Orchestre Renova Band d'Abomey (1965)

Renova Band were part of the the 60s scene in Dahomey (Benin). Together with Super Star de Ouidah and Orchestre Picoby Band among others, Renova Band formed the first generation of modern music bands in Dahomey, mixing new genres like rumba, cha-cha-cha, salsa and jerk with traditional and local elements. The leader of the band was William Basile and one of its member, composer and singer, was the famous Nestor Hountondji (leader of the "Volcans du Bénin"), who composed "Dada Sagbo" and "Bonne Année". This EP is the first from "Discafric" label and it was released in 1965. After those first recordings, Renova Band life will be transformed by the arrival of a new member. I will count you in a next episode...

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L'Orchestre Renova Band fait parti de la première génération de groupes qui émerge en 1963. Avec d'autres comme Super Star de Ouidah, Picoby Band ou Dany Band, Renova Band reprend des rythmes tels que rumba, cha-cha-cha, salsa et jerk et y intègre des éléments traditionnels et locaux. Le chef d'orchestre était William Basile et l'un des membres du groupe n'était autre que le grand Nestor Hountondji, futur chef d'orchestre des Volcans du Bénin. Sur ce premier 45 tours du label Discafric, dâté de 1965, Nestor y compose "Dada Sagbo" et "Bonne Année". Après ces enregistrements, la vie de Renova Band sera transformée par l'arrivée d'un nouveau membre. A suivre...

Yedenou Adjahoui (1983)

Yedenou Adjahoui was born about 1930 in Avrankou, near Porto-Novo. He started music at the age of 12 with his brother and was initiated, at the same time, into Vodoun Sakpata, the god of earth. He was both traditional leader, healer and songwriter. Adjahoui was very popular because he had a great talent as a speaker and columnist. He was the master of rhythm Massè Gohoun, a traditional rhythm of the Goun tribe. He recorded over 50 records and about 30 tapes. He died in 1995.

Yedenou Adjahoui est né vers 1930 à Avrankou, près de Porto Novo. Il commençe la musique à l'âge de 12 ans avec son frère tout en étant initié au Vodoun Sakpata, le dieu de la terre. Il était à la fois chef traditionnel, guérisseur et auteur-compositeur. Adjahoui était très populaire car il avait un grand talent d'orateur et de chroniqueur. Il était le maitre du rythme Massè Gohoun, un rythme traditionnel de l'ethnie des Goun. Il enregistra plus de 50 disques et environ 30 cassettes. Il meurt le 11 Août 1995.

OOLP 001

After many recordings with the label Albarika Store, he started recording, in 1983, with the label of a Yoruba car dealership, Ola Oluwa Ni. Here are his first two albums on this label, the N°1 and the N°4.

Après de nombreux enregistrements avec le label Albarika Store, il enregistre à partir de 1983 sur le label d'un grand concessionnaire de voiture Yorouba, Ola Oluwa Ni. Voici ses deux premiers albums sur ce label, le N°1 et le N°4.

OOLP 004

Ethiopia, 1974: Mahmoud Ahmed, Bahta G.Hiwot, Getatchew Kassa.

Oro is not used to Ethiopian music, but thanks to Jam Magica, again, let's begin with the great middle 1970s period and four rare records. Thank's a lot Jam...

Born in Addis Ababa, Mahmoud shined shoes in that city before becoming a handyman at the Arizona Club, where he first sang professionally in the early 1960s. He sang for the Imperial Body Guard Band until 1974's revolution, and recorded with other bands for the Amha and Kaifa record labels throughout the 1970s.

Mahmoud Ahmed (MA 001) side 2

Since the late 1990s he has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in Europe and the Americas since Buda Musique launched the Ethiopiques series on compact disc. Let's discover those first own productions, accompagnied by Dahlac Band, from this incredible voice, mounted by gods.

Mahmoud Ahmed (MA 002)

Bahta Gebre Hiwot began his musical career as a member of the house band at the Ras Hotel in Addis Ababa. Hiwot played with this band for many years but he managed to record several solo singles, including the charming "Tessassategn Eko", which was arranged by master Mulatu Astatke.

Bahta Gebre Hiwot (AE 690)

Getatchew Kassa is known for composing the most revolutionary pieces, among all, his reinterpretations of the revered traditional "Tezeta", in both slow and fast versions.

For more infos check out the great Ethiopian music discographie on Funkidelity's blog.

Getatchew Kassa (PH 249)

El Rego & Ses Commandos (Radio Dahomey, 1969)

Theophile Do Rego, known as "El Rego" was born May 3, 1936 in Porto-Novo, Dahomey. He grew up in Senegal and started his musical career in Burkina Faso with the orchestra "L'Harmonie Voltaïque". He returned to Benin (Dahomey) in 1961 and founded his first band, "La Filda", then his "Commandos". El Rego is a dandy who loves beautiful women. He had even once owned a "girls club". Passionate of boxing, he has organized numerous battles in Benin. He is now president of a regional boxing league. In July 2010, Theophile Do Rego has announced the end of his musical career.

This record, produced by the label "Radio Dahomey", is offered by the great Jam Magica's blog. It has been composed (except the title "Kpon Fila", composed by El Rego) by a little known artist: Vincent Olla. The title "Vive Le Renouveau" ("Long Life Revival") is an original and hybrid blues.

Théophile Do Rego, alias El rego, est né le 3 Mai 1936 à Porto-Novo, Dahomey. Il a grandi au Sénégal et commençe sa carrière musicale au Burkina Faso avec l'orchestre Harmonie Voltaïque. Il rentre au Bénin (Dahomey) en 1961 et fonde son premier orchestre, La Falda, suivi de ses Commandos. El Rego est un dandy qui aime les belles femmes. Il a même, jadis, tenu un "club de filles". Passionné de boxe, il a organisé de nombreux combats au Bénin. Il est aujourd'hui président d'un ligue de boxe régionale. Au moi de Juillet, il a annonçé la fin de sa carrière musicale.

Ce disque, enregistré en 1969 par le label Radio Dahomey, nous est offert par le grand blog Jam Magica. Il a été composé (excépté le titre "Kpon Fila", composé par El Rego) par un artiste peu connu: Vincent Olla. Le titre "Vive Le Renouveau" et un Blues original et Hybride.

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L'Aube Nouvelle: Marches militaires Dahoméennes (1965)

Benin (formerly Dahomey) celebrated its 50 years of independance on August 1. I think it is interesting to discover its anthem, recorded in 1965, by the Dahomey's national military band. Thsi record is politically rich. On side 1, "L'Aube Nouvelle" (The New Dawn), anthem of Dahomey, was composed by a Dahomeyan catholic priest, Father Gilbert Dagnon. On the other side, the title "Dada Segbo" was composed by the king of Dahomey himself, King Glele. Two opposing worlds on opposite sides...

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Le Bénin (ancien Dahomey) a fêté ses 50 ans d'indépendance le 1er Août. Je pense qu'il est donc intéressant de découvrir son hymne national, enregistré en 1965, par l'orchestre de la Gendarmerie Nationale du Dahomey. Ce disque est politiquement riche. Sur la face a, "L'Aube Nouvelle", l'hymne du Dahomey, a été composé par un prêtre catholique Dahoméen, l'Abbé Gilbert Dagnon. Sur la face b, le titre "Dada Segbo", a été composé par le roi du Dahomey, le Roi Glélé. Deux mondes qui s'opposent sur deux faces opposées...