The Good Samaritans – Onughara
https://amf.didiermary.fr/the-good-samaritans-onughara/
Benin City in Nigeria. Edo-Funk. The Good Samaritans, led by Philosopher Okundaye, who composed many of the famous 80s tracks, between Funk and Highlife.
“No Food Without Taste If By Hunger” by “The Good Samaritans” is one of the most obscure Nigerian album ever recorded. Originally released in 1982, the band’s first album is full […]
Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou – Iya Me Dji Kibi Ni
https://amf.didiermary.fr/poly-rythmo-cotonou-iya-me-dji-kibi-ni/
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou is arguably West Africa’s best-kept secret. Their output, both in quantity and quality, was astonishing.During several trips to Benin, Analog Africa managed to collect roughly 500 songs which Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou had recorded between 1970 and 1983.
The cultural and spiritual riches of traditional Beninese [...]
T. P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou: Unite Africaine
https://amf.didiermary.fr/tp-poly-rythmo-cotonou-unite-africaine/
Two monumental full-side tracks from a pair of late 70s Orchestre Poly-Rythmo albums, Unite Africaine isn’t exactly a compilation, more a combination of the standouts at a time when the band was at the peak of its powers.
The EP was released originally as “Mélomé Clément Chef d’Orchestre.” Originally released in 1977, [...]
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
The Movers 1970-76
https://amf.didiermary.fr/movers-1970-76/
The story of The Movers began in 1967 when two unknown musicians – the brothers Norman and Oupa Hlongwane – approached Kenneth Siphayi a stylish and wealthy businessman from the Alexandra township to ask if he could buy them musical instruments. In return he would receive a cut from future life shows and record deals. […]
#70smusic #AfroFunk #Apartheid #Jazz #Mbaqanga #SouthAfrica #OldAfricanMusic
The Trance of Seven Colors
https://amf.didiermary.fr/trance-seven-colors/
The aptly titled “The Trance of Seven Colors” ranks among the best Gnawa recordings ever released… Listen to the Maâlem Mahmoud Guinia with Pharoah Sanders.
Originally released in 1994, “The Trance Of Seven Colors” is the meeting of two true musical masters: Pharoah Sanders and the Maâlem Mahmoud Guinia (1951 – 2015), son of the […]
The Mebusas Vol 1 – Blood Brothers
https://amf.didiermary.fr/mebusas-vol-1-blood-brothers/
The Mebusas were a Nigerian AfroRock ensemble who released in 1973 their album “Vol 1 Blood Brothers”.
#70smusic #AfroFunk #FullAlbum #Nigeria #Rock #OldAfricanMusic
Wazimbo – Nwahulwana (“night bird”)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/wazimbo-nwahulwana-night-bird/
Wazimbo was the long-time performer/leader of Orchestra Marrabenta Star de Moçambique (1979-1995).
The song Nwahulwana (“night bird”) was a main hit both for him and the band in 1988.
Tidiani Koné & Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou
https://amf.didiermary.fr/tidiani-kone-poly-rythmo-de-cotonou/
Tidiani Koné (1926-2001) was the Rail Band leader and the first musician to introduce brass instruments such as the saxophone or trumpet in Malian/Mandingue music. He’s also the one who give Salif Keita his chance to sing…
Tidiani Koné played traditional instruments like the n’goni and the traditional flute, before becoming a saxophonist in the […]
Bantous de la Capitale – Osala Ngai Nini
https://amf.didiermary.fr/bantous-de-la-capitale-osala-ngai-nini-alphonsine/
Passy Mermans, guitariste des Bantous de la Capitale, est décédé le 28 décembre 2022 à l’âge de 80 ans, quelques jours seulement après Ignace Makirimbia, batteur principal des Bantous.
Les Bantous de la Capitale, premier orchestre congolais créé en 1959, est né à la veille de l’indépendance du Congo. […]
Vis-A-Vis – Obi Agye Me Dofo
https://amf.didiermary.fr/obi-agye-me-dofo-vis-a-vis/
As both a popular live act and in-demand studio musicians, Vis-A-Vis released 13 albums between 1975 and 1982, of which Obi Agye Me Dofo remains the most sought after. Led by vocalist Isaac “Superstar” Yeboah and featuring Sammy Cropper on guitar, Slim Manu on bass and Gybson “Shaolin Kung-Fu” Papra on drums, they helped propel […]
Ghana Special (updated)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ghana-special/
Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968-1981 compilation.
Ghana Special represents nearly ten years of on-going research in and around the cities of Accra, Tema, Cape Coast, Takoradi and Kumasi, knocking on musician’s doors and visiting ex-distributors, DJs, collectors, manufacturers and shop owners who [...]
The story of Zamrock
Discover the story of Zamrock, a music genre born in 1970s Zambia out of influences from James Brown’s funk and Jimi Hendrix’s acid guitar.
Watch the mini-documentary below.
https://amf.didiermary.fr/story-zamrock/
Seminal Zamrock groups such as Witch, Amanaz, 5 Revolutions, Ricky Banda, Ngozi Family, Oscillations, Fireballs, and Crossbones.
#70smusic #Documentary #Rock #Zambia #Zamrock #OldAfricanMusic
Tony Grey – Come Back
https://amf.didiermary.fr/tony-grey-come-back/
Nigerian showbiz legend Tony Grey led a band called “The Magnificent Zeinians“. Here he’s with Super7 in 1975.
Tchico Tchicaya – The Golden Voice of Africa
https://amf.didiermary.fr/tchico-tchicaya-golden-voice/
“The Golden Voice of Africa” is the nickname of Denis Pambou Tchicaya (aka Tchico Tchicaya), Congolese songwriter, guitar player and arranger, born near Pointe-Noire.
Between 1972 and 1976, he’s part of Les Bantous de la capitale, one of the main orchestras during this period, where he’s one of the solo singers. [...]
Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Yinhle Lentombi
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ladysmith-black-mambazo-yinhle-lentombi/
Yinhle Lentombi translates to “This Lady Is Beautiful” and comes from their 6th studio album Shintsha Sithothobala which was released in 1975.
Shintsha Sithothobala, released in 1975 unlike most of the output of the group by this time, does not include any directly Zulu Christian religious songs. The album’s songs instead are based on Zulu tradition.
R.I.P Tohon Stan
https://amf.didiermary.fr/rip-stan-tohon/
Tohon Stan, né Roger Tohon (1955 – 2019), était le “Roi du Tchink System,” un style musical basé sur le rythme traditionnel “Tchinkoumé” issu de la région de Savalou au centre du Bénin.
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.”
Faradjallah & Attarazat Addahabia – Al Hadaoui
https://amf.didiermary.fr/attarazat-addahabia-faradjallah-al-hadaoui/
During the ’50s, Faradjallah was booked as a singer for surprise parties with friends. He started to write his first songs including “L’gnawi” in 1967 and wanted to make people discover Gnawa culture, or maybe rather his take on the culture to be more exact. Faradjallah recalls his first interaction with the genre in [...]
The Funkees – Dancing Time
https://amf.didiermary.fr/funkees-dancing-time/
“The Funkees hit London in 1973 as the tightest, funkiest and most audacious bands to come out of Africa. Hardened by endless touring and an unrelenting battle with BLO and Monomono to be the best band in Nigeria, they were in prime musical condition, ready to finally lay down their first album. The result was […]
Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse – Jive Soweto
https://amf.didiermary.fr/sipho-hotstix-mabuse-jive-soweto/
Sipho Cecil Peter Mabuse (born 2 November 1951), known professionally as Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, is a South African singer-songwriter.
Mabuse got his start in the Afro-soul group the Beaters in the mid-1970s. After a successful tour of Zimbabwe they changed the group’s name to Harari, an afrosoul band led by Mabuse. When they returned to […]
ሙሉቀን፡መለሰ Mulukèn Mellèssè Muluqän Mälläsä
https://amf.didiermary.fr/muluken-mellesse/
The Ethiopiques series is back, after almost 7 years, with 2 albums released in December 2025. The first one is “Muluken Mellesse With The Dahlak Band” (Ethiopiques 31).
[…] the artist’s talent made itself known very early indeed, because he got his start in 1966-67, at the age of 13 […]
Charles & Frida Sonko – Nawuliranga (1968)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/charles-frida-sonko-melo-success-nawuliranga/
Nawuliranga, by Charles & Frida Sonko with Orchestre Melo Success comes from a rare compilation “The Kampala Sound – 1960s Ugandan Dance Music” (Original Music, 1988, recorded in Kenya).
Frida Sonko was the sister of Charles Sonko, with whom she made music and helped many musicians to record their music in Nairobi, Kenya.
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 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
