Shubahada! Pt.2

Maleem Mahmoud Ghania with Pharoah Sanders - La Allah Dayim Moulenah

I love Pharoah Sanders and what he tried to do, and this album really hits the spot. I read that "this disc reproduces a meeting between Sanders and the master Gnawa musician Maleem Mahmoud Ghania. Gnawa people are Morrocan descendents of black African slaves, who have maintained a spiritual and musical tradition that is an amalgam of Sufi mysticism and elements of West African spirit religion. The music is haunting. It is a vocal music, driven by an instrument called the guimbri...a bass lute with gut stings and a head made out of camel hide. The musician plucks the strings and slaps the head to create a sound somewhere between a bass guitar and a drum. The rest of the ensemble consists of a responding chorus who accompany the music with hand claps and Krkaba, loudly resounding hand cymbals. The music is equal parts Sufi ceremonial music and West African drum ritual." Pharoah's playing on this is fantastic - and highly samplable!

Tony Allen - Gbedu
Not really Tony Allen I think, but it comes off a Tony Allen (<Fela Kuti's drummer) album, put together by little london record shop Honest Jon;s I jsut noticed. I think the percussionist in action here is Yinka Ogunye.

Miguel Castro - Toque A Egun
Miguels is a latin american percussionist, but this extract shows just clearly the african influence on latin american music.

Brice Wassy - Mystic
From what I can tell Brice Wassy is a percussionist from Cameroon whose gone on top have a succesfully career beyond his birthplace, and this record was a sort of getting back to roots experience for hi. It was recorded in Cameroon and mixed in France - came out in 2000. Great album.

Kwodwo Tawiah - Otwee Emporo
Moving into more obscure territory here - dont know aything about this and cant remember how i came to have it!

T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - I.O.A
"From the Republic of Benin, West Africa, T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo is one of Africa’s least-known big-bands outside of their home country." I'm not that familiar with Poly-Rythmo, and still getting to grips with it is, but this tracks is a lot of fun. Not sure what I.O.A. means unfortunately. Any info much appreciated.

Youssou N'Dour et le Super Etoile de Dakar - Mouride
Youssou N'Dour is a genuinely famous Senegalese singer in the west - this cut is from the early days - 1982 I think. Griot stylee. 

Ensemble Instrumental National du Mali - Unknown Title
"Established the day after the Independence of Mali in 1961, l’Ensemble instrumental national is an orchestra of traditional Malian music and song. Its mission is to maintain and give value to the heritage of Malian forms of music and song" is all I can tell you on this one.

King Sunny Ade - Mo Ti Mo
Ade is known as the King of Juju, and from what I can tell Juju is a unique Nigerian mix of hawain guitars and whatever effects can be gotten out of any electric keyboards they can get their hands on. This track is less experimental than others - originally recorded in 1974 it was Ades first self released song -a plea to his fans to come on a journey with him into his future career.

Manu Dibango - Camp Yabassi Echoes
Manu Dibango is big name, known for fusing jazz, funk and traditional Cameroonian music. As well as his disctinctive deep voice and sax playing he is also an incredible vibraphone player as this cut proves.