Le Super Borgou de Parakou: "The Bariba Sound" (Analog Africa)

I had to advertise this superb compilation, edited on Analog Africa label, from nothern's Benin band, Super Borgou from Parakou. Sammy Ben Redjab said that the band had recorded about twenty 7 inches, so little ! I invite you to buy this wonderful compilation of 15 tracks. See also this monster record, that is not on Analog's record, but in Oro.

Je me devais de faire la publicité de cette superbe compilation sortie sur le label Analog Africa qui concerne le meilleur orchestre des années 70 du nord du Bénin, l'Orchestre Super Borgou de Parakou. Sammy Ben Redjab dit que cet orchestre n'a enregistré qu'environ 20 disques, si peu ! Je vous invite vivement à acheter cette magnifique compilation de 15 titres. Vous pouvez aussi consulter ce disque monstrueux qui ne figure pas chez Analog, mais bien chez Oro.

Listen on BBC Music

German-based revisionist record label Analog Africa, one of the best sources for rare and vintage diaspora cuts, returns to Benin for the release of Le Super Borgou De Parakou: The Bariba Sound. The compilation explores the obscured repertoires of the Bariba and Dendi people of Northern Benin, concentrating on the sounds of Parakou’s Orchestre Super Borgou,
With Benin’s foremost drummer, Bori Borro, in their ranks… alongside melodies of an Islamic ilk – fused with Soul, Pachanga, Breakbeats, Rumba and Afro-Beat, Orchestre Super Borgou de Parakou manufactured a sound of penetrating and unpolished directness, blurring the line between the erstwhile rhythms of the devout village and the modern grooves infecting the forward-thinking city.
Stream album-featured tracks “Wgne ‘Nda M’Banza (Bariba Soul)” and “Sembe Sembe Boudou (Folklore Dendi)” below and keep an eye out for Le Super Borgou De Parakou: The Bariba Sound out March 27 from Analog Africa.

Orchestre Essogbe de Porto-Novo

Je présente un nouvel orchestre Béninois sur le blog, Orchestre Essogbe de Porto-Novo. Ce groupe de la fin des années 60 joue de la Rumba et du Boléro, des rythmes typiques de l'époque que je trouve souvent sans relief. Le disque est édité par le label Nigerian Dayo West African Records.

oro

I present a new band of Benin, "Orchestre Essogbe de Porto-Novo". This orchestra of the late 60 plays rumba and bolero, typical period's rhythms that I often find without relief. The record is published by the nigerian label Dayo West African Records.

Les Volcans (1977)

What else to say about this great band and this 1977's album, dedicated to Marxist-Leninist revolution. The vinyl quality is excellent and full of gold soukous. I'm a fan of the song "Sota Mofinde". I don't know if Joseph Atchade sings it but sometimes he's beautifully false. Anyway, this album is perfect, "Chauffez les bougies !" (Heat the candles !)

oro

Que dire encore sur cet orchestre génial et sur ce nouvel opus dédié à la révolution marxiste-léniniste. La qualité du vinyle est excellente et l'album regorge de pépites soukous. Je suis fan du morceau "Sota Mofinde", je ne sais pas si c'est Joseph Atchade qui chante mais c'est parfois merveilleusement faux. En tout cas cet album est parfait, "chauffez les bougies !"

CLASSIC VIBES (Ghana/1979)

Reggae post and edition on label Tropiques Satel with a Ghanaian reggae band, Classic Vibes, who recorded this album in Benin in 1979. I personally like the track "The Way of Jah", beautifully sad and joyful. Thank's to Ken Yatta here is a biography of Kojo Antwi, leader of Classique Vibes:

oro

Courrier reggae et changement de style sur le label Tropiques Satel avec un groupe de reggae Ghanéen, Classic Vibes, qui a enregistré cet album au Bénin en 1979. J'aime personnellement le morceau "The Way of Jah", joliment triste et allègre. Grace à Ken Tatta voici une biographie en anglais de Kojo Antwi, leader des Classique Vibes.

KOJO ANTWI

Ghana's international music superstar, Kojo Antwi, keeps pushing the limits of his achievements higher and higher. His recent performance "Shut Down" New York City. The Edward Grant Highway was closed temporarily in order to accomodate his audience. It all happend when a concert hall in the "Capital of the world", New York City, could not accomodate thousands of ticket holders to Kojo Antwi's LIVE SHOW. According to some newspaper reports this group of music lovers were "the largest ever seen at any Ghanaian gathering." He was also dubbed as the number one crowd pulling, best selling music artist in Ghana today. In a similar performance at London's Brixton Academy he brought the house down with his of style of music. Audience responses have been phenomenally glowing with other Europen countries such as Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Germany and Scandinavian countries. As an award winning international performer Kojo Antwi's CD's top the charts weeks after they are released. Mother Africa, his latest album sold 200,000 copies of cassettes weeks after it hit the markets.

Kojo started his career with the Boomtalents in 1977. A year later the Classique Handels was formed. Their superb performances took them to Cote d'Ivoire, Niger, Bokina Faso, Benin and Togo. The group inspired a artiste like Alpha Blonde who late made it big time. The group late changed its name to Classic Vibes, and went on an invitation tour of Denmark, to perform at the famous Afro Festival alongside renowned artistes from England, and Jamaica, including the legendary reggae star Bob Marley's wife Rita Marley. At the end of it all, Classique Vibes was adjudged the best group.

Ghana's international music superstar, Kojo Antwi, keeps pushing the limits of his achievements higher and higher. His recent performance "Shut Down" New York City. The Edward Grant Highway was closed temporarily in order to accomodate his audience. It all happend when a concert hall in the "Capital of the world", New York City, could not accomodate thousands of ticket holders to Kojo Antwi's LIVE SHOW. According to some newspaper reports this group of music lovers were "the largest ever seen at any Ghanaian gathering." He was also dubbed as the number one crowd pulling, best selling music artist in Ghana today. In a similar performance at London's Brixton Academy he brought the house down with his of style of music. Audience responses have been phenomenally glowing with other Europen countries such as Belgium, Holland,

Switzerland, Germany and Scandinavian countries. As an award winning international performer Kojo Antwi's CD's top the charts weeks after they are released. Mother Africa, his latest album sold 200,000 copies of cassettes weeks after it hit the markets.

Kojo started his career with the Boomtalents in 1977. A year later the Classique Handels was formed. Their superb performances took them to Cote d'Ivoire, Niger, Bokina Faso, Benin and Togo. The group inspired a artiste like Alpha Blonde who late made it big time. The group late changed its name to Classic Vibes, and went on an invitation tour of Denmark, to perform at the famous Afro Festival alongside renowned artistes from England, and Jamaica, including the legendary reggae star Bob Marley's wife Rita Marley. At the end of it all, Classique Vibes was adjudged the best group.