Kamal Keila – African Unity
The music of Kamal Keila, known as the “James Brown or Fela Kuti of Sudan,” recorded some time in the 90s, although probably composed in the 70s (read below), got finally released in 2018.
“Muslims & Christians” features Ethiopian, Sudanese jazz, funk, blues and soul sounds with powerful lyrics. […]
Burger Highlife
https://amf.didiermary.fr/burger-highlife/
The first ever compilations focussing on the phenomenon of “Burger Highlife”, a crossover of West African melodies with synthesizers, disco and boogie that took over Ghanaian airwaves during the 1980’s and beyond.
The 1970s had witnessed an increased Western airtime and physical presence in Ghana introducing funk, soul and disco sounds [...]
#80smusic #90smusic #AfroFunk #Compilation #Disco #Ghana #Highlife #OldAfricanMusic
Didier Bilé et les Parents du Campus – Gboglo Koffi (1991)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/didier-bile-parents-campus-gboglo-koffi/
Nicknamed “The Spirits of Yop,” after Yopougon (the university district), or “The Cocos,” Didier Bilé’s group is one of the forerunners of Ivorian zouglou, a style revived in the midst of the student movement.
The tape Zougloudance sold almost 100 000 copies at the time…
In Baoulé, “O ti lê zouglou” means “piled up like garbage."
[...]
U-CEF – Halal Monk
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ucef-halal-monk/
Moulay Youssef Adel aka U-Cef is one of the greats of Moroccan Drum & Bass music. “Halal Monk” is from “Halalium” in 1999.
Francis Bebey – Essok’am
https://amf.didiermary.fr/francis-bebey-essokam/
Né à Douala, Francis Bebey (1929-2001) est considéré comme l’un des pionniers de la musique africaine en Occident. Chanteur et guitariste, il était également poète, conteur et grand joueur de sanza, le piano à pouces, instrument relativement inconnu à cette époque hors d’Afrique.
Ecrivain, il publie plusieurs ouvrages. Il est aussi recruté [...]
Dancers in Zimbabwe with Dembo remix
https://amf.didiermary.fr/dancers-zimbabwe-remix-leonard-dembo/
A remixed version of a classic track by the late Zimbabwean guitarist Leonard Dembo, with dancers in Zimbabwe expressing themselves in the streets.
Original version
The song is “Funga Zuva Rimwe Pagore” by Leonard Dembo & The Barura Express, on their 1991 album “Tinokumbira Kurarama.” […]
Pops Mohamed – Election Day Serenade
https://amf.didiermary.fr/pops-mohamed-election-day-serenade/
Ismail Mohamed-Jan, aka Pops Mohamed (1949 – 2025), was a South African multi-instrumentalist, jazz musician and producer.
Pops Mohamed had started his musical journey at Dorkay House, where he studied guitar and was able to hear the rehearsals of jazz legends such as saxophonist Kippie Moeketsi. Later, it became one of his meeting and rehearsal […]
Cheb Arab - Wain Ma'ady
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfZYGFuzQdo
Cheb Aarab (El Shab Arrab), born in Tripoli, is a Libyan singer active in Egypt in the 1990s.
https://www.discogs.com/artist/3196962-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A8
Mama Mosambiki – Eyuphuro
https://amf.didiermary.fr/mama-mosambiki-eyuphuro/
Eyuphuro (“whirlwind” in Makua) is a Mozambican band, founded in 1981. Their successful album Mama Mosambiki, in the Marrabenta style, was released in 1990, before their breakup.
In 1998, singer Zena Bacar reformed Eyuphuro and a “reunion” album in 2001, Yellela, toured with a different line-up from the first one. […]
Grace Decca – Munyenge
https://amf.didiermary.fr/grace-decca-munyenge/
Grace Decca (Ndom’a Deccah Grace) is a Cameroonian singer from Douala, the younger sister of Ben Decca, a well-known Makossa singer. She performed alongside her brother between 1984 and 1989, before starting her own solo career.
Doï La Mulema is an EP, her second album, released in 1993.
Thirteen years after her last release, she […]
Prophets of da City – Never Again
https://amf.didiermary.fr/prophets-of-da-city-never-again/
A track that’s part of (music) history. PoC (Prophets of da City) was the 1st HipHop group/crew to release in South Africa and the only group to be banned pre and post apartheid!
Prophets of da City (POC) is a socially conscious […]
Ismael Isaac – Polio
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ismael-isaac-polio-teridjougou/
Ismael Isaac, de son vrai nom Kaba Diakité Issiaka, est un chanteur et artiste reggae de Côte d’Ivoire, né en 1966 à Abidjan.
D’abord connu au milieu des années 80 pour de multiples cassettes, il enregistre son premier album en 1990 (Rahman) avec Boncana Maïga qui lui ouvre la porte d’une carrière internationale. […]
Fela Kuti – Confusion Break Bones (C.B.B.)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-confusion-break-bones-cbb/
Confusion Break Bones is a long track (29:10) by Fela Kuti & Egypt 80 on their album “Underground System” from 1992.
“Fela releases Underground System, which will be the final album of newly recorded studio material to be issued during his lifetime. The album is inspired in part by the 1987 assassination of Fela’s friend, […]
A selection from Libyan tapes
https://amf.didiermary.fr/selection-libyan-tapes/
The album “A selection from Libyan tapes” is a compilation blending reggae rhythms, synthy disco grooves, gritty pop, house, and funk, a vibrant collision of genres that reflects Libya’s unique sonic landscape from the 1980s to the early 2000s, dedicated to the cassette tape scene in Libya. [...]
#80smusic #90smusic #Compilation #Disco #Libya #OldAfricanMusic
Mory Kante – Soumba
https://amf.didiermary.fr/mory-kante-soumba/
“Soumba” is from Mory Kante‘s album “Touma” (moment) in 1990 with Carlos Santana on Lead Guitar.
The whole album is a combination of Manding music and Pop/Rock arrangements.
The Zulu voice and guitar of Ray Phiri also appears on the 6th track “Touma Wimoweh,” a revisited version of the classic “The lion sleeps tonight.”
Brenda Fassie – Black President
https://amf.didiermary.fr/brenda-fassie-black-president/
Black President is a song by South African singer Brenda Fassie, the 6th track on her 6th eponym studio album in 1990. It was written with Sello “Chicco” Twala, who also produced, and released on February 8, 1990. The song was written about Nelson Mandela, who was arrested by the South African apartheid government with […]
Brenda Fassie – Vulindlela
https://amf.didiermary.fr/brenda-fassie-vulindlela/
Brenda Fassie (Brenda Nokuzola Fassie, 1964 – 2004) was a South African singer, songwriter, dancer and activist, affectionately called MaBrrr by her fans.
In 1997, South Africa’s most famous music star had a huge hit. Brenda Fassie’s Vulindlela became a national pop anthem, played especially at weddings and celebrations. Vulindlela can be loosely translated from [...]
Brenda Fassie songs
https://amf.didiermary.fr/brenda-fassie-songs/
A quick selection of Brenda Fassie songs. Let’s begin with the song that started it all, the “ultimate” side-chick anthem.
In 1983, Brenda Fassie formed “Brenda and the Big Dudes” (with Blondie and Pappa Makhene), and that same year she had a breakthrough hit with “Weekend Special,” singing in the disco-flavored “bubblegum” [...]
#80smusic #90smusic #Disco #Documentary #Kwaito #LiveMusic #SouthAfrica #OldAfricanMusic #Pop
Ghana Special 2: Electronic Highlife
https://amf.didiermary.fr/electronic-highlife-ghana-special-2/
“Ghana Special 2: Electronic Highlife & Afro Sounds In The Diaspora, 1980-93” is a collection of 18 Burger Highlife, Electronic Afrobeat and Reggae tracks, highlighting a time when the burgeoning Ghanaian diaspora across Europe and North America was utilising new music technology and recording techniques. A period of movement [...]
#80smusic #90smusic #Compilation #FullAlbum #Ghana #Highlife #AfroBeat
Ata Kak – Daa Nyinaa
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ata-kak-daa-nyinaa/
Ata Kak quickly became a cult classic amongst DJs and underground tastemakers.
The Ghanaian musician, whose real name is Yaw Atta-Owusu, had recorded Obaa Sima in 1994 in Toronto before returning to Ghana in 2006.
Atta moved to Toronto in 1989 where he was invited to play in a […]
