African music

February 9, 2008 2:41 PM

Please recommend to me more African music/musicians.

I'm stuck in North America, but I frequently listen to African music. Trouble is, I mostly stick to what I know: the popular, "world music", the personal. I know that there's more exquisite African music out there, with elaborate rhythms and enchanting harmonies, but I'm striking out a lot when I try to find related artists.

Currently, I have Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Youssou N'Dour, The Soweto Gospel Choir and Seleshe Demassae on heavy rotation. Please tell me your favorites and help me find more joy!

posted by vers to media & arts (43 comments total)

Ismaël Lô.
posted by kidbritish at 2:43 PM on February 9, 2008

Konono No. 1
posted by wemayfreeze at 2:47 PM on February 9, 2008 [1 favorite]

Have you checked out the webpage for the public radio show Afropop Worldwide? It's not all African music: they're also interested in the African diaspora. But they've got lots of soundclips and archived shows on their webpage, and it's worth checking out.
posted by craichead at 2:50 PM on February 9, 2008

Tinariwen, Tartit, Toumani Diabaté and Khaira Arby from Mali as well as Baaba Maal and Orchestra Baobab from Senegal are definitely worth listening to for a start. If you want a bit of cultural context with your music, you might want to subscribe to the Afropop Worldwide podcast and (if you can Listen Again in North America) BBC Radio 3's World Routes.
posted by highrise at 2:51 PM on February 9, 2008

Ali Farka Toure

Also, for a sampler Wonders of the African World
posted by IndigoJones at 2:54 PM on February 9, 2008

The Ethiopiques series is an awesome collection of vintage jazz from Muslim Africa. You might know some of the music from this series as the cool music in the movie Broken Flowers.

Different than what you would conceive of us "African music," but then, there's really no such thing as "African music" per se (it's a huge, and hugely diverse continent after all!).

At any rate, Dollar Brand, Oliver Mtukudzi, and Brenda Fassie are pretty cool too.
posted by Rykey at 2:57 PM on February 9, 2008

Fela Kuti. He's the 800-pound gorilla of this shit. Also: Peter King; Segun Bucknor; Blo; Juju; Mulatu Astatqe; Hugh Masakela; Zap Mama; Ali Farka Toure. I could go on, but that's a start.
posted by box at 2:57 PM on February 9, 2008

Miriam Makeba! I've loved her since I was four.

King Sunny Ade, too.
posted by Madamina at 3:18 PM on February 9, 2008

Thione Seck. Absolutely Brilliant. Samples.
That last site is a great place to hear a lot of samples of a lot of African music: direct link to http://music.calabashmusic.com/world/africa
posted by Rumple at 3:50 PM on February 9, 2008

Toumani Diabate
Foday Musa Suso
Ali Farka Toure
Tinarewen

Enjoy!
posted by thedanimal at 4:02 PM on February 9, 2008

I love almost all the music off of Indestructible Beat of Soweto, Vol. 3, especially the Mahlathini & the Mahotella Queens contributions.
posted by kimota at 4:05 PM on February 9, 2008

Papa Wemba, Oliver Mtukudzi and Manecas Costa. Enjoy x 2!
posted by ceri richard at 4:25 PM on February 9, 2008

Fela Kuti. FELA KUTI. FFEELLAA KKUUTTII.

I cant be more emphatic than that.

Also 2nding Tinariwen, the Ethiopiques albums, Oliver Mtukudzi, Konono no. 1 and Ali Farka Toure.

Happy listening!
posted by zennoshinjou at 4:51 PM on February 9, 2008 [1 favorite]

Kanda Bongo Man, Manu Dibango, Angelique Kidjo, Boukman Ekspryans (not african but definitely african diaspora), Tshala Muana, superstar Youssou N'Dour, Ayub Ogada, Vieux Diop, Papa Wemba -- there's so much more

quieter and more complex - I love these two:

In the Heart of the Moon by Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabate
New Ancient Strings by Toumani Diabate and Ballake Sissoko
posted by nnk at 4:53 PM on February 9, 2008

Did anybody mention Baba Maal? Him too.
posted by nnk at 5:01 PM on February 9, 2008

Mohammed "Jimmy" Mohammed. An Ethiopian who sang (mostly? only) the songs of Tlahoun Gèssèssè. His first album, Takkabel! has Dutch jazz/improv-god Han Bennink playing on many of the tracks, as well as Ethiopian sax-player Getatchew Merkurya on a few. His second album, Hulgizey, is a much more traditional affair, as well as being a live recording (and an excellent one at that).

If you end up liking Tinariwen, hunt down Group Doueh. Sublime Frequencies put out some rough recordings of their stuff, and it is downright incendiary. Group Inerane is another similar outfit, but I haven't heard them yet so I don't know if it's any good.
posted by hototogisu at 5:02 PM on February 9, 2008

Soweto Never Sleeps is a fantastic compilation if you like the zulu jazz/jive sound; features more from the Mahotella Queens.
posted by pullayup at 5:05 PM on February 9, 2008

You might also like the soundtrack to Amandla - A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony
posted by nnk at 5:07 PM on February 9, 2008

I love Césaria Évora, a Cape Verdean diva whose music, though strongly influenced by Portuguese and Brazilian styles &mdash Cape Verde, an island located outside Africa, used to be a Portuguese colony — is recognizably and uniquely African. Her latest album is Rogamar [Amazon linky with clipsies].

Also Nth-ing Toumani Diabate and Fela Kuti. If you like Kuti, there's Antibalas, a Brooklyn-based (but African) band that's really good.
posted by gentle at 5:23 PM on February 9, 2008

Thomas Mapfumo, the Lion of Zimbabwe. And thank you for asking this question.
posted by bricoleur at 6:07 PM on February 9, 2008

Forward Kwenda.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 7:29 PM on February 9, 2008

Kojo Antwi
Ben Brako
Highlife
posted by ramix at 7:48 PM on February 9, 2008

salif keita! and nthing papa wemba.
posted by sergeant sandwich at 9:43 PM on February 9, 2008

Amadou and Mariam
posted by krikany at 10:12 PM on February 9, 2008

Two particular recommendations out of the Ethiopiques series: Getachew Mekurya. It's strange and wonderful-- really like nothing else.

And Tsegué-Maryam Guébrou, solo piano.
posted by moonmilk at 12:13 AM on February 10, 2008

For the simple-and-elegant side of the spectrum (along with the aforementioned New Ancient Strings by Toumani Diabate and Ballake Sissoko)...

Try Malian Rokia Traore (lyrical and melodic) and the mostly acapella Zap Mama's Adventures in Afropea vol. 1 (fun and up-tempo).
posted by tentacle at 12:20 AM on February 10, 2008

Places to explore/discover:
Stern's Music
The African Music Encyclopedia
RetroAfric
There's a dirt cheap African section at eMusic which isn't half bad (e.g. you can get tons of Fela there).

Some of my favorite albums:
African Guitar Summit I
Belle Epoque, by Mose Se 'Fan Fan'
Extra Ball, by Loketo
Only the Poorman Feel It (killer South African compilation)
posted by keith0718 at 12:21 AM on February 10, 2008

sorry for the bad links.
The African Music Encyclopedia
RetroAfric
posted by keith0718 at 12:25 AM on February 10, 2008

not precisely what I feel you're looking for, but the 22 Band is good times for sure.
posted by Acari at 12:36 AM on February 10, 2008

http://awesometapesfromafrica.blogspot.com/
posted by citron at 1:23 AM on February 10, 2008

Try Tony Allen- widely considered one of the best drummers in the world, he held Fela Kuti's band together, has made guest appearances on quite a few records (Sebastien Tellier's Politics, Air's "Once Upon a Time," The Good, The Bad & The Queen's self-titled album, a few more), and has an excellent solo career. His latest, Lagos No Shaking, has also spawned a bunch of excellent remix 12"s from the likes of Carl Craig and Rhythm & Sound if you're into that kind of thing.
posted by Merzbau at 4:09 AM on February 10, 2008

Wow. Just wow!

I'm incredibly grateful for all of these suggestions. You've all offered best answers and created a mother lode that will keep me busy listening for a year and more. Please accept my thanks in giving such wonderful guidance to my musical explorations.

Thomas Mapfumo and Antibalas have both put on phenomenal concerts here, and I highly recommend seeing them live if you have the chance.

AskMefis rock!
posted by vers at 4:49 AM on February 10, 2008

Seconding krikany's recommendation of Amadou and Mariam. A blind Malian couple who moved to the Ivory Coast music scene, and had their big breakthrough a couple of years ago with Dimanche e Bamako [Amazon page with audio clips], produced (and strongly influenced) by Manu Chao, a really fantastic album.
posted by gentle at 7:34 AM on February 10, 2008

If you like Konono No.1, don't forget about the compilation Congotronics 2.

I've been digging the Kenyan group Kenge Kenge.

Extra Golden is a group that's half Kenyan, half American. They got some notice lately for a song that thanks a certain senator from Illinois for visa help. There's a fund-raising effort on their website to help the Kenyan members weather the current political turmoil.

Chicago music critic Peter Margasak frequently writes about African music in his blog. Two recent posts reviewed a handful reissue compilations.

The Voice of America's Africa service has a great sharity blog with more vintage sounds. (via Margasak)

Dusty Groove carries a great selection of international music, including rare and reissued vinyl. Their prices on new releases are lower than major retailers and every album gets a short review. (Always a glowing review, of course, they are trying to sell it to you.)
posted by hydrophonic at 8:49 AM on February 10, 2008

Remmy Ongala and Orchestre Super Matimila

Also, Benn loxo du taccu is another great African music blog.
posted by Guy Smiley at 9:44 AM on February 10, 2008

I got to this late, but one of my suggestions surprisingly hasn't been mentioned: Boubacar Traore is a guitar player from Mali. Like a lot of his contemporaries, he's absorbed some influences from American blues and acoustic guitar playing, but his take on it given his musical background is really beautiful.
posted by invitapriore at 3:27 PM on February 10, 2008

gentle, hydrophonic, Guy Smiley and invitapriore, I'm awfully glad that recommendations are still coming in, and will listen to every one of the suggestions made. I already have seven CDs on their way due to this thread. There are riches here!
posted by vers at 3:42 PM on February 10, 2008

Docteur Nico
posted by Dr.Pill at 4:10 PM on February 10, 2008

I just bought and enjoyed Daxxar by the Steve Reid Ensemble. Very nice, percussive afro-jazz, recorded in Sengal (IIRC).
posted by bifter at 1:51 AM on February 11, 2008

I recently downloaded this 7 CD Afrobeat compilation, compiled by the Pitchfork writer that did this series, and the description says that it is "the most definitive collection of Afrobeat known to exist, and possibly the most thorough introduction to the music available." I have been enjoying it.
posted by ND¢ at 8:04 AM on February 11, 2008

ND¢: I recently downloaded this 7 CD Afrobeat compilation...

I hate to ask this, but a friend of ours who is bittorrenting this 7 CD Afrobeat compilation wonders, are you still seeding this? Because -- as our friend reports -- this torrent has no completed seeds...
posted by Guy Smiley at 12:30 AM on February 24, 2008

Check out David Byrne radio. He has playlists, by genre, that last a month or so. It's not always African, but it sometimes is (as now).
posted by keith0718 at 5:51 PM on February 24, 2008

In case anyone is still interested, here is the URL for a seeded version of the Africa 100- I downloaded it and it worked great!
posted by garnetgirl at 12:31 PM on August 9, 2008