ENGLAND IS THE PLACE FOR ME

Painting from Ghariokwu Lemi

Ambrose Campbell led what have been the first band of British based black musicians. He formed his West African Brothers in London during the Second World War, two decades before the first Notting Hill carnival and more than 40 years before the term "world music" was invented.

Campbell was born in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1919 and given the Yoruba name Oladipupo Adekoya. He died on June 2006.

Nigerian Union Brothers: "The wind in a frolic"

West African Brothers: "Iku Koni Payin"

West African Brothers: "Ibikunle Alakija"

West African Brothers: "The memorial of Chief J.K Randle"

GUINEA: "LAND OF THE BLACKS"

Painting from Gwenaelle Trolez

The name Guinea comes from the Berber term "aginaw" via Portugese; it originally meant "black" or, in context, "land of the blacks".

For those who did not manage to catch those "Syliphone Discotheques" on Black man land's blog, here is my selection:

Balla et ses Balladins:

"Ancien combattant "

Kaloum Star: "Maliba"

Camayenne Sofa: "Manalaby"

Super Boiro Band: "Daba"

Horoya Band: "Kulumba"

Horoya Band: "Aristes"

AFRO ROCK

Today a great Afrobeat's compilation called Afro rock edited in 2001. First Jingo from Kenya. A very rare title release in 1974.

Jingo: "Fever"

"Envy No good" vocals chants echo those of "Egbe Mi o" interprated by Fela and written by Sammy Walker. Mercury Dance Band is from Nigeria.

Mercury dance Band:

"Envy no good"

The famous Frimpong from Ghana. This deep and soulfull track was recorded in 1976.

K.Frimpong: "Kyenkyen Bi Adi M'awu"

Bokoor Band is coming from Ghana. The track was recorded in 1974 in Nigeria with some production help from Fela.

Bokoor Band: "Onukpa Shawarpo"

VOODOO JAZZ: Gangbé Brass Band

After the first part of musical voodoo initiation I think you will understand a bit more Gangbé and their primary Jazz...

(Painting from Dominique Zinkpé)

Gangbé Brass Band: " Ekui Nao"

Gangbé Brass Band: "Tagbavo"

Gangbé Brass Band: "Gangbé Vile"

INITIATION INTO VOODOO MUSIC : Danialou Sagbohan

Sagbohan is known to be the greatest traditional music's singer. He has not been initiated into voodoo religion, nevertheless, he is the best voodoo representative with his famous rhythm called Kaka.

The Kaka rhythm is coming from Porto Novo. The name comes from the kakagbo instrument which is played with bamboo sticks.

Danialou Sagbohan: "Djomidjowamo"

Danialou is often called to play in funeral ceremonies. He can sing voodoo songs for all the joy of dead spirits.

Danialou Sagbohan: "Dewemibio"

INITIATION INTO VOODOO MUSIC (5): King Alokpon

Alokpon is a traditional music's star. He has been recording thirty albmus since 1969. His rhythm is the Tchinkmoumé from the hills region, in Savalou. You will regognize the Gota drum with its heavy basses.

Alokpon

"Ma wa nu dogbé mè"

VOODOO BRASS BANDS

In a early post I talked about brass instruments. The colonisation brought back military brass bands. After, Benin was for a long time a military regime and Brass bands of were playing everywhere in the country. The cultura freedom gave rise to a genuine Jazz...

Fanfare Adonaï Jazz: "Culture"

Nowadays In every church of the country you can hear brass bands. But during the nineties the freedom of Vodoun religion revealed a deeper Jazz like the one of the international Gangbe Brass Band and their first album: "Gan-gbé".

Gangbé Brass Band: "Segala"

"New Orleans and Lagos both seemed equally closed to Benin when the Gangbe Brass band made its euphoric New York debut at Joe's pub last night. The band has the world in its grap; its music leaps among the many ethnic traditions of its home, Benin, and beyone to Africa and the New World's African diaspora, seguing from traditional voodoo rhythms to jazz without missing asyncopated beat..."

(John Pareles-New York Times sept 2002)

Gangbé Brass Band: "Remember Fela"

Gangbé Brass Band: "Ekui nao"

All the paintings are from Dominique Zinkpé a famous painter from Benin