John Coltrane – Dahomey Dance
https://amf.didiermary.fr/john-coltrane-dahomey-dance/
“Olé Coltrane” is the ninth album by jazz musician John Coltrane, released in 1961 on Atlantic Records.
Dahomey is the ancient name of Bénin, a West African country.
Two days prior to the recording of Olé Coltrane, Coltrane had made Africa/Brass, his inaugural recording session for his new label, Impulse! Records. […]
Angelique Kidjo – Blewu, a cappella
https://amf.didiermary.fr/angelique-kidjo-blewu-st-paul-cathedral/
Angelique Kidjo singing Blewu a cappella (and without a microphone), inside St. Paul’s Cathedral in London for the Voluntary Service Overseas’ Christmas concert.
From her album “Eve” in 2014.
Blewu is an Ewe dirge, a song for the dead to help them in their last journey towards their ancesters’ world. It’s an homage to all the […]
El Rego et Ses Commandos – E Nan Mian Nuku
https://amf.didiermary.fr/el-rego-commandos-e-nan-mian-nuku/
Was El Rego Benin’s Godfather of Funk? Listen to El Rego et Ses Commandos, an album released in 2011.
“There’s lots of James Brown in there, but while other Benin singers of the period are more scary than funky when they echo Soul Brother Number One, El Rego makes restraint sound not only more fun, […]"
Melome Clement & TP Poly-Rythmo
https://amf.didiermary.fr/melome-clement-poly-rythmo/
RIP Melome Clement : TP Orchestre Poly-Rythmo bandleader (vocals, guitar) died on 12/17/2012.
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou – Se Ba Ho
https://amf.didiermary.fr/orchestre-poly-rythmo-cotonou-se-ba-ho/
“Se Ba Ho” est un titre du Poly-Rythmo, basé sur un rythme traditionnel Vodoun nommé Sato.
“On adorait ce mélange de rythmes africains bien dansants qu’on connaît puisque le Bénin est à un carrefour culturel” dit Mélomé Clément, éternel leader du groupe dans une interview. […]
King of Modern Agbadja
https://amf.didiermary.fr/king-modern-agbadja-gnonnas-pedro-dadjes/
4 songs by this magnificent artiste were included in the compilation Legends of Benin from 2009. This new compilation presents a full and deserved project about Gnonnas Pedro, the king of Modern Agbadja, with tracks between 1974 and 1983. […]
Africando – Dagamasi
https://amf.didiermary.fr/africando-dagamasi/
“Ati Mawuin Dagamasi” is one of the classic songs by Gnonnas Pedro, covered here by himself under the Africando banner. This cover appears on Africando’s album “Gombo Salsa” in 1996.
This 3rd album was produced by Ibrahima Sylla and was the group’s first release to include Gnonnas Pedro, with songs arranged by Boncana Maiga and […]
Lady cover for Red Hot + Fela
https://amf.didiermary.fr/cover-lady-tune-yards-angelique-kidjo-akua-naru/
A cover of Fela Kuti‘s Lady with tUnE-yArDs, Angelique Kidjo, ?uestlove & Akua Naru for the album Red Hot + Fela in 2013.
Gangbé, the sound of metal
https://amf.didiermary.fr/sound-metal-gangbe-brass-band/
Enjoy the Sound of Metal (Gangbe in Fon)!
The Gangbé Brass Band was a 10-member Beninese musical ensemble founded in 1994.
Disclaimer: I spent a lot of time with them...
Gilles Gnonnas – La musica en vérité (2013)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/gilles-gnonnas-musica-verite/
Gilles Gnonnas singing “La musica en vérité”, a song by his father Gnonnas Pedro, in Cotonou in 2013 (@ CCF).
Angelique Kidjo – Bomba
https://amf.didiermary.fr/angelique-kidjo-bomba/
From her album “Eve”, tribute to the women of Benin and their traditional outfit named “Bomba” (bom’ba) by Angélique Kidjo.
A bomba is a two-piece set consisting of a loose camisole and a loincloth for women, or trousers for men.
Listen to the remixed version too…
“And so Les Amazones d’Afrique were born…”
https://amf.didiermary.fr/amazones-afrique-dahomey-women-warriors/
Les Amazones d’Afrique is a collective of female stars including Angélique Kidjo, Mariam Doumbia, Nneka and many more. It started singing out in 2014 against gender inequality in West Africa over a soundtrack of Funk, Blues, Dub and Electro.
The first track they released was “I Play The Kora” from their album […]
Le Tout-Puissant Orchestre Poly-Rythmo – Madjafalao
https://amf.didiermary.fr/orchestre-poly-rythmo-madjafalao/
For their first new album since 2011, Madjafalao released in 2016 by Le Tout-Puissant Orchestre Poly-Rythmo, here’s a short interview with Calypso Rose.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymVB7tlEeLw
