Solo Hit (Nigeria/1981)

I discovered this Solo Hit on Analog Africa label and I can't help sharing it

"Solo Hit's real name is Ohieirme, which means 'God gave me'. He was born in 1954 in Avbiosi, Western Nigeria. His father, Igbuan, was a popular guitar player and his mother composed and sang songs in the local idioms, while she worked at home. Legend has it the people of Avbiosi were known for their ability to soothsay.

After college Solo Hit went to the North to pursue a career playing rock music, but was lured back to play in Waziri Oshomah's highlife band before joining Sir Victor Uwaifo's Titibitis band in 1978 as the 2nd Rhythm guitarist. He stayed with the band for 5 years, before forming his own, which went under the names Solo Hits and his Ododo Soundz International. The word Ododo refers to the Edo people and is sometimes translated as the word 'rare truth' or 'beautiful flower'. He then began recording LP's with several of the top record labels in the area including: Iroube Records in Eruere, Atose records based in Sabongidda-Ora and Akpolla Records in Benin City.

Most of the music on these LP's is listed as Owan Native Blues or Luleha Native Highlife. The two tracks presented here were released on an earlier LP he did in 1981 when he was still a member of the Titibitis. Recorded at the Victor Uwaifo's Joromi studio, ths unique sound was dubbed Oba Afro Funk. According to Professor Victor Uwaifo it was a mixture of Ekassa music and pop sung in the Ora dialect of the Edo language. The sound on all his recordings reflects the way Solo Hit mined the local Edo folklore for rhythms and stories to use in his songs."

Akwaba Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire/70's)

I'm happy to share this short film I directed for Oriki Music and a special friend from school, Greg de Villanova. This interview with Catherine Loudes, founder and owner of the Sociétée Ivoirienne du Disque, and original producer of all tracks included in the Akwaba Abidjan compilation, was a strong moment. Catherine is a great lady of african music and her meeting with Greg had been written.

Je suis heureux de partager ce petit film que j'ai réalisé pour Oriki Music et mon ami de collège Greg de Villanova.  Cet interview avec Catherine Loudes, fondatrice et propriétaire de la Société Ivoirienne du Disque, et productrice de tous les titres sur la compilation, a été un moment fort. Catherine est une grande dame de la musique africaine et sa rencontre avec Greg était écrite...

FREDDY KEBANO & L'orchestre Inter Bantu du Congo (Congo/1972)

I love this tune "Fleurs de Mayombe", sang in english by congolese artist Freddy Kebano and his Inter Bantu of Congo band



J'adore ce morceau "Fleurs du mayombe" chanté en anglais par le chanteur congolais Freddy Kebano et son orchestre Inter Bantou du Congo.

Johnny Black & Les Jokers (Cameroun/1975)

No information on Johnny Black, Cameroonian artist who recorded in 1975 this excellent Afro-funk track on SONAFRIC label.

Aucune informations sur  Johnny Black, artiste Camerounais, qui a enregistré en 1975 cet excellent morceau afro-funk sur le label SONAFRIC.

DYO WYTHS : "START TO PRAY" (Dahomey/1971)

Behind this singer and this cover hides Ferry Djimmy, Beninese singer and composer and his Dji-Kins band from Ivory Coast. Ferry Djimmy is known for his furious funk rock, loved by collectors.  "Start to pry" song was recorded in Dahomey/Benin in 1971.

Derrière cette chanteuse et cette pochette se cache Ferry Djimmy, artiste et compositeur béninois et son orchestre Dji-Kins de Côte d'Ivoire. Ferry Djimmy est connu pour son rock funk et furieux, prisé des collectionneurs. "Le morceau "Start to pray" a été enregistré au Dahomey/Bénin en 1971.

VYCKOSS (Gabon/1973)

Auteur, compositeur, interprète et chorégraphe, Vyckos Ekondo a lancé son propre style, le tandima puisant dans les sonorités et la spiritualité gabonaises.

A l’âge de 18 ans, Vyckos Ekondo se lance dans la musique au Lycée Léon M’Ba de Libreville puis, après des études au Canada, anime une émission à la télévision gabonaise, "L’idole du dimanche" qui lance de jeunes talents nationaux.

C’est en 1985 qu’il crée le concept du tandima, à la fois style musical et danse destiné à revaloriser la patrimoine gabonais. En 1992, le Tandima, formation mixte d’une vingtaine de danseurs et musiciens, tourne internationalement . Depuis cette date, Vyckos et le Tandima représentent la culture traditionnelle Gabonaise dans de nombreux festivals internationaux.

OUSMANE KOUYATÉ & Les Ambassadeurs (Mali/1984)

After "Revelation 82" that you can find HERE is great afro-funk "Kéfimba" recorded in 1984 with famous orchestra Les Ambassadeurs.
Very young, Ousmane Kouyaté is passionate about music and learns balafon and guitar. In 1978, he met Kante Mafila offering him to join the orchestra Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux, founded with Salif Keita. Ousmane took part of the recording of all the albums. He began his solo career in 1982 with: "Revelation 82" (1982), "Ousmane Kouyaté & Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux" (1983), "Kefimba" (1984) and "Domba" (1990).

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Après "Révélation 82" que vous pouvez trouver ICI, voici le sublime afro-funk "Kefimba" enregistré en 1984 avec toujours "Les Ambassadeurs".

Très jeune, Ousmane Kouyaté se passionne pour la musique et apprend le balafon et la guitare. En 1978, il rencontre Kante Manfila qui lui propose d'intégrer lorchestre Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux, fondé avec Salif Keita. Ousmane participe à l’enregistrement de tous les albums. Il commence sa carrière solo en 1982 avec: "Revélation 82", "Ousmane Kouyaté et Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux" (1983), "Kefimba" (1984) et "Domba" (1990).

FERRY DJIMMY & His DJI-KINS (1971-1975)

I never mentioned remarkable beninese artist Ferry Djimmy, and for good reason, I have no record of him. Thanks to Pierre (Jam Magica) and Nuno (Kêtu Records) I can share this first Ferry Djimmy's album. Ferry Djimmy is always backed by an Ivorian band, The Dji-Kins, which was resident of famous Apollo club of Cotonou. Danialou Sagbohan notably made his debut with this band. I don't know who is the drummer of the band but he is for sure terrible. Unfortunately, on the this first Ferry Djimmy's album, recorded in 1971, i have only found three titles to share. Sorry

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Je n'ai jamais évoqué Ferry Djimmy, artiste béninois remarquable, et pour cause, je ne possède aucun disque de lui. Grace à Pierre (Jam Magica) et Nuno (Kêtu records) je peux partager ce premier album de Ferry Djimmy. Ferry Djimmy est toujours accompagné par un orchestre Ivoirien, les Dji-Kins, qui on fait le bonheur du public béninois dans le club Apollo où ils résidaient. Danialou Sagbohan a notamment fait ses débuts avec cet orchestre. Je ne sais pas qui est le batteur de cet orchestre mais il est redoutable. Malheureusement, sur le premier album de Ferry Djimmy, enregistré en 1971, je n'ai trouvé que trois titres à partager. Désolé.

On the second record, distributed in 1975, and posted by famous Radiodiffusion blog, we can find the same funk style music influence that pleases european auditors. Ferry Djimmy and his Dji-Kins band had such tremendous talent that their funk style is universal.

Pathé

Sur ce deuxième disque, enregistré en 1975, et posté par le fameux blog Radiodiffusion, on retrouve ce même style et influence funk qui plait tant aux européens. Ferry Djimmy et on son orchestre ont un tel talent que leur funk est universel.

OGOUN FERRAILLE: "Celebration"

I celebrate today Ogoun Ferraille, contributor to the blog and expert in Beninese music. Thank you to him for this gorgeous afro funk mix: "Celebration"

Je célèbre aujourd'hui Ogoun Ferraille, contributeur du blog et fin connaisseur de musique béninoise, je devrais dire expert. Merci à lui pour splendide mix afro-funk: "Célébration"

Super Doeths (Nigeria/1985)

Je voudrais remercier Domantas pour le partage de ce disque hyper funky des Super Doeths du Nigeria. J'espère que vous apprécierez car je ne poste pas souvent des disques funk.

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I would like to thank Domantas for sharing this funky record from the Super Doeths of Nigeria. I hope you will enjoy because I do not post often funk music records.

The duo Super Doeths described their sound as “Afro-funk,” but showed a keen interest in the burgeoning hip-hop scene, quoting Whodini’ “Five Minutes of Funk” and namechecking Run-DMC in the “Sucker MCs”-inspired eponymous theme song. Produced by legendary rock guitarist Felix “Feladey” Odey.

Poly-Rythmo (1973)

litanies entêtantes, vers de soie qui se transforment en heureux papillons. Je ne peux plus m'arrêter d"écouter "Azanlokpe". Merci Ogoun Ferraile, quel "doux et heureux mariage", merci de partager ce sublime disque enregistré sur Satel et déjà imprégné, en 1972, par les Vodoun de cuivres électriques.

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Ambroise F.

A new artist on Oro and as always: Afro-Cuban, Reggae, Funk and Pop music... Fidegnon is known to be a great pianist. Another great musician played on this record: Louis Wasson, from Cameroon, who also recorded with Sagbohan Danialou on this album. Please, my friends, enjoy "Nonvi Tche Honton Tche", a great latin tune...

Un nouvel artiste sur Oro et comme d'habitude: de l'Afro-Cubain, du Reggae, de la funk et de la Pop... Fidegnon est connu pour être un grand claviste mais, sur cet album, il y a aussi Louis Wasson, fameux guitariste du Cameroun, qui a déjà enregistré avec Sagbohan Danialou sur cet album. Vous Apprécierez, mes amis, le titre "Nonvi Tche Honton Tche" un terrible titre latin...

Liberdade (Brazil 2002)

"These two recordings were made in Brazil by Liberdade in 2002. Liberdade was en ephemerous studio group of 9 musicians, all born and raised in the Afro Brazilian city of Salavador da Bahia. None of them ever really had the opportunity to record instrumental music for a producer. When I came up with the idea of doing of doing a short recording session inspired in 70's funk, all the musicians fell in love with the project and decided to work on original compositions. The result is here, a raw, infectious, syncopated afro funk track & easier catchy samba soul. Hope you'll enjoy this very first Oriki Music studio production". Gregoire de Villanova.

a. Grande Lua Cheia

b. Estrada Velha

I only put extracts of the vinyle. I invite you to buy this vinyl on Diaspora Records or on Itunes.

MARIJATA (Pat Thomas Introduces Marijata)

Born in 1951 in Kumasi, Ghana, the highlife vocalist, Pat Thomas, made his name with his band the Sweet Beans. He began his carreer in 1969 with the Broadway Dance Band, leaving a year later to join the Uhuru Dance Band. Then he played with Ebo Taylor's Blue Monks and finally formed the Sweet Beans in 1973. They released "Faise Lover" in 1974, then split and-reformed as Marijata, releasing Marijata and Pat Thomas Introduces Marijata. What a story to resume this rare and famous album that can be sold more than one thousand dollar.

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Né en 1951 à Kumasi, Ghana, le chanteur de highlife, Pat Thomas, s'est fait connaître avec son groupe les Sweet Beans. Il commençe sa carrière en 1969 avec l'orchestre Broadway Dance Band, et rejoint un an plus tard la formation Uhuru Dance Band. Puis il accompagne Ebo Taylor et ses Blue Monks pour enfin créer l'orchestre Sweet Beans en 1973. Ils sortent l'album "Faise Lover" en 1974, se séparent pour se reformer sous le nom de Marijata et le célèbre album Marijata et Pat Thomas introduit Marijata. Tout une histoire pour parler de ce rare et fameux vinyle qui peut atteindre une valeur de plus de mille Euros.

T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo & Lohento Eskill (1978)

Let's enjoy this "volume 5", recorded in 1978. Lohento's composition "Agbaza Min Nin" became famous in 1977 during the FESTAC. The song talks about the beauty of african women's light-skinned. You can also recognize in this LP Tijani Kone's saxophone just coming from Mali.

Encore du plaisir avec ce volume 5 enregistré en 1978. "Agbaza Min Nin" est un titre rendu célèbre en 1977 durant le FESTAC. Le morceau parle de la beauté des femmes africaines et de leur peau ensoleillée. Vous reconnaitrez le saxophone de Tidjani Kone, fraichement débarqué du Mali.

Leon Keita 's dream

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Ousmane Kouyate: Revelation 82 (Mali/1982)

This the first album from famous Guinena guitarist Ousmane Kouyaté. Recorded in 1982, it is great mandingo modern music whith killer afro funk tune "N'ny". This record seems to have some value so thanks to Vivien for sharing it with us.

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C'est le premier album d'Ousmae Kouyaté, fameux guitariste guinéen. Enregistré en 1982, on retiendra l'excellent morceau afro-funk "N'ny". Cet album a de la valeur alors merci Vivien pour le partage.