Hello All!
Does anybody know how to get hold of the person or company who holds
the copyright for Franco's music? I am attempting to put together a
benefit CD for HIV/AIDS education.

Thank you very much,
Joel

The Website has been updated.

http://www.koraawards.co.za/english/musicawards_winners.asp

From the Kenyan Times

http://www.kentimes.com/index.html

Owiyo, Kabary voted Singer of the Year

By Alloys Muganda

    KENYA's songbird, Susan Owiyo, and talented Dola Kabary were last
weekend declared the winners of the Singer of the Year Award in an
entertaining extravaganza held at the Guzzlers Hotel,Nairobi.

    This was the first time that the two musicians shared the top
prize since the competition was started seven years ago.

    Owiyo of the popular song Kisumu Ber took the crowd which had
gathered at the Guzzlers Hotel by storm when she was declared the
winner together with Dola Kabaray.

    The show was most successful despite hiccups however, the
organizers went out of their ways ensured that the event went on
smoothly. The second position went to Princess Julie of the famous
title Dunia Mbaya.

    The Julie record which was released a couple of years ago was and
still is a favourite number particularly at this time when the
Government is in the forefront of fighting the dreaded scourge
HIV/AIDS.

     The number has enjoyed a lot of following and has been used in
various institutions and centre to propagate the dangers of the
disease. John De Mathew who was last year's winner finished third
with his popular number Urathi wa Ma.

    The competition was so close even the winners could not believe
when the results were announced.

    Owiyo, who is based in Kisumu said that she was very grateful to
have shared the top spot and will work hard to ensure that Kenyan
music is well received not only here but also abroad.

    In the Class two category, Kenya's hip hop musician, the
lateWycliffe Omondi popularly known as Wiki Mosh was voted the best
performance in his title Atoti.

    The award was received by his parents who said despite his death
his music will continue inspire the young and upcoming artists.

    The musician died this year after being involved in an accident.
Eugene Nakitare popularly known as Nonini finished runner up with
David Mathenge known as Nameless voted the third best musician.

    In class three Joseph Wainiana Mbugua and Esther Wahome were
declared winner and runner up respectively. Ogapa DJs were voted the
best studio producer with Samawati finishing second. Jojo Productions
was voted the third.

    The other categories were, best taarab Singer and Group title
which went to Nyota Ndogo with Johari Orchestra will Black Star. In
the Nyerere Shirikisho Award, Saida Karoli was voted the winner
followed by Bebe Cool with the late Mbarak Mwinshehe being declared
the number three winner.

    The late Mwinshehe was a popular musician not only in Tanzania but
also in East African region as a whole. He produced a number of
records including Shida, Kulala Njaa siku Moja,Soka Japan,Shule ya
Mashemeji among others .

    Mr.Nice was voted fourth in the Shirikisho Award. Mercy Myra was
voted the most promising female artiste while the promising male
artiste was David Mathenge aka Nameless. Kayamba Africa won the best
traditional adaptation award while Bakulutu Africa were runners up.

    The Music Composers Association (MCA) under the chairmanship of
CDM Kiratu this year introduced a number of awards including the Late
Wahome Mutahi's inspiration Award which was won by James Wahome
Maingi.

    Mvua Nairobi and Maisha ya Mjini titles are some of the titles
which led to the late Nyongesa wa Muganda being awarded posthumously
the runner up title with John De Mathew finishing third in the
category.

    Other musicians who won awards include Eric Wainana of the famous
number Nchi ya Kitu Kidogo,Wainaina Mbugua of the title Ngondu, Kibe
Ndirangu of Nadai Haki,Talia Oyando, Avni and Sachni Dave and Uyoga.

    In the anti-piracy campaign award James Okoth and Japheth Kasanga
were voted winner and runner up respectively.

In the 80's after Josky and ya Ntesa left O.K. Jazz they created
their own group and came out with two successful albums.
Unfortunately those albums are no where to be found. Do you know
where I can find them, and whom should I talk to about putting them
on CD?

Hello,
im from argentina and i sing in a choir. We are leraning a song form
tanzania but don have the complete lyrics. ¿does anybody of you know
a song about tanzanian independence, and nyerere, whihc starts "uzuri
wake tanzania, ameleta nyerere"?
Thank you
guga

On occassion I get asked where to start with African music. Also
every year I teach a one week class on "African Pop Culture;" the
students want a list of good introductions to African music. So I put
together the following list as a starting point. What do you think?
Any better suggestions? I tried to balance regions, styles, and
include only discs which are fairly easy to find.

My African Music Top Ten—Heavy on the classics.

10. Indestructible Beat of Soweto, Vol. 1- Great intro to South
African Music.
9. Baaba Maal – Firin in Fouta- Techo Senegalese music that works.
8. King Sunny Ade- Juju Music- awesome intro to Nigerian Juju- steel
guitars? Still a favorite after 20 years.
7.5 Alphy Blondy- Aparthied is Nazism- African reggae that is
accessible and still combines local elements.
7. Fela Kuti-Opposite People/Sorrow Tears and Blood- My favorite Fela.
6. Africa Dances- an impossible to find compilation on Original Music-
  covers all of Africa, includes classic tracks from the 50s-70s.
5. Orchestra Boabob- Pirates Choice- favorite late night record—
sounds like a great lost Santana record rerecorded on the edge of the
Sahara
4. Prince Nico Mbarga- Sweet Mother/Aki Special- Ibo swing/ highlife
philosophy, one of the all time best selling albums in Africa.
3. JB Mpiana & Wenge Musica BCBG- Faux D'Lamour- my favorite new
school Congolese CD. Ndombolo!
2. Oumou Sangere- Moussoula- my favorite Malian female singer.
1. Franco & TPOK JAZZ: 1972/73/74 Azda- classic rhumba.

Honorable Mention: Papa Wemba-Papa Wemba, Rakia Troure-Mouneissa, any
Mbilia Bel w/ Tabu Ley Rouchereau, Sam Fan Thomas- Makassi (Africa
Music Typic)

I just learnt that this group with alot of young talents just broke
away from JB Mpiana in Paris. They have a hot single coming out
titled "Wanted".
Is the name PIPIYU originating from this paragraph of a human rights
report?

On January 5, FAC soldiers shot and killed William Mbulu in the
Lingwala district of Kinshasa for no apparent reason. On January 14,
in the Limete district of Kinshasa near Kuaka, a soldier in the
Presidential Guard known by the name of Pipiyu killed a policeman who
intervened on behalf of a civilian being harassed by the soldier.
Here is the full link to the article.
http://www.humanrights-usa.net/reports/droc.html

I want to wish you all a Happy New Yearand I hope 2004 that is even better than
2003 for every one. Have a safe and blessed New Years Celebration...

and please dont drink and drive....

EV

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BlackRelationship/

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Sauti za Busara (Swahili = Sounds of Wisdom), has officially announced the
program of the festival:
http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/article.php?story=20040104070435348

Angel Romero
World Music Central
552 Parkview Dr.
Burlington, NC 27215
USA
Phone: +1-(336) 437-0762
E-mail: angel@...
Web sites: www.worldmusiccentral.org (English language version) &
www.musicasdelmundo.org (versión en español)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Shimita El Diego and Nene Tchakou's Affro-Muzika has a
new website at http://www.affro-muzika.com.
There are photos, MP3s, upcoming shows etc.

Black Star Foundation
Michelle Boekhout van Solinge
Van Speijkstraat 31-3
1057 GK Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel: +31-20-6120841 / +31-6-46041420
E-mail:  <mailto:michelle@...>
michelle@...
More information:  <http://www.blackstarfoundation.nl/>
http://www.blackstarfoundation.nl






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Space Junkies Magazine is a monthly online magazine promoting and
covering independent music of all genres for free. Jan 2004 issue:
http://www.spacejunkies.net

(Includes interview with Stephen Conoroy, Producer of Yaya Diallo's
West African music on Onzou Records, http://www.onzou.com )

Interesting Article on Congolese Music in the Economist:

http://www.economist.com/world/africa/displayStory.cfm?
story_id=2281725

Rumba in the jungle

Dec 18th 2003 | KINSHASA
James Astill

Congo's music has a magnificent history but, like the country, faces
hard times

GASPING, a beautiful girl is propelled towards the pit, a heaving
mass of 30,000 men. She recoils in panic, arms flailing, arching
herself backwards almost to the boards. But, as the beat throbs,
resistance is hopeless. On she is drawn, by the omnipotent will of
her own thrusting hips. She reaches the edge of the stage, and the
tempo soars. The dancer is transformed. Ecstasy grips her. Howling,
she grabs fistfuls of air, writhing in a blur of blue latex and
spangled fur. The song peaks. The dancer makes a last bone-juddering
lunge, freezes, and then staggers drunkenly off to the wings. In the
pit, or rather, on the pitch of Kinshasa's main football stadium,
thousands of half-lit faces are roaring. Your correspondent discovers
that he has dropped his pen.

Congolese music is sexy. Whether the improvised part of a traditional
rumba, or the dizzying climax to a modern "ndombolo" dance number,
its rhythms invariably recall the carnal deed. Cameroon's prim
government tried to ban the ndombolo dance—which is slightly less
risqué than the thrusting dancer's routine, even though performed in
groups—on the ground that it was sexually suggestive.

The Congolese dismissed the ban as sour grapes. Perhaps they were
right. In smart discos, sweat-box bars and market-places across
Africa, Congolese music is rampant. Local musicians can rarely
compete. Even in Lagos, the proud home of high-life jazz, clubs echo
with Congo's trademark throbbing bass, tinging guitars and racing
falsettos. And in Europe Congolese music has become almost synonymous
with African music. Europeans call it soukous, after secousse, the
French for "jolt" or "shake". In Paris and Brussels, Congolese stars
draw crowds of 20,000.

But it is in the Democratic Republic of Congo that the music truly
matters. For five years, a vile war has raged in Congo, costing
between 3.1m and 4.7m lives. The country is ruined and divided, its
state a figment. Yet if Congo is more broken than Iraq or
Afghanistan, it is a better place for a party. "Music is keeping the
nation alive," says Noel Ngiama, aka Werrason, one of the country's
four big stars. "In Congo, almost everyone can dance or sing."

Not that Congo's music industry is untouched by the nation's
troubles. The dancer who sent this correspondent scrambling for his
pen was a member of a band based in London. Lining the back of the
stage were only a couple of members from each of Congo's leading
bands, many of which are also based in Europe. So, for the first time
in Congo, partly for want of musicians, the singers were miming.

As the dancer staggered off, a small man wearing big shades, an Arab
djellaba and a Turkish fez seized the microphone. "Thank you for
coming," he said, thwacking the stage with a camel-prod. "You have
proved that I, a journalist, am as famous as a musician!" This was
Zacharie Bababaswe (above), whose brief homecoming to Kinshasa the
audience was celebrating.

Yet Mr Bababaswe is modestly talented for a Congolese celebrity. He
is famous for his weekly television music programme, "Green Fire",
which he records in Brussels. This typically features Mr Bababaswe
interviewing, or rather haranguing, a Europe-based Congolese music
star. His brand of demagoguery has earned him the title "the mullah
of the press". Hence the Muslim garb, which several of the performers
were also wearing as a token of their respect. "He makes the music
live," said Biscuits for Schoolchildren, a man in full Bedouin
costume, who plays with another of Congo's big four singers, Papa
Wemba. But if that were true, Kinshasa's music scene would hardly be
thriving.



How it all began
Congolese music has always acutely reflected the fortunes of the
people who made it. Its modern form emerged in the early 1940s, in
two cities separated by a mile of swirling brown water. War in Europe
had boosted demand for Congolese copper, cotton and rubber. Factories
were mushrooming in Leopoldville, as Kinshasa was called then, the
capital of the Belgian Congo (now officially the Democratic Republic
of Congo), and across the Congo river in Brazzaville, the capital of
the French Congo (now officially the Republic of Congo-Brazzaville).
To meet the demand for labour, peasants flooded in from the
rainforest, and the population of Leopoldville grew to around 200,000.

The migrants brought their traditional music, played on drums, lutes
and likembes, xylophone-like instruments played with the thumbs. They
also encountered new music: Cuban boleros, mambos, salsas and,
especially, rumbas, captured on a budget range of ten-inch, 78rpm
records put out by His Master's Voice, a British label. Flush with
their new wages, the Congolese devoured these rhythms—perhaps because
they were rooted in traditional songs of west and central Africa,
before being taken to Cuba by African slaves. "And so the rumba was
returned to the land of its origins, Congo," writes Manda Tchebwa, a
Congolese musicologist.

Congo's first great star was Antoine Kolosay, aka Papa Wendo, a name
garbled from his original moniker, the Duke of Windsor. When not
employed as a riverboat mechanic, Papa Wendo sang languorous rumbas
at weddings and funerals, accompanying himself on an acoustic
guitar. "It was an exciting time," he now recalls, a 79-year-old
seated in the shade of a banana tree, in the yard of his modest
Kinshasa house, from which he sells beer.

Everyone wanted to dance the rumba. Seizing his chance, a Greek
businessman built a broom-cupboard recording studio in his
Leopoldville trading house, and lent Papa Wendo guitars and drums.
The authorities were less helpful. In 1948 Wendo wrote one of Congo's
loveliest songs, "Marie-Louise", a eulogy to the sister of his
guitarist, Henry Bowane. A month later Marie-Louise died. Whereupon,
wherever Papa Wendo played the song, the girl's ghost was reported to
have appeared. He was charged with Satanism by the Catholic church,
and imprisoned. "Of course, it was really the melody that was
haunting people," says the old man, and then proves his point, with a
bewitching, only slightly quavery, rendition of the song.

By the mid-1950s, Papa Wendo had been superseded by two bands whose
most brilliant members would dominate Congolese music for the next
three decades. As their names suggest, Joseph Kabasele's African Jazz
and François "Franco" Luambo's OK Jazz, jazzed up the rumba, adding
horns and the double bass. By now, there were half a dozen Greek
recording studios in Kinshasa, creating intense competition for the
best musicians.

Kabasele and Franco traded in Papa Wendo's modest scooter for sports
cars and the other pleasures that a booming Leopoldville could amply
provide. By 1955, says Gary Stewart's exhaustive, and gratefully
plundered, history, "Rumba on the River", the Congolese were buying
600,000 records a year, and the capital's native quarters boasted
some 330 bars.



More papas than mamas
Almost inevitably, as independence approached, these first modern
Congolese heroes were drawn into politics. Patrice Lumumba, Congo's
first leader, who was later murdered, campaigned from the back of
Kabasele's Cadillac. In 1960 African Jazz played in Belgium at the
talks that delivered both independence and the Cadillac man's most
famous song. "We are independent at last!" he sang. "Viva liberty cha
cha! We have won!"

Almost at once, Congo's bright hopes began to fade. A Belgian-
manipulated secessionist movement in copper-rich Katanga province
sparked civil war. "You Congolese politicians, put an end to your
fratricidal war," implored Kabasele, in one of several songs rumoured
to have been written by his uncle, a future cardinal of the Catholic
church.



Where previously Congo's music stars had gloried in the nation's
successes, Papa Wemba strutted on the rotten boards of its decline


Yet money and power, the corrupters of Congo's politicians, infected
the musicians too. African Jazz's musicians mutinied. Led by a
brilliant young singer, first known as Seigneur Rochereau, then Tabu-
Ley, they formed African Fiesta. Thus began a rich tradition of cell-
splitting, adhered to by Congolese bands and, unhappily, by Congolese
rebel groups to this day.

At the last count, Wenge Musica, a group formed in the early 1980s,
had split into five different outfits, producing two of Congo's four
modern superbands. Over the past four years, the Congolese Rally for
Democracy (RCD), a rebel group based in Congo's anarchic east, has
fractured at least four times, and RCD-Goma, its biggest faction, is
charged with massacring thousands of civilians. "Every Congolese
wants to be the chief," explains Georges Branches, who runs an
advertising agency in Kinshasa. "This makes for innovative music and
terrible politics."

For two decades, intense rivalry between Franco, "the sorcerer of the
guitar", and Tabu-Ley, of "the ebony voice", powered a golden age in
Congolese music. Influenced by funk and rock 'n' roll, adding more
saxophones and the bass guitar, they made the Congolese song faster
and fuller. The lyrics also changed to reflect the concerns of a
swelling urban class.

Where Papa Wendo had stressed the importance of finding a wife who
could cook, Franco sang of prostitutes and money. Tabu-Ley, partly
influenced by a visit from James Brown, America's "godfather of
soul", to play at the "Rumble in the Jungle" (the celebrated boxing
match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in 1974), turned his
performances into glittering, all-dancing extravaganzas.

Congo's economy, meanwhile, could just about keep pace with these
excesses, thanks partly to the relative stability imposed by Mobutu
Sese Seko, the country's first dictator, plus buckets of aid money.
In 1970 the Congolese were buying 1m records a year, and, with their
taste for the good life undiminished, spending 15% of their income on
beer. Then the good times stopped rolling. By 1974 Mr Mobutu
had "Zaireanised" most of the country's foreign-owned businesses,
including some 2,000 plantations—the mines had been taken over in the
1960s—pleasing his cronies but wrecking the economy of Congo, or
Zaire as he had renamed it, overnight.

The big men of the music scene grew similarly demented. Franco, the
chief of the musicians' union, imposed a ban on new bands, in a
flagrant attempt to maintain his own supremacy. As the proud owner of
a major record company, stolen from its Greek founder, he also
oversaw the decline of Kinshasa's recording industry, partly due to a
shortage of vinyl. Yet, despite Franco's efforts, myriad new bands
emerged.



Better well dressed than well fed
One of the best was Zaiko Langa Langa. For want of cash, it ditched
the horns, and replaced their subtle variations with extravagant
guitar solos and vigorous dance routines. Inevitably, Zaiko split,
several times, spawning Papa Wemba's Viva La Musica in 1977. This was
a landmark in Congolese counter-culture. Whereas previously Congo's
music stars had gloried in the nation's successes, Papa Wemba
strutted on the rotten boards of its decline.

James Astill


Sex may have something to do with it

He was the high priest of the "Religion Kitembo", literally the
worship of clothes, which dictated that it was better to be well
dressed than well fed. The church's acolytes were called sapeurs
after the French slang for clothes, or gear, sapes. Backed by
Congolese shoplifting gangs in Paris and Brussels, and their own
resourcefulness, the sapeurs turned Kinshasa's mouldy discos into
catwalks for the world's most expensive fashions. Papa Wemba, le Pape
de la Sape (the pope of the sape movement), cheered them on. "Listen
my love. On our wedding day/The label will be Torrente/ The label
will be Giorgio Armani/The label will be Daniel Hechter/The label for
the shoes will be J.M. Weston."

It was no coincidence that Congo's music had become a fully
interactive performance: the record industry was dying. Incompetence
and outdated technology drove musicians to West Africa and Europe to
record. And many decided to stay. This scattering of talent widened
the audience for Congolese music. But, cut off from Kinshasa's
incestuous rivalries and critical audiences, the migrant musicians
rarely produced great work. Artists dismissed as mediocrities in
Kinshasa could masquerade as superstars to foreign crowds.

Meanwhile the true stars were dying, Kabasele of hypertension,
Franco, and a handful of lesser stars, allegedly of AIDS. Congo was
imploding. By the early 1990s, average purchasing power had fallen by
75% in two decades. Innovative Congolese, including many sapeurs,
were stealing away to Europe. Newspapers that had once offered
sophisticated musical comment were firebombed. Franco's exclusive Un-
Deux-Trois nightclub became an evangelical church.



From piracy to praising pols
During the past five years of war, Congo's economy has collapsed, and
the recording industry with it. As Kinshasa's studios began closing
in the 1980s, pirated tapes and records flooded the market. In 1991,
1.5m pirated Congolese cassettes were seized in nearby Togo in a
single bust. Now, with cassettes costing $4, and over 80% of
Congolese living on less than $1 per day, even the market for pirates
has dried up.

According to Gabriel Shabani, a former record producer, a hit album
might sell 20,000 cassettes in Kinshasa, a city of 4m. Mr Shabani has
closed his recording studio, and plans instead to sell Congolese
music to the diaspora over the internet.

Congo's club scene is similarly stricken. With most Congolese unable
to pay more at the door than the equivalent of 50 cents, the standard
price for popular gigs, many stars have stopped performing in
Kinshasa. Today, Werrason is Congo's biggest draw; but that is at
least partly because he does perform. At Kinshasa's People's Palace,
a $34m Chinese-built monstrosity, he recently drew a crowd of 20,000
in a couple of hours for a free concert. But the audience was mostly
of street-boys, the sound system failed, and Werrason played only
three songs before giving up in disgust.

For most Congo-based musicians, singing the praises of politicians is
now the most lucrative source of cash. A typical album might feature
the names of around 50 rich Congolese, who would all be expected to
pay for the privilege. On her latest album, Tshala Mwana, Congo's
leading chanteuse, suggests that Mwenze Kongolo, a man accused by UN
investigators of involvement in the looting of $5 billion from state
mining companies, has the sexual energy of nine men (it is not known
whether this flattery was rewarded).

Rather more modestly, Moke "Lambio Lambio" Tomisi, the president of
Papa Wemba's Kinshasa-based band (he also has two in Europe), offered
to have his patron describe your correspondent as Fleet Street's
finest for $500. Though tempted to break The Economist's shackles of
anonymity, he regretfully declined.

At which, Mr Tomisi continued rehearsing his dancers in a routine for
a Nescafé television commercial. His boss, Papa Wemba, was on bail in
France, charged with smuggling several thousand Congolese into Europe
as members of his entourage. For the Nescafé commercial, Mr Tomisi
expected to receive $500, to be divided among 14 people.

With almost no stars now recording in Kinshasa, Congo's music is
becoming devoid of innovation. It can take a trained ear to tell one
modern Congolese band from another, so formulaic has the music
become. Even Koffi Olomide, arguably Congo's most brilliant modern
star, a clever lyricist and resonant baritone, is getting lazy.
According to the verdict of Kinshasa's streets, he has hardly written
a good song in years.

Yet no new stars have emerged in the last decade to sweep the old
guard away. According to Emeneya "King Kester" Mubiala, a star of the
1980s: "We're reaching the point where people still love the music,
but barely remember the names of the songs." In Congo's broken
society, tribal divisions are growing. Modern musical rivalries
reflect this. Werrason owes his huge popularity not merely to his
music, which is quite ordinary, but to the partisan support of people
from his Bandundu province east of Kinshasa, including most of the
capital's street-boys.



Down among the weeds
Congolese music does seem to be in a bit of a slump. But a recent
night out in La Porte Rouge, a tiny bar in Kinshasa's poor Matonge
suburb, suggested that its roots were still flourishing. Seated at
white plastic tables were poor punters from all four corners of
Congo. Against a brick wall, a row of bare-chested drummers were
beating out the Mutuashi music of the central region of Kasai. And
one by one, the drinkers downed bottles and stepped up to dance their
thanks.

Old men and slobbering drunks gyrated with vigour and style, as they
plastered small bills on to the drummers' sopping foreheads. Middle-
aged slatterns were transfigured, their cares seemingly forgotten, as
they swaggered seductively on to the floor. Congo's music industry,
like its politics, has a few crooks and rabble-rousers at the top.
But, almost incredibly, down among the weeds, Congolese music and the
brutalised people who really make it are thriving still.

Hallo, my name is JD Ongwen. I am a Lango belonging to the Arak
Obukori clan. I am a promoter of the traditional music of the Langi
of Uganda. I am based in Lira, Uganda. I have an idea, which I want
to share with you.  Are you also passionate about the music of
your `roots'? Do you like maintaining your cultural identity wherever
you are? If yes, please read on.

If you allow me, I can help you as a Lango living far away from home
stay in touch with your `roots' through our cherished traditional
music. I have compiled the Okeme music on CDs, which I can avail to
you in whatever corner of the globe you may be living in.

My aim of posting this information is to ask any Lango living abroad
to contact me so that I can send him or her a FREE demo CD. I will
also send a FREE INFOPAK, which details what I have on offer for you
and how to order.

So, if you are interested or if you have any question whatsoever,
please feel free to e-mail me at jdongwen@...

JD's Uniquetune
P O Box 412'
Lira, Uganda
256 77 859390
jdongwen@...

P.S. Please include an address where I can send the INFOPAK. And
please don't worry that I may avail your address to any one also who
might send you unsolicited mail. Your e- mail address and physical
address are safe with me. I promise not to rent, sell or otherwise
make it available to any body else.

And please feel free to forward this e – mail to any one whom you
know might be interested in it.

Thanks, Musically Yours.

JD Ongwen.

TRIBAL SOUNDZ
Bringing you the worlds music....and everything you need to play it

340 east 6th street
212 673 5992
tribalsoundz@...
www.tribalsoundz.com

open daily 1-11pm

(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*
(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*

                           H A P P Y   N E W   Y E A R   from all of
us
at
TRIBAL SOUNDZ !!

                                         WE WANT YOU TO LEARN A NEW
INSTRUMENT
                                          or get better at an old
one......

                             TRIBAL SOUNDZ   Music classes
                             pleez register in advance (call or email)


Every Sat 12-1:30   $15
BEGINNING DUMBEK  w/Rami  Elaaser
Learn the basic sounds of dumbek and some traditional middle eastern
rhythms.

Every Sunday  1:15-2:15   $15
DJEMBE WORKSHOP (Beginning)   w/Bashir Shakur
Learn traditional rhythm's from Mali, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Ghana and
Guinea.

Every Sunday  2:30-3:30   $15
INTERMEDIATE DJEMBE w/Bashir Shakur
Some experience required.

Every Wed  ongoing  7pm  $15
WEEKLY TABLA CLASSES  w/Bill Buchen
Learn  to feel the pulse in Indian music, count time, recite and play
the
strokes of the drums. All llevels.

Tues Jan 20   7pm  $15
UNORTHODOX CHANT & VOICE  w/Akim Ndlovu
-Throat Singing, Human Beat box, various African & Asian chants-

Sat Jan 10   2-3pm    $15
WOMENS DRUMMING  WORKSHOP  w/Robin Burdulis
Drumming for women only.  Experimentation & technique  take us on a
percussive journey to creativity.

Tues Jan 27  7pm  $15
MBIRA WORKSHOP w/Maurizio  Capparelli
Mbira  is the national instrument of Zimbabwe traditionally played in
spirit
possession ceremonies.

Mon Jan 12 & 26  7pm   $15
AFRO CUBAN PERCUSSION & CHANT  w/JAVIER DIAZ.
AfroCuban Shekere  and chanting.  Learn the powerful songs for the
Orishas,
play shekere and claves.

Sat Jan 24    2-3pm   $15
CHILDRENS DRUM WORKSHOP   w/Natalie Hull
Drum circle for children ages 8 and up. Have fun learning the worlds
rhythms
on many different drums.

Tues Jan 13   7-8pm   $15
DIGERIDOO  WORKSHOP w/Ron Bucalis
All levels digeridoo class - Beginning - Advanced.

Mon Jan 19  6:30pm    $15
TAKETINA  w/Robin Burdulis
TA KE TI NA:  is a system where your BODY is the instrument, allowing
you to
access complex, cross-cultural polyrhythms you never dreamed you
could!
Voice, step, clapping and call & response combine to balance the left
and
right brain. No experience necessary.

Sat Jan 17 & Sat Jan 28 2-3pm   $15
INTERMEDIATE DUMBEK  w/Carmine Guida
Dumbek class for those with some experience.

Thurs Jan 15  7-8pm    $15
BONES WORKSHOP  w/Gregg Burrows
THE BONES are an ancient musical instrument and are one of the most
portable
percussion sounds available. Made of either steer's rib or wood, they
can be
most often heard in traditional Irish folk music. The possibilities
of
rhythmic creativity on the bones is limitless, and they can be
carried
around in a purse or shirt pocket. Open to all, no prior drumming
experience
necessary -- may be of interest to professionals looking to expand
their
collection of sounds. Bones will be available or bring your own.

Sat Jan 31  2-3pm  $15
BEGINNING  DIGERIDOO  w/Natalie Hull
Basic digeridoo for beginners

)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)
*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)*

                                            N E W   H O U R S
                                            OPEN EVERY DAY   1pm til
11pm

*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&
*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&

                                           WATCH FOR TRIBAL
TUESDAYS....
                                            first one....TUES JAN 27
                                            w/THE GLAMOUR BOYS (Mbira
music
of Zimbabwe)

&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^&^
&^&^&^&^&

Diamano Coura West African Dance Company Host its...

9th Annual Collage de la Cultures Africanes
"Collage de la Cultures Africaines"
March 4th - 7th, 2004

Featuring an evening of dynamic performances and a host of workshops
featuring international dance companies & teachers of the African
Diaspora.

Guest Companies:
Dimensions Dance Theater, Newstyle Motherlode, Bantaba West African
Dance Group, The African Queens, Savage Jazz Dance Company, Te Mana O
Te Ra, Diamano Coura West African Dance Company & More!

Guest Artists:
Assane Konte & Medoune "Dam" Gueye of Kankouran West African Dance
Co., Aziz Faye, Alassane Kane, Abdoulaye Diakhate, Alseney Soumah,
Babu Sagna, Carlos Aceituno, Bro. Greg Hodges, Idrissa Gueye, Julia
Chigamba, Karamba Diabate, Kemoko & Mariatou Sano, Massengo Constant,
Mohammed Kouyate, Mbor Faye, Malong Bayo, Mareme Faye, Moshe Milon,
N'Deye Gueye, Nimley Napla, Oumar Mboup, Papa Abdoulaye Camara,
Reginald Savage, Baba Yagbe, Tacuma King, Youssouf Koumbassa & More!

CONCERT:
Saturday March 6th 8:00 PM

Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center/ Calvin Simmons Theater
10 Tenth Street, Downtown Oakland
** Doors open at 6PM for African Marketplace**

$30.00 Reserved Seating/ $20.00 Orchestra ($25 @ door), $15.00
Balcony ($18 @ door), $10.00 Gallery ($15 @ door)

For more information call (510) 733-1077 or
Email: DiamanoC@...

For a full brochure on this event visit:
http://www.diamanocoura.org/html/collagebrochure2.pdf

Greetings from Chicago:

I would like to introduce you all to one of America's HOTTEST Afro-
Beat/Afro-Funk bands based in Chicago named:

CHICAGO AFROBEAT PROJECT

Their dynamic sound consists of a full percussion section, horns,
keys, guitar and bass.  Their sound is a unique blend of Afro-
Beat, Afro-Funk, and jazz-infused 70s funk.  The live set consists
of originals as well as carefully chosen classic and obscure Afro-
Beat/Funk covers.

Here are a few LIVE recordings taken from a show @ House of Blues
Chicago on 10/31/03

www.jamayka.com/mp3/CABP_NewBell.mp3
www.jamayka.com/mp3/CABP_PreciousMother.mp3

Enjoy the music, and if you would like to contact the band, please
feel free to email me at the address below or call :)

Best regards from beautiful Chicago:

Scotty aka Bobby Pharelle
MD/A&R/DJ/Producer
Jamayka . Jamayka Blue . Drumlife
c/o Chicago Afrobeat Project
www.jamayka.com
www.chicagoafrobeatproject.com

Jamayka Recordings
1935 North Fairfield #307
Chicago, IL 60647 USA
Tel. 847.401.2321
aol IM: jamaykarec
info@...



________________________________________________________________
jamayka.com

Malian star Habib Koité Presents a Double Live CD and Begins Tour:
http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/article.php?story=20031225152431176

Angel Romero
World Music Central
552 Parkview Dr.
Burlington, NC 27215
USA
Phone: +1-(336) 437-0762
E-mail: angel@...
Web sites: www.worldmusiccentral.org (English language version) &
www.musicasdelmundo.org (versión en español)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

RadioMike from "The Fevered Brain of RadioMike" show gets it spot on
in his comments on Yaya Diallo's new "Live at Club Soda" Kanza music
release,
http://thefeveredbrainofradiomike.com/comments.php?id=189_0_1_0_M :

YAYA DIALLO is Just what RadioMike needs so Much of: Variety and
Innovation. This is African Music for the Modern Age, combining
elements of Jazz and Rock as well. While retaining Traditional
African Rhythms, Yaya makes it even More interesting with Western
Instruments. Are you as Intrigued as we are? You should be.

In few words RadioMike describes the essence of the music fitting the
reason "Kanza" music was created by village elders in Mali - to
maintain and generate interest in traditional African music amonst
the youth. Yaya Diallo's earlier albums (even if recorded
later than "Live at Club Soda") focus more on the traditional
traditional though his first album "Nangape" released in 1980 and
reissued on CD in 2002 with performances of the silver flute hinted
at the future of Yaya Diallo's music.

Though it may have been the long way around Yaya Diallo was insistent
to be recognized as a traditional musician before he would release
the popular kind of sound heard on "Live at Club Soda." Future
recordings are likely to be as different from this latest release as
it is from the previous ones.

Message from RadioMike:

Well, we just keep getting More and More incredible Music. This just
keeps the RadioMike Quality going Up and Up and Up. Now Go have a
Listen: http://thefeveredbrainofradiomike.com/listen.php

A Lot of You, actually most of you, haven't Registered as an
Exclusive Member of the RadioMike site yet and Most of You haven't
Told RadioMike What's on your Mind. So Go Register and leave us
those Comments:
http://thefeveredbrainofradiomike.com/members/register.php
Remember that If RadioMike can write One Little Paragraph every
Day — when most of the Time We can't remember what day it is,
this Can't Really be all that difficult. Please Please Pretty Please.

RadioMike Loves You All
RadioMike, http://www.thefeveredbrainofradiomike.com

Message from Stephen Conroy:

It is my pleasure to introduce the RadioMike show as it is beneficial
to all to know of people who show a caring supportive attitude and
exhibit intelligence and consciousness in the music community.

In a similar vein I would also like to introduce:

"The Upper Room with Joe Kelley"
WVOF 88.5 FM Fairfield, CT , Mondays 4-8 pm EST
www.upperroomwithjoekelley.com
Request Line (203) 254-4111
Joe Kelley Business Line (203) 331-9982

"The Upper Room with Joe Kelley" NOW
24 Hours/ 7 Days- Interviews, Creative Music, & Studio Performances
www.upperroomwithjoekelley.com

For more informations you can email Joe Kelley: joeradio@...

Playlist from "Upper Room with Joe Kelley" 1.04.04
***** These songs were played many times as the show airs 24/7 around
the clock. Thanks for the music.*****

Artist/Title/Label

Viajah Morgan - Praises - (Morgan Rand Production)
Roy Hargrove - Liquid Streets - (Verve)
Stephen Jay - The Symptom - (Ayayrou)
Janet Jackson - What Have You Done For me Lately? - (A & M)
Wild Child Butler - You Had Quit Me - (Apo)
Dwayne Kerr - Flutation - (DManns)
Diane Hubka - Sunday In New York - (VsoJaz)
The System - It's Passion - (Mirage)
Yaya Diallo - Samba The Trucker (Live) - (Onzou)
Victoria Warne - Take Me In Your Arms - (Tripping Tree)
KLT Presents Butch - Lomblast - (Grunt Galaxy)
Steel Ghost - Beauty In The Street - (Steel Ghost)

***** NEW STUDIOS at WVOF in Fairfield, CT . Great locale (just an
hour from NYC) and performance space. This summer, Joe Kelley will
celebrate his 20 years in radio with a series of outstanding on-air
concerts. To read a recent online interview about Joe Kelley, go to
http://www.ifrance.com/klodezine/interviews/JoeKelley.html Much
thanks to Claude Gagne. ****

Upcoming shows:

Upcoming interviews and performances with many more talented artists.

All music material for the Upper Room can be sent to :

Gi Dussault
The Upper Room with Joe Kelley
P.O. Box 3481
Bridgeport CT 06605
U.S.A.

The Upper Room with Joe Kelley"
WVOF 88.5 FM Fairfield, CT , Mondays 4-8 pm EST
www.upperroomwithjoekelley.com
Request Line (203) 254-4111
Joe Kelley Business Line (203) 331-9982

"The Upper Room with Joe Kelley" NOW
24 Hours/ 7 Days- Interviews, Creative Music, & Studio Performances
www.upperroomwithjoekelley.com

Gi Dussault
Co-Host of Radio Show
Upper Room with Joe Kelley
www.upperroomwithjoekelley.com

Publicity services for indie artist: www.creativityinmusic.com

... and while I'm at it I also reccommend the services of Sheheshe
Music Services, http://www.sheheshe.com for radio promotion and Music
Dish, http://www.musicdish.com for internet publicity. Artists
reading this newsletter may find these to be valuable services.

Often I'm offering news of Yaya Diallo's music, books and articles.
As a small independent label it seems practically impossible to gain
a level of recognition that can make a difference though it is
remarkable the inroads we've made since those cold wintry days back
in Montreal in 1979 when the idea was first presented to Yaya to
produce his first album "Nangape."

The music and books by Yaya Diallo have always struck me as an
important body of work offering profound insights into West African
culture. Posting information and publicity can be an isolated
business. Your feedback and comments on the information offered is
invited and most welcome, either on the newsletter, the community
forum, http://yayadiallo.proboards20.com or directly to
info@...

Best wishes,

Stephen Conroy, Producer/Manager
Yaya Diallo's West African Music
Onzou Records, http://www.onzou.com
... and the Yaya Diallo Community Forum,
http://yayadiallo.proboards20.com

Panjea Foundation presents

Lokolé 4th Annual Dance & Music Conference

Jan. 16-19, 2004
in Albuquerque, NM
The Blue Tribe Studio
505-489-0144
bluetribeschool@...

Four days of African dance, music, & lecture
from Congo, Zimbabwe, & Mali

~ featuring ~

Lokolé Master Drummers & Dancers
Mabiba Baegne
Constant Massengo
Rujeko Dumbutshena
Chris Berry
Djeneba Sako
Moussa Traore
and more...

  R This year's conference will be held as a BENEFIT   R
to raise money for Mabiba's knee surgery.

Holiday Greetings and Happy New Year
from all of us at the Panjea Foundation and the Blue Tribe School

Shake those post-holiday blues, rejuvenate your soul, and jump-start the new
year by emersing yourself in a weekend of African dance and music!

Come to the Blue Tribe Studio in Albuquerque for ABQ's 1st Annual Lokolé
Conference!  Beginning at 5pm Friday Jan 16, Drum and Dance classes will be held
all weekend long, through 5pm on Monday Jan 19 (Martin Luther King Day).

Come with friends (discounts for groups of 10 or more), make it a road trip, and
dance and play your heart out!  And, since the conference ends Monday afternoon,
you can even make it home in time for work on Tuesday!

MOST IMPORTANTLY, this year's conference is being held as a benefit to raise
money for Mabiba's knee surgery.  Mabiba has been suffering from a torn meniscus
since August '03.  She's hoping to do the surgery in February, but she needs
your help!  The surgery is estimated to cost over $10,000.  Proceeds and
donations from the conference will help make it possible for this beloved master
artist to keep practicing and teaching her art!

Space is limited and we're filling up, so if you don't want to miss this
incredible weekend, don't delay!  Print out the attached registration form, fill
it out, and send it with your check (payable to Panjea Foundation) to:

Lokolé Conference
515 16th St NW
Albuquerque NM 87104

If you already have the registration form, what are you waiting for?  Send it in
NOW to guarantee your place at the conference.

We can't wait to see you!


Directions to Blue Tribe Studio
Driving South on I-25, take exit number 224B, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
AVE./CENTRAL AVE.  Go Left on Central, continue approx. 1/4 mile.  The studio
will be on your right, on the SW corner of Maple and Central (one block before
University Ave).


More about LOKOLÉ
Mabiba Baegne formed LOKOLÉ , a not-for-profit organization, to further her
lifelong mission of teaching and performing the traditional music and dance of
Central and West Africa.  Mabiba names her organization after the giant log
drums that she heard as a child growing up in the Congo.  Made from a
hollowed-out tree trunk, the giant LOKOLÉ drum has been played for centuries in
Africa as a method of communicating important messages from village to village. 
One of Mabiba's goals is to offer workshops for children of all ages here in the
United States; her dream is to begin producing a yearly concert to raise money
to educate some of the children in her homeland, the Congo.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Music Memorabilia Show
LPs, 45rpm, 78rpm, some CDs, sheet music, photos, posters, books, etc.

Saturday – Jan. 10th   Feb. 7th   March 6th

Time: 10am to 2pm
Location: Tip Top Shoe Building, 155 West 72nd Street, 4th Floor,
                   New York, NY (near Broadway). Subway – Nos. 1, 2 or
3 to
                   72nd Street. Bus – Nos. 104, 7 or 11 to 72nd Street.
Admission: FREE
Information: (212) 579-0689, weekdays
Email: info@...

Over 10,000 items.

Records – LPs, 45s, 78s, some CDs – jazz, rock and roll, R & B -
soul, blues, gospel-spiritual, soundtracks, theatre music, disco, pop
vocals, country, folk, opera, classical, Latin, world music, TV-
radio, comedy, spoken word, big bands, swing, instrumentals, sweet
bands, sports, etc.

***Also sheet music, photographs, posters, magazines, books, etc.

From 1800s to 1980s.

Web site: http://www.musiccollecting.com

http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/article.php?story=20040107202313784

Angel Romero
World Music Central
552 Parkview Dr.
Burlington, NC 27215
USA
Phone: +1-(336) 437-0762
E-mail: angel@...
Web sites: www.worldmusiccentral.org (English language version) &
www.musicasdelmundo.org (versión en español)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi folks!
I have a cassette, bought in 1978 in Nairobi, named
Lingala, wich contains the following songs:
Nyako Konya
Kasuku
Masua Mabe
Mombassa
Naleli Libala
Engunduka
Muana Mburu
Every track is parted in Part 1 and Part 2, since they were copyed
from 45
rpm records, on which one only song was taking both sides, obviously
fading
out on side one, and fading in on side two.
The cassette does not mentions the players.
I am especially interested in the song called Kasuku, which is an
absolute masterpiece in my view.
Could anyone confirm the player of that song, I believe it should be
Orch Mangelepa, but confirmations are welcome.
Furthermore, since the recording is not the best, could any one
supply, at a cost, a better copy of it, and possibly other
performances of the same group?
Thanks, and "ciao" to all.
Malandros

We still have some room on our 2004 releases. We are looking for artist for
the following compilations. If you would like to be featured on any of these
albums contact. info@... <mailto:info@...>

1) "High Voltage Mix Vol1" - featuring the best international Electronic and
Dance music.
2) "The Word on the Street Compilation" - featuring the best Hip-Hop and R&B
music.
3) "Music From The Invisible Sky" - featuring the best international pop,
acoustic, and world music.

We are currently accepting submissions for our 2004 compilation  albums.
These music CDs will be sent to distribution companies, Record stores, radio
stations, marketing companies and various marketing organizations. We are
asking that you submit one song. No song can be longer than 4 minutes and 20
seconds.  All Artists will retain all rights to their submissions. Each
artist will have their album cover featured on the CD liner of the
Compilation. You will also be able to submit your links credits and thank
yous on the inside cover.

We will ship 50 copies of this album to each artists featured on this CD.
Each submission is subject to approval and submission fees won't be applied
unless your submission is approved.  If you would like more information
about submitting your music to this compilation, contact
ronf@... .  You may also point me to a site were your song is
hosted for submission approvals.

Thanks to RND Distribution (Suave House Records) Our last compilation
"Spring Break Compilation" in now in selected record stores nation wide. You
may view our catalog here. http://www.rnddistribution.com/catalog.htm . Let
me know if you have any questions.

Thanks

Ron F

Visit our message board forum:
<http://www.kronstudios.com/forum/default.asp>

<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kronstudios/>





© All rights reserved Kronstudios 2003




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

M u s i c i a n s N e e d e d

in

T O R O N T O, C A N A D A

Singers, Dancers,

Drummers,

Guitar Players, Saxaphone Players,

Trumpeters, Keyboard

and Other African Instruments



You are Cordially Invited to Join

a New Musical and Performing Arts Group?

I am a singer and songwriter from the Caribbean and I have a new
vision for a musical group in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The music
first of all would have a spiritual base with lyrics that would
include quotations from the Sacred Scriptures of Major World
Religions.

The songs, dances and stories would communicate a strong message of
unity, peace and love for all humanity. They would incorporate simple
folk melodies and African / Caribbean / Brazillian rhythms.

If you would like to find out more please email me. I will be happy
to reply to all responses. worldmusicians@...

Sincerely,

Burnelle

does anybody know the old african hit song called " its a wedding
day " and it continues on as " i do i do , i do i do...." im pretty
sure its a female singer, i tried Yvonnes chaka chaka but nothing
came up, so if anybody knows this song please reply me on here or on
my add thnx....

Hello Group,
ForchuTeck Consulting Group Inc. have launched one of the largest african Music
portal on the internet. We will be selling African CD's, DVD's and Movies.

This is the first phase of the site. You will continue to see improvements on a
daily basis.

We are seeking African Musicians, African music Distributors and recording
labels to work with us so we can market their stock to our audience.

Visit the site:

http://www.africanaudiovideo.com
http://www.africanmusicoutlet.com

The only conditions we have to carry your music on our site is that we will need
a copy of every album you want us to sell. We will need to extract sound clips
of all the master pieces so people can listen before they buy. This is part of
our next phase. We will also need scan the CD cover to get the image optimized
to our specification.

As part of our service we will:

    We will Profile each artist on our profile page
    We will also announce concerts events globally on our events page
    We will also introduce your album to our global distributionship network
    Buyers have the option to write a review about album
    We have an extensive Forum where your albums can be discussed

There is aboslutely NO upfront cost to you. We will keep a small percentage of
the sales. When someone buys your album on our site, we will send you the money
which includes shipping cost and the buyers information so you can drop ship the
music. We are not keeping any inventory except on special arrangements.

Please, if you are interested, contact me directly with your phone number at
cforchu@... so I can call you to discuss our business
relationship.

If you know of other sources where we can get a large pool of African music, DVD
and movies, I will appreciate it if you can provide us with that information.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Charles Forchu
President/CEO
African Audio Video

Tel: 404 808 5763
http://www.africanaudiovideo.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Spin the Globe's Best World Music of 2003
http://www.earball.net/spintheglobe/reviews%20data/best_of_2003.htm


Ojos de Brujo - Bari
  Flamenco meets hiphop, with wonderous results. Click title for CD
review.

Salif Keita - Moffou
  The latest CD from the "golden voice of Mali" - one I've played far
too little this year. If you like the acoustic flavor of Djelimady
Tounkara's Sigui, check Moffou out too.

Bobi Cespedes - Rezos
  A wonderful debut solo CD incorporating Yoruba chants and songs with
light touches of electronica.

Super Rail Band - Kongo Sigui
  "The first soundtrack to summer 2003 just arrived" says Ian
Anderson.

Salsa Celtica - El Agua de la Vida
  The crazy, talented bunch from Scotland turn out another Latin
dancefloor-burner. Just try to keep your hips from moving...

Vusi Mahlasela - The Voice During the first listening, this CD
reminded me of Paul Simon's Graceland. Now, however, I just hear the
voice of truth, singing songs that cut to the heart. Highly
recommended.

Virginia Rodrigues - Mares Profundos
  Virginia's velvety voice makes this stand out among a flurry of
recordings of the Afro-Sambas by Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes,
some of the most important compositions in samba.

Garikayi Trikoti - Maidei
  Garikayi Tirikoti is an mbira revolutionary, intensifying the
experience and sound of mbira music. Fill your sails with Mbira
music, the gentle mbira force, Garikayi Tirikoti.

Susheela Raman - Love Trap Weaving the sounds and cultures of the UK
and India, Raman's haunting new CD is a great listen.

Besh O droM - Can't Make Me Here's a group whose following takes to
the dance floor at the first notes of each concert and just cannot
stop dancing. Besh o droM's music is a highly original alloy of East
European folk music vernaculars such as Hungarian, Rumanian,
Bulgarian, Southern Slav, Greek musical dialects, not to speak of the
marked Gypsy, Turkish and Mid-East leanings.

Mahwash - Radio Kaboul
  Exiled from a nation torn by 23 years of war - with music officially
banned much of that time - Mahwash and Ensemble Kaboul keep Afghani
traditions alive in this important new recording.

Various Artists - Festival in the Desert An amazing recording from an
amazing event in January 2003. Take one desert, add musicians, armed
Tauregs on camels, lots of sand, plaintive guitars, some Navajo punk,
bands from Mali and Europe, and a pinch of Robert Plant. Mix well.
Enjoy.

Baikouba Badji & Modibo Traore - Babu Casamance!
  Modibo Traore has a mission. It involves great music, preventing
leprosy, and this field-recorded CD of bougarabou drumming.

Barun Pal & Ray Spiegel - Ragas on Slide Guitar
  Raga Malkauns is a complex raga that evokes the feelings of
devotion, heroism, and pathos. Raga Piloo expresses the emotions of
love, and romance. And they sound great on that most ancient of
Indian instruments, the slide guitar.

Bembeya Jazz - Bembeya
  These guys haven't lost a bit of their fire since they filled the
dance halls of Conakry, Guinea, in the 1970s. Sekou "Diamond Fingers"
Diabate's crisp guitar leads the way on this timeless, wonderful
music.

Coco Mbassi - Sepia
  Coco Mbassi sings a love letter to God. Her smooth, dynamic voice
gives life to songs about family, Bible stories, love, and faith.
Uplifting even if you don't speak the language.

Solomon and Socalled - Hiphopkhasene In blending traditional Jewish
wedding music, historic-sounding audio samples, and hiphop beats, it
treads an ambitious - and fine - line between campy and brilliant.
Hiphopkhasene is a vow-sealer unlike anything you've heard before.

Various Artists - Cafe Music of Liberia and Ghana
  In the 1940s, Arthur S. and Lois Alberts drove around remote West
Africa with a Jeep-powered tape recorder. "I wanted," he wrote in an
August 1951 National Geographic article chronicling the trip, "to
show that so-called Darkest Africa has more to offer than the tom-
toms and jungle chants usually associated with it by the Western
World." Listen for a calypso-flavored African music you've never
heard before.

Oi Va Voi - Laughter Through Tears
  Though all six members have Jewish roots, the sound is that of a
confident group of musicians in a worldly city making sense of
culture, sound, past, future.

Various Artists - Drop the Debt This is a great CD that just happens
to champion a great cause as well. All the tracks are exclusive to
this release, and with a variety of styles and consistently high
energy it's bound to have wide musical appeal. Get it as a wide-
ranging survey of contemporary world music or as a political
statement. But get it.

King Sunny Ade - The Best of the Classic Years and Synchro Series
(reissues) In the early 1970s, nighttime Lagos was awash with the
sounds of juju music - the sound of traditional Nigerian music
meeting electric guitars and other new instruments. Bands tried to
trump their rivals by innovating new grooves and adding new
instruments (accordion, slide guitar), and each innovation became
known as a "system." Featuring some tracks previously available only
on Nigerian vinyl, these two CDs include two versions of "Synchro
System" recorded a decade apart, allowing a fascinating glimpse into
the musical changes taking place.



Honorable Mentions (and great albums, all):

Javier Ruibal - Sahara
Debashish Bhattacharya & Bob Brozman - Mahima
Yaya Diallo - Live at Club Soda
Yale Strom - Cafe Jew Zoo
Klezmatics - Rise Up
Natacha Atlas - Something Dangerous
Sidestepper - 3am (in Beats We Trust)
Ry Cooder & Manuel Galbran - Mambo Sinuendo
Bill Frisell - The Intercontinentals
Abaji - Oriental Voyage
DuOud - Wild Serenade
Richard Bona - Munia / The Tale
Abdelli - Among Brothers
Shimita El Diego & Affro-Muzika - K.O. (Knockout)
Gotan Project - La Revancha del Tango
Horace X - Sackbutt
Jonas Hellborg - Icon
Motimba - Monkey Vibrations
Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited - Toi Toi
Hassam Ramzy - Sabla Tolo II
Mamani Keita & Marc Minelli - Electro Bamako
Airto Moreira - Life After That

I apologize to the artists I've undoubtedly overlooked in compiling
this list. Looking at a year of music from the whole world is a
formidable task, and this reflects my personal tastes and biases. If
you think something should be on this list, feel free to email me and
let me know. If you're convincing, I might add it. Finally, a year-
end thanks to all the artists and labels who provide this great
music. You're an inspiration and you truly provide a vibrant
soundtrack for many lives around the world. Without you the planet
and the radio would be sad, lonely places. Happy New Year!
--Scott


---
Stephen Conroy, Producer/Manager
Yaya Diallo's West African Music
Onzou Records, http://www.onzou.com

hi.

happy NY!!!

check out my live afro-beat band, CHICAGO AFROBEAT PROJECT:

www.jamayka.com/mp3/cabp_preciousmother.mp3
www.jamayka.com/mp3/cabp_newbell.mp3

respekt from chicago:


scotty

Jamayka Recordings
1935 North Fairfield #307
Chicago, IL 60647 USA
Tel. 847.401.2321
aol IM: jamaykarec
info@...

Musiques d'Afrique newsletter No. 25 (Winter 2003-2004)

Dear African Music fan,


The Musiques d'Afrique web site ( http://www.geocities.com/fbessem/musique.html
) has been updated again in the last two months (November-December). The site
now features 180 pages on 180 artists, bands and solo musicians, with more than
1300 albums mentioned, of which around 270 featured in detail in separate pop-up
windows.

As a result, the total number of page views has more than doubled in 2003
compared to 2002.



1. Musiques d’Afrique update: six (6) new artist pages have been added:

Pierrette Adams:

Popular Congolese singer, since years living in Cote d’Ivoire (and since very
recently in Senegal). She makes hot dance music, with lyrics full of social
engagement addressing subjects such as child abuse;

Sayon Camara:

Energetic young lady from Guinea who makes dance music mixed with Guinean
musical heritage. A big star in Conakry with two CDs out, but outside her
country she is much less known, actually for no reason…;

Ba Cissoko:

Young trio of virtuose kora players, creating an unique blend of the traditional
sound of Guinean string instruments with electrically enhanced kora and wah-wah
pedal. They successfully toured in Europe before releasing their debut album;

Ibro Diabaté:

One of the bigger names of a younger generation of electro-griots from Guinea.
Much respected in Guinea, and again lacking fame abroad. Gets support from star
producer Boncana Maiga;

Kékélé:

Reuniting older Congolese rumba stars, Kékélé is reinventing the classic rumba
with acoustic guitars. Composed of great singers and guitarists with impressive
portfolios, they are sometimes referred to as the Congolese version of
Buenavista Social Club. They deserve the same success;



Papa Noel:

Great guitarist, who has worked with big names in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s
(TPOK Jazz among others), part of Kékélé for a while until he fell ill (Papa
Noel is diabetic). His health condition still prevents him from performing,
although he would very much get the recognition and success he indeed deserves.



Several existing pages have been updated:

New albums of Yaya Diallo, Manu Dibango, Hijas del Sol, Alioune Mbaye Nder, Omar
Pene, and Fantani Touré have been added;

The page on Alioune Mbaye Nder has been updated with more album details and/or
extended discographies.





2. Musiques d’Afrique CD web shop

The CD web shop provides rare albums from Africa (mainly West Africa) not (yet)
distributed internationally. At the moment, a small number of CDs mainly from
Mali and Burkina Faso are available. Don't miss these unique recordings:

Coumba Sidibé: Mansa,

Les Escrocs: Kalan,

Yeli Fuzzo: Je rap donc je suis,

Fanga Fing: Fanga Follo,

Dene Issebere: Djigui,

Saramaya: Mougnou,

Issa Sow & Gorée: Sama Jaay,

Les Frères Guissé: Fouta.

In the near future, more albums will be available.





3. African music news:

Various new albums have been released in the past weeks:

- Zoumana Tereta         - Niger Blues - Mali - November

- Ba Cissoko                 - Sabolan - Guinea – November

- Faytinga                     - Erytrea - Erythrea- November

- Papa Wemba             - Somo Trop - Congo - November

- Prince Alain Makaba      - Ya Ku Dominer - Congo - December

- Bana Kin                     - Tendance - Congo - November

- Maika Munan             - Congo Masters - Congo - November

- Extra Musica Zangul         - Obligatoire - Congo-Brazza - Out now!

- Queen Eteme             - Soki - Cameroon - November

- Samy Diko                 - Perseverance - Cameroon - December

- Petit Pays                     - Dieu le pere - Cameroon - December

- Guy Lobe & Sergeo Polo - Cocktail - Cameroon - November

- BBC Sound System         - Na Banko - Senegal - December

- Coumba Gawlo & S. Faye - Gawlo & Diego - Senegal - December

- Youssou N’Dour             - Sant - Senegal - December

Albums in preparation:

- Adama Yalomba         - Yalomba - Mali - 2004

- Issa Bagayogo         - no title known - Mali - 2004

- Sekou Kouyate         - Fassan Diarabi (CD) - Mali - February 2004

- J-B. M’Piana             - Anti-Terro - Congo - 2004

- Koffi Olomide             - Monde Arabe - Congo - 2004

- Werrason                 - Miracle - Congo - 2004

- Jay Lou                     - no title known - Cameroon - 2004

- Thione Seck             - no title known - Senegal - 2004

For more news, please check regularly our pages for updates!



If you have suggestions to add specific musicians or albums not mentioned on
existing pages, do not hesitate to drop us a line.

Feel free to take a look again.

Kind regards,

Frank Bessem
Musiques d'Afrique
fbessem @ yahoo.com (remove spaces – stop spam!)

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