Sunday, May 20, 2012
Alekpehanhou Roi du Zinli Rénové
Face A
Agbon Hou Agbon
Ta Hoho Mon Non
Nou É Kon Gningnin É
Face B
Gni Dokponon Homé Do
Mi Nou Mi Ni Mon Midé Gbô
Na Non Sô Tin Tché Mè
Noussoudaho Houésava
Polyrhythmic spirals courtesy of this zinli music cassette from Benin, for your journey to the other world. I am reveling in the beautiful, unified restraint of the elements here, boiled down to a persistent essence of drums, bells and vocals that linger like smoke in the mix. The eminently informative VOA African Treasures blog has some details on Alekpehanhou and the state of traditional music listening in Benin.
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
Sekouba Bambino Diabate—Syli National
Side A
Syli National
Ballon Tant
Ka Souma Man
Side B
Lanaya
Pot Purri
A Nyara-N'Na
It's the time of year where one's attention might turn to sports. The Olympics are coming. It's baseball season. Why not a record dedicated to a soccer (football) team? I have noticed tons of albums by African artists with football-related topics. Here is a 1994 effort by one of the crucial stars of Guinean music, Sekouba Diabate, which is dedicated to Guinea's national team.
BTW--check out this epic Bola video, taken from his new album Volume 7.
