Chants et Danses Populaires du Bénin Vollumes 1 & 2 (1978)

Released in 1978 by the Agence de coopération culturelle et technique & Ministère de la Jeunesse de la Culture Populaire et des Sports (Porto-Novo) originally on two records or cassettes. This is a nice compilation of music by two relatively well known groups, Black Santiago and Le Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou, and a few tracks by lesser known artists. They were released as separate volumes (1 & 2) and as far as I can determine have never been released on CD.

Track Listing:

1. Orchestre Black Santiago - Akpe Na Agecoop
2. Orchestre Black Santiago - Aduke
3. L'Orchestre de la BCB - Sokemu
4. L'Orchestre de la BCB - Balkanisation de l'Afrique
5. Gnonnas Pedro - Agbaja Moderne
6. Les Messagers du Bénin - Ajanu Ce
7. Les Sympatics de Porto-Novo - Afrika
8. T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou - Se Na Me
9. T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou - Hwe Towe Hun
10. T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou & Roger Tchaou - Otchini
11. T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou & Sena Joyi Jeya - A Yi Mi
12. T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou & Sagbohan Danialou - Kokoriko

 Download Links: Volume 1, Volume 2.

 

Other Recordings:

• Agbadja
• Musique Afro-Cubaine, Vol. 1: La Compilation
• Irma Loi
• The Best of Pedro Gnonnas
• The Vodoun Effect: Funk and Sato from Benin's Obscure Label
• Echos Hypnotiques, Vol. 2
• Rhythmo de Cotonou, Vol. 1: Vodoun Effect - Funk and Sato from Benin'sobscure Labels 19
• The Kings of Benin Urban Groove 1972-80

 

Sipho Mabuse - Chant Of The Marching (1989)

Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse was born in Johannesburg on 2 November 1951. Mabuse got his start in the African soul group the Beaters in the mid-1970s. After a successful tour of Zimbabwe they changed the group's name to Harari. When they returned to their homeland in South Africa they began to draw almost exclusively on American-style funk, soul, and pop music, sung in Zulu and Sotho as well as English. He has also recorded and produced for, amongst others, Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Ray Phiri and Sibongile Khumalo.

 

The sunny Chant of the Marching, recorded in Brussels, is an uplifting mainstream album with fewer commercial concessions than its predecessor. (The American-soul styled "Celebration" sounds like a sincere embrace rather than a forced attempt to imitate.) Over a blend of spirited backup singers, neat hornwork (by Hugh Masekela and others) and percussion (used in more of a musical than rhythmic role), Mabuse confidently sings his forthright (bilingual) lyrics about the townships, Mandela and resistance in a handsome, almost unaccented voice. Miriam Makeba duets with Mabuse on one song. Recording is now out of print, but used copies can be found (see link below).

 

Sources: Wikipedia, Allmusic.com, TrouserPress.com.

 

Track List:

1. Tika Jive
2. Refugee
3. Room of Horror
4. Kululani Umandel
5. Township Child
6. Chant
7. Celebration
8. Taxi Driver
9. Mama

Download Link: Enjoy the Music!

More recordings featuring Sipho Mabuse:

• The Best Of
• Chant of the Marching

Recoirdings by similar artists:

• Grazing in the Grass: The Best of Hugh Masekela 
• The Best of Hugh Masekela 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection
• Live at the Market Theatre (2CD SET)
• Hope
• Phola
• Still Grazing
• Home Is Where the Music Is
• The Lasting Impressions Of Ooga Booga
• Grrr
• Revival
• The Collection
• Uptownship
• The Chisa Years: 1965-1975 (Rare and Unreleased)
• Beatin' Aroun de Bush
• Almost Like Being in Jazz
• Africa
• Pata Pata
• Mama Africa: The Very Best of Miriam Makeba
• Her Essential Recordings: The Empress of African Song
• Sangoma
• In Concert! / Pata Pata / Makeba!
• An Evening With Belafonte/Makeba
• Makeba: The Miriam Makeba Story
• Miriam Makeba / World of Miriam Makeba
• Makeba!
• Live From Paris & Conakry
• Belafonte and Miriam Makeba