'a paru assez sublime pour la payer 200 dollars...

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Bentho Gustave & l'International Poly-Rythmo

Bentho Gustave began his career with the Super Star Of Ouidah (previous post) and joined, in 1969, the powerfull Orchestre Poly-Rythmo. He is the composer and the bass player of this album which was released in 1980 by the famous label: Libert.

Bentho Gustave a commencé sa carrière dans l'Orchestre Super Star de Ouidah (précédent courrier). En 1969, il co-fonde l'Orchestre Poly-Rythmo. Sur cet album, produit en 1980 par le fameux Label Libert, il compose et joue bien entendu de son instrument fétiche: la guitare-bass.

I espcially thank Vivien for sending me this album and I also thank Frank, from Voodoo Funk, for posting the picture of Bentho Gustave.

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La Vedette Du Soleil

"La Vedette Du Soleil" is Zacharie Yekpo. It means the "Sun' Star" and he plays good traditional muisc from Benin. This first recordings, in mono, from Zacharie and his Bifalo Band were released in 1977 by a very obscure label: Promotion Hounsa and his brothers.

"La Vedette Du Soleil" a pour nom Yekpo Zacharie. Son orchestre est le Groupe Folklorique Bifalo. Voici ses deux premiers enregistrements datés de 1977 et produits par un label mysterieux: Promotion Hounsa et Frères. Je pense que Yekpo est de la ville d'Allada, un des trois principaux royaumes du Bénin. Son rythme est le Zinli, un rythme traditionnel très répandu dans le centre et sud sud du pays.

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Myriam Makeba: Live in Conakry (1971)

Après un tour de chants explosif dont la fin a été saluée par six rappels du public sous les clameurs houleuses, d'applaudissements frénétiques, d'ovations hurlées, de sifflets stridents, celle que l'on a appelée tour à tour, la "Militante de la chanson" "l'impératrice de la chanson africaine", "la pasonaria chantante", Myriam Makeba nous reçoit dans sa loge au "Palais du Peuple".

Des yeux noirs intenses, mobiles, soulignés par un sourire éclatant de fraîcheur et de gentillesse. Une toque à rabat de prêtresse antique, scintillante. Sculptée harmonieusement dans une longue jupe blanche dont la fente du devant montre les jambes large d'un pantalon en tissu imprimé. Richement baguée, des doigts fins et longs au bout de bras qui esquissent de lents et gracieux mouvements pour ponctuer chaque propos. Une voix prenante au grave caressant. Des rires qui partent juvéniles, francs, brefs et se figent aussitôt au sourire fixe et lactescent. Simplicité cordiale, cette légendaire affabilité d'une jeune femme symbolisant et assumant à la fois la longue lutte de libération d'un peuple, son peuple, dans le vaste champ miné de la culture universelle.

"Aussi loin que remontent mes souvenirs, je me vois chantant. Je me rappelle qu'à treize ans, lors d'une visite du roi George V d'Angleterre en Afrique du Sud, j'ai interprété pour lui et sa suite, devant un parterre de personnalités coloniales, un chant Xhoza intitulé: "Hayi Usizi Lamtu". Ce chant pose la question de savoir pourquoi toutes les nations blanches considèrent elles les noirs comme leur descente de lit ? Depuis cette époque je me sers de ma voix comme une arme de combat, et tant que je pourrais aspirer de l'air, je l'utiliserai en plus de toute mon énergie pour lutter résolument en faveur de la libération de tous les peuples africains et de ceux opprimés de par le monde".

D.I.K.

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Poly-Rythmo: Eskill & Vicky

Another great LP from the Tout Puissant composed and sang by Eskill Lohento and Vicky Amenoudji, two famous singers and foundators of the band. This album was recorded in Ivory Coast in 1980 by an obscure label called Omo Sun.

Et oui, pour mes amis francophones, je décide désormais de traduire. Encore un autre 33 tours religieux des Tout Puissant, composé et chanté par les deux mythiques chanteurs et fondateurs de l'eglise Poly-Rythmo. Enregistré en 1980, en Côte d'Ivoire, cet album sonne les cloches du reggae, de l'Afro Cubain, et du Bénin bien sûr...

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Special Post: Sagbohan Danialou (1984)

Dear listeners and readers, this album from Sagbohan Danialou is the last vinyl that I know. If someone knows another recording from this fantastic artist, please let me know. In 2009, Sagbohan celebrated his 40 years of career.

I would like to thank again Vivien for the gift of this post.

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Annassoua Jazz de Parakou

Annasoua Jazz Orchestra is from Parakou, which is loctaed in the north of Benin. This band used to be famous in Benin as Picoby Band was. The leader and the composer of the band is Alidou Boukari. I have no informations yet about him, i am working on it. This vinyl may be very rare, excuse its quality...

Diovi

Dintchigoba

Ay! Obaranon

Mèmiwé

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Ruy Mingas (Angola, 1969)

Angolan vocalist and guitar player, Ruy Mingas is one of his homeland's most famous musician and performer. Well known and loved in his home country and beyond since the late 50's, Mingas has long been known as pioneer in African music. Mixing musical elements of his Afro-Portuguese heritage with jazz and latin music. He is not only a beloved musician, but a leader to his people, because of his political lyrics. Mingas began to float back to the tops western attention in the mid-to late '90s. Today, drawning on his cultural and politic background, Mingas serves as the Minister of Culture of Angola. He is still and regulary records and performs.

It is my second post from Angola and still from Vivien the great. Remember this previous one of Conjunto Os Tropicais.

This 1969's recording (Africa Negra) is a french pressing which has been sent to me by the great Vivien from France. Here is the cover...

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... and here is the original pressing's cover from Angola...

The illustration of this post is taken from a fabulous Mati Klarwein's painting calle "Blessing" and painted in 1965. I am sure that he is watching and listening to this post: " Please Mati, forgive me for this bad copy..."

Orchestre Picoby Band (1965's Festival)

Orchestre Picoby Band from Abomey was created in 1953. Abomey is the capital of Dahomey's Kingdoms. In 1965 the band participated in the first national music festival. They arrived third, just behind another great band from Dahomey: Anassoua Jazz Band. This 7 Inch is a recording from this 1965's festival, which took place in Cotonou. I invite you to read this post from Radiodiffusion Internasionaal Annexe which very complete. You will excuse the quality of the vinyl. Enjoy this rare record of pure gold afro-cuban songs.

- Mado Winwé (Bolero)

- Akouavi (Bolero)

- Ahobobo (Rumba)

- Egbnon Noukountchémé (Tango)

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Balla Et Ses Balladins (Guinea-Conakry, 1974)

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Ambroise Akoha

Ambroise Akoha began his career in 1971. He is called Jukko. He performed between 1975 and 1977 as Gnonnas Pedro's guitarist. This is his first album, recorded during the late 70's. The famous singer Miguelito is playing chorus and the rhythms are rich: makossa, reggae, slow...

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Mamadi Diabate (Mali)

Mamadi Diabate was born in Kela (Mali) in 1946. He began working as a tailor during the sixties in Bamako where he started playing guitar and singing. Unfortunately, his career was short. He recorded very few LP's, one, in 1985 with Kante Manfila and the Ambassadors and this one, in 1984. In a previous post, you discovered Ousmane Kouyate. Mamadi was singing on this recording.

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Black Santiago & Aristide Hounwanou

I have no informations about Aristide Hounwanou. He composed the music and the lyrics meanwhile Ignace de Souza did the arrangements. Recorded in 1969... I suppose...

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Mangue Konde (Burkina-Faso)

This second post of Mangue Konde is simply beautiful. In the first post, he was the composer and the guitarist of Amadou Ballake. This recording, with the Super Mande Orchestra, is full of joyness, with local Burkinabese soukous, and full of melancoly with electric mandingo's rhythms.

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Poly-Rythmo: Gold Collection Vol.4

Another compilation of unreleased Poly-Rythmo's titles on oro.

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Poly-Rythmo'76 (Vol.1)

This album has been released in 1976 but the title "Gbeto Vivi" was recorded in Nigeria in 1972. That day, Poly-Rythmo's drummer, Yehouessi Leopold, was too tired to play Sagbohan's Title. So Sagbohan asked the sound-engineer to install an other microphone so that he would sing while playing drums. Sagbohan never did it before and it was, besides, his first recording in Studio.

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Super Star de Ouidah

Returning to Africa by the Mono sound Of Ouidah and the gate of No Return (Ouidah, in Benin, is the twin-town of Salavador de Bahia in Brazil). The Super Star of Ouidah was one of the first orchestra of Dahomey. Super Star from Ouidah was the first band of Bentho Gustave, the Poly-Rythmo's bass player.

Side 1

Agadjadossou (Pachanga in Fon)

Side 2

Zizi (Rumba in Fon)

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Egungun (Brazil 1964)

This post is a answer of an previous post about Dahomey's Egungun music. This LP is taken from a fantastic work about Egungun ceremonies in Salvador de Bahia. Recorded in 1964, nothing changed between Benin and Brazil...

"Only the spirits that are specially prepared to be invoked and to materialize can receive the name of Egungun, Baba Egun. The main objective of the cult is to make visible the spirits of the ancestors which act as a link between the living and their forefathers. Thus, the Baba bring to their descenders and believers, their blessings and advice but can not be touched. The Egun must always remain seperated from the living."

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Side A:

1. Iba Orisha Iba Onile

Salutation to Onile at the beginning of every ceremony.

2. Osanyin

Three chants praising Osanyin, patron of leaves and medecine.

3. Egunugun Kigbale

Through this chant the ancestors are called to come and embody themselves in the world of the living.

4. Ewo Nile

Warning call, something is going to happen. The ancestor is going to arrive.

5. Oro Abi Oro

This chant expresses the meaning of the rit itself oro), re-enacting the comunity links, bringing happiness, goodness and welfare.

6. Onile Mo Bodo Ile

Baba is arriving, he announces himself saluting the elders and asking permission to come in.

7. Nile Wa Alagbe

Baba sings, encouraging the Alagbe, the ritual musicians.

8. Agboula Ago Nile

When Agboula comes to world, evrything rejoices in happiness

9. O She Wara Wara

Two chants in homage to Shango, divine ancestor of the royal dinasty of Oyo from where the Agboula community traces its origins. Many of the Egun revered today, were in life, Shango worshipers.

Side B:

1. Salutations to Baba Olukutun, head of all the ancestors.

2. Loni Ojo Odun

Two chants of great joy for the annual festival of Baba Olukotum. A burst of rockest intensifies the ceremony.

3. Kiye KiyeBo Iroko

Homage to the Egun of the forefathers that were in lifetime woreshipers.

4. Orisha Wa Iye

A chant calling the entities to come and dance with joy.

5. Afulele Ade

A chant in homage to Oya Igbale, queen and patroness of the Egun.

6.Omi Ro

A most profound chnat that evokes all african ancestry.

7. Aluja

The drums play the Aluja, the favourite rhythm and dance for Shango, head of kings, Alafin of Oyo, owner and patron of fire and thunder.

Sunny Black's Band

Another rare realese by the Beninese group out of which emerged the Poly-Rythmo. A single composed by Clément Mélomé features a jerk on side A and a bolero on side B. I Think this single was recorded in 1968.

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