Sahra Halgan - 2024.Mar.10 RFI Session

Recently came across Sahra Halgan [bio at wiki], who I had never heard of before. She's a singer from Somaliland playing with her band, three musicians from France, who she met when living as a refugee there.
I liked very much what I heard from them, seemed a East African music with strong Sahara-Tamasheq influences. So searched for more recordings by them.

Found a short radio session done 2024.Mar.10 at RFI Musique du Monde.
Setlist: 01.Laga / --interview-- / 02.Sharaf
Line Up: Sahra Halgan - vocals / Maël Salètes - guitar / Régis Monte - organ / Aymeric Krol - percussion.

SAHRA HALGAN - 2024.Mar.10 RFI Session

They have released 3 albums, all available at sahrahalgan.bandcamp.com

Links to media: 

• CNN - 2017.Jul.12, article: The Star Singing for Somaliland's Recognition
• The Beijinger - 2017.Sep.21, interview: A Former Refugee's Musical Remedies
• RFI Podcast - 2021.Sep.08, SessionLab: Sahra Halgan, la Voix du Somaliland [interview with excerpts of albums]
• BBC 6music - 2024.May.15, Craig Charles*: Sahra Halgan in session!
• BBC TWO - 2024.Jun.15, Later... with Jools Holland: Sahra Halgan - Sharaf [see above]
• BBC Radio 3 - 2024.Jul.20, Music Planet*: Sahra Halgan in Session

*Alas, the two BBC radio shows are not available to listen anymore, AND I missed them when they were.
SO if anybody, visiting here, happens to have these, please comment under this post...

Congo Special 1988 and Franco live 1984

Embed from Getty Images

Franco 1984.Aug.16 in Paradiso, Amsterdam

Hello, how are you, I know you, I knew you... 

Yes, hello how are you all, who were wondering what happened with Mangue Music. Well I was very, very busy with many, many other things. Always keeping in the back of my mind to return here and post some good music, if I had the time and a good oportunity.

Well that oportunity happened at a flea markwet where I found a very strange CD, with very little info about it's contents. So I asked the seller, and he didn't have a clue. Therefore I asked if I could listen to it, he said he didn't have a player there, but I could just take it and have it for free.

I liked his generousness, as the text on the disc "Franco Op Slag van Maandag, KRO 1988"; had given me the idea that it might be an interesting andpotentially special CD.

Well IT IS!!!! It's a radioshow broadcasted sometime in 1988 on Dutch KRO radio, and it has two parts:

• An almost half hour Congo Special
• A more than half hour recording of FRANCO live 1984.Jan.24 in Amsterdam

CONGO Special 1988 and FRANCO live 1984 in Amsterdam

No listen link this time, just downlaod it and enjoy the following:

• CONGO Special 1988
• 1.Pablo Porthos - Madeleina [1981]
• 2.Bibi Den's Tshibayi - The "Best" Ambience [1982/84]
• 3.Joseph Kabasselle - El Que Siembra Su Maïz [1950s]
• 4.Rochereau Et Franco - Kabassele In Memoriam [1983]
• FRANCO live 1984.Jan.24 in the Melkweg in Amsterdam

During my absence blogger/google has changed a lot concerning inserting images, I tried several ways, without success, so instead of my own images, a pictures from getty embedded in the post [but don't worry, my own are all in the download...]

Some links for those of you who like add.info about Franco:

• a lot of audio by one of his biggest fans at worldservice 
• an old blog with a lot of info at Franco et TPOK Jazz Restored 
• an interesting article about Franco in The Journal of Music 
• an article* from a Dutch newspaper
  "Bandleider Franco was machtiger dan Mobutu"  

*I made translations of quotes by Stefan Werdekker [wrldsrv!] from the above linked Dutch article:

"He gave post-colonial Africa its own identity from the sixties onwards. With his pursuit of authenticity, of its own identity through music, he influenced the entire continent. Franco demonstrated how you could combine elements from your own folk music with electric guitar music. He was also a great bandleader. A kind of training institute, because everyone performed best with him. He understood the art of - well, he often took them away from competitors - constantly attracting new talent. Until his death in 1989, he had about fifty people on his payroll, spread over orchestras in Kinshasa, Paris and Brussels."

Franco's songs last about ten minutes. They start with the heating, the warm-up, in which the singers play a leading role. Then it's the turn of the guitars, which slowly slide their repetitive motifs into each other. Werdekker: "Franco called that the 'mipanza', the 'knitting style'. You could call him the Rivaldo of Congolese rumba. He sent the band to a certain point and then waited for his moment like a libero."

"He was essentially a rebel, a provocateur who denounced everything in his songs. Even though he supported the political campaigns of President Mobutu, he always remained critical. For example, the song 'Camp Luka' is about a slum in Kinshasa, which borders on a lavish residential area. 'Can you explain to me why?' Franco sings in every chorus. He also attacked ministers such as Kengo Wadondo of Justice. In the satirical 'Tailleur' ​​(the tailor), he gets a dig at him because he cuts up freedom of expression and cuts it to his size."

"Franco was popular in all layers of the population. Mobutu was powerful thanks to Franco, his politics gained a certain legitimacy. Franco was the only one who could take his president to task. After his death, that critical note disappeared and the flaws in Mobutu's politics came to light. Only then did Mobutu make his first concessions to democracy."

The 1984.Jan.24 concert by Franco in The Melkweg is listed as one of THE 4 live-concert-sensations of the last century. Together with: Lionel Hampton [1953, Amsterdam], The Beatles [1964, Blokker] and The Rolling Stones [1964, Kurhaus]. Well that's SOMETHING to be in such a list!

And last a quote from Franco himself, shortly before he passed away in 1989: "I've just walked to Lourdes, that's why now I can't stand on my own legs." 

Noura Mint Seymali - 2015.Aug.19 Berlin FHE

Noura Mint Seymali - live 2015 [source: srw.de]

Noura Mint Seymali is the daughter of famous and respected Mauritanian musician Seymali Ould Ahmed Vall who was responsible for modernizing much of Mauritanian music. His daughter now holds that position, she learned from many other family members, including her step mother, the beloved national singer Dimi Mint Abba, with whom at age 13 she began her career as a supporting vocalist.
From a very early age, she was trained in instrumental and vocal technique by her grandmother, Mounina, mastering the ardine, a harp reserved only for women, and singing at weddings with family. Noura Mint Seymali currently drives the legacy forward as one of Mauritania's most adventurous young artists, her music is rooted in the intensely complex classical music of Moorish North Africa.
In Mauritania, there are five modes to the music and traditional artists move in a kind of "melodic orbit" through the modes during a performance. Each mode has multiple under-modes that are referred to as black or white. It's a kind of coloring to the music that helps bend the mode in a certain direction, either black which lends violent tension, or white, which lends a softness or elegance. The push and play between these helps transform each mode. One needs a degree in ethnomusicology and years of study to really get at the heart of what is made to seem effortless.
Noura together with her husband Jeich Ould Chighaly on guitar formed their first "fusion" band in 2004 after working together for many years as a duo in the local traditional circuit. Jeich's unique sound, mirroring Noura's vocal lines and refracting their melodies into the either, was born out of years of practice presiding over wedding ceremonies where solo guitar or tidinit directs the dance. Two albums released locally in Mauritania - Tarabe (2006) and El Howl (2010) - marked initial efforts at adapting a "modern" style.
Eventually joining forces with bassist Ousmane Touré and drummer/producer Matthew Tinari, Noura Mint Seymali distilled a core sound and began working as a quartet from 2012 onwards. With a rhythm section firmly in place, Noura Mint Seymali’s quartet sound was built around a deliberate return to Moorish roots, led by the raw music of the "azawan," a word in Hassaniya that refers to the ensemble of traditional instruments in Moorish culture; the ardine, tidinit, guitar, t'beul. After releasing two experimental EPs with this ensemble, Azawan (2012) & Azawan II (2013), both recorded locally in Nouakchott. The band's first full-length album for the international market - Tzenni - was released in 2014 June, combining refurbished tracks from the Azawan EPs and new material recorded in Brooklyn, NY. In 2016 September followed the album Arbina.
Through performances at major international venues and collaborations with well-known artists the band exposes Mauritanian roots music to the world. In a rare merger of cultural authority and experimental prowess, Noura Mint Seymali applies the ancient musical traditions of the griot with a savvy aesthetic engagement in our contemporary moment, emerging as a powerful voice at nexus of a changing Africa.
summarized from bio at nouramintseymali.com

Listen to Ghizlane [live]

NOURA MINT SEYMALI - 2015.Sep.19 Berlin FHE

rec.2015.Aug.19 Kantine Berghain, Berlin / bc.2015.Sep.09, FunkHaus Europa World Live 
setlist: 1.Ya Demb / 2.Ghizlane / 3.Hebebeb / 4.Richa / 5.El Madi / 6.Tzenni / 7.El Mougelmen / 8.El Barm 

Multi Media with Noura Mint Seymali

• 2013.Sep.27 live session at  WFMU's Transpacific Sound Paradise - playlist
• 2013.Oct.09 story on PRI - The World [inl.live video]
• 2014 teaser of Tzenni - youtube
• 2014.Dec.31 interview in KithFolk #3 
• 2016.Mar.01 Full Performance (live on KEXP) - youtube
• 2016 promo video for Na Sane - youtube

Discography

2006: Tarabe [local album]
2010: El Howl [local album]
2012: Azawan [digi EP]
2013: Azawan II [digi EP]
2014: Tzenni [CD/LP/digi, Glitterbeat] - bandcamp
2016: Arbina [CD/LP/digi, Glitterbeat] - bandcamp

NEVER EVER FORGET:

"il faut me pardonner - you must forgive me"

Pap Djah's last words before left on his own in the Sahara desert (in Niger)

Terakaft - 2014 Sziget Festival Budapest FHE

Terakaft at the 2014 Sziget Festival in Budapest [picture: FHE]

This time of the year, half of January, used to be the Festival in the Desert in Mali. It has been held from 2000 till 2012, after which first the rebellion then its aftermath and now the Corona-virus pandemic, all have caused that it could not be held somewhere in the Sahara Sand near Timbuktu. I have posted before some less known recordings of the festival, have some more but these still need some preparation works. So decided to post recordings of a Tamasheq group at a European festival.

Biography of Terakaft

Nicknamed Khiwaj (the Giant), Kedou is known to all the Tuaregs, as much for his active involvement in the rebellion, as as an emblematic musician in early Tinariwen.
He experienced exile in Algeria, then the Libyan training camps in the 1980s. It was in this context that he met Ibrahim Abaraybone and Intiyeden, beginning with them the long history of Tinariwen. He has fought in Lebanon, in Chad under the Libyan flag and engaged in the rebellion of 1990.
After the peace agreements, he participated in 1992 with Hassan, Diara and Abdallah in the first studio recording of Tinariwen in Abidjan, then in 2001 recording the album "The Radio Tisdas Session". At the time when Tinariwen reached international notoriety, Kedou continued his own path in Algeria.
In 2007, he returned to Kidal to form the group Terakaft with Diara (brother of Intiyeden and another historical composer of Tinariwen) and young guitarists from Adrar, giving birth to "Bismilla", his first western album, followed in 2008 with "Akh issudar".
After their 2008 European tour and the album "Akh isshudar", Kedou decided to leave the group, which tightens around Diara and Sanou and young musicians of Adrar. Then follow the albums "Aratan n Azawad" (2011) and "Kel tamasheq" (2012).
source: tamasheq.net/artistes/terakaft.html [through the wayback machine]

Listen to Kel Tamasheq [live]

TERAKAFT 20140816 - Sziget Budapest FHE

recorded 2014.Aug.16, Sziget Festival on an island in the Danube in Budapest
bc.2014.Sep.15, FunkHaus Europa - World Live [now called Cosmo - World Live]
setlist: 1.Ténéré Wer Tat Zinchegh / 2.Alla Fall Manine / 3.Diya Idohana / 4.Kel Tamasheq / 5.Arghane Manine / 6.Imad Halan / 7.Wer Esinen / 8.Imidiwan / 9Aimama Imaima / 10.Mijao / 11.Tameyawte / 12.Karambani

line-up [probably]: Liya Ag Ablil, aka Diara - gitaar, zang / Sanou Ag Ahmed - basgitaar / Nicolas Grupp - drums

Some links to enjoy:

• Terakaft - Wer Essinen (live @ Sziget 2014) - FHE-Cosmo at YouTube
• Terakaft - 2017 at Afrika Festival Hertme - audio vpro.nl

added link: 

• Terakaft - Live 2008 [2009, Tapsit] - booklet with very good, extensive biography [through wayback machine] 

Short Discography

2007: Bismilla [CD, Tapsit]
2008: VA - Ishumar [CD compilation, Reaktion]
2008: Akh issudar [CD, Tapsit]
2009: Live 2008 [digital, Tapsit / Reaktion]
2011: Aratan n'Azawad [CD, World Village]
2012: Kel Tamasheq [CD, World Village]
2012: VA - Songs for Desert Refugees [CD compilation, Glitterhouse]
2014: The Tapsit Years [CD compilation, Reaktion]
2015: Alone - Ténéré [CD/LP, Out Here Records]

NEVER EVER FORGET:

"il faut me pardonner - you must forgive me"

Pap Djah's last words before left on his own in the sand in the Sahara desert (in Niger)

Jali Nyama Suso - 1986.Sep.10 Kershaw Session

Jali Nyama Suso 1984 [photo by Dagmar Gebers, source: fmp-label]

To follow-up the Mbira from Zimbabwe with the Kora from West-Africa felt like a very good idea, so I looked which special recordings I have. That appeared to be a repeat of two tracks of a 1986 Radio Session by Jali Nyama Suso, which seemed to be an Andy Kershaw session. So checked the recently found Andy Kershaw fansite [see the post about Oumou Sangare's 1993 Session] and found there two other tracks, which on closer hearing appeared to be the [almost] complete session. Almost because at least one track, which I had already in the repeat version, is edited.

About Jali Nyama Suso

Jali Nyama Suso from Bakau (born circa 1925; died 1991) is acknowledged as one of the greatest kora players of the 20th century. Born Mohamadu Lamin Suso, Jali Nyama was one of the first artists to bring the kora to international attention through his work as a performer, teacher and historian.
By the age of 8 he was already playing the kora but his career as a griot was severely hampered at the age of 16 by the loss of his leg. However, undeterred, he moved into radio in 1956 and went on to establish his own weekly radio show which ran for over 20 years.
In 1971 he was invited to teach at the University of Washington where he recorded his first album, Gambie: L’Art de la Kora - Jali Nyama Suso. This was the first international album of solo kora which featured him both playing and singing. He also contributed as a Gambian historical advisor to Alex Haley in the celebrated world-wide television series, Roots.
In the 80’s he toured in UK, France, Sweden and Germany leaving his distinct artistic imprint on the world. He is remembered by kora players for his brilliance of tone and his distinctive colours and timbres he brought to the instrument. He is also remembered as the composer of the Gambia national anthem which is based on the traditional melody of Fode Kabba. He passed away in 1991 from tuberculosis after several years of illness.
source: tundejegede.org/Living_Legacies/Jali_Nyama_Suso.html [incl.short video!]

Listen to Lucy [in edited version]

SUSO JALI NYAMA - 19860910 Kershaw Session BBC

BBC 1986.Sep.10 Kershaw Session - bc.1986.Oct.02 BBC Radio 1 Andy Kershaw
tracklist: 1.Jali Nyama Suso* / 2.Lucy* [edit] / 3.Kuruntu Kelefa* / 4.Sunkariba*

rpt.of above session 2019.Jul.29, BBC 6music Gideon Coe
tracklist: 2.Lucy* / 3.Kuruntu Kelefa*

And I have a bonus again: The Kora Trail a 1998 BBC Radio special with Lucy Duran telling about her adventures in Gambia, Senegal and Mali. After she fell in love with the music of the Kora, she wanted to learn to play the Kora herself and stayed in a small village on the Gambia river.
The audio is from a real audio, which I some years ago succeeded to downstream, after having discovered the original link through web.archive.org. The audio has some glitches, but don't let that hinder you listening to Lucy's great story.
All further background info about this program I have found is included in the download.

More about and with the Kora

• Making the Kora - Documentary [1970, enbedded video from vimeo; 14:06] - tundejegede.org
• Kasse Mady & the African Classical Music Ensemble feat.Tunde Jegede on Kora - live filmed on the banks of the Niger in Mali - vimeo
• Towards a Notation and Tablature for the Kora and its Application to Other Instruments - 1971.Jul.07, article by Roderick Knight, published in African Music Vol.5 No.1 (1971)
• The Making of a Kora - re-edited film by Anthony King shot 1970 in Gambia - vimeo
• Jali Nyama Muso - Kora Music from Gambia - bandcamp
  listen to tracknr.1: Jula Dekaray
• VA - African Journey - A Search for the Roots of the Blues Vol.1 [LP, 1974, Sonet #SNTP.666]
  posted at music-republic-world-traditional - recordings made by Samuel Charters with 2 tracks by Jali Nyama Suso

NEVER EVER FORGET:

"il faut me pardonner - you must forgive me"

Pap Djah's last words before left on his own in the Sahara desert (in Niger)

Various Senegal from K7s (2008)

Jus de Mangue 100% Naturel 100% Sénégal

In the series of K7s radioshows, this time K7s from Senegal broadcasted in 2008 by the ConcertZender.

From the program info: "a stack of cassettes with artists from Senegal who play in the Mbalax style: Kiné Lam, Ives Niang, Abdou Guité Seck, Assane Gaye, Titi, Fallou Dieng and Mbaye Dieye Faye.
Mbalax developed in Senegal in the late 1960s and is a mix between modern Western and popular African influences, such as Soukous (Congo) and Coupé-Décalé (Ivory Coast), and traditional Senegalese music, with spicy sabar percussion. All sing in their native language Wolof."

Various SENEGAL K7s - 2008 CZ

Full Tracklist

1.Kiné Lam - Celibataire (1990, K7, Balla Aïssa Boury) - full K7 at ndiakhass (more Kiné Lam there!)
   started in 1972 with traditional group, did theatre for some years, and is still going strong as one of the most famous female voices of Senegal
   more info at musiques-afrique - in total twelfe K7s-CDs listed at natari
   another K7, Sunu Thiossane 2, 2011.Apr posted at awesometapes (later also at ndiakhass)

2.Ives Niang - Fatoumata (from his 2nd K7)
   young singer [in 2008]

3.Abdou Guité Seck - Nina (2006, live K7, Ete Show) - musiques-afrique
   played in the band Wock, later started a solo carreer
   more through web.archive.org at guiteseck.com / disco at guiteseck.com/disco (K7 not mentioned)

4.Assane Gaye - Nguem (2005, Ngeum) - afromix / youtube (2012.Apr.09 by CherieLaminSaho)
5.Assane Gaye - Teylou Len (2005, Ngeum)
   Assane Gaye alias Thione [Seck] 2 is one of the best Senegalese singer from his generation. Since 2013 he's living in and playing his music from Finland.

6.Titi - Yeena Aaye (K7, Amul Nu Malene Beguewoul) - youtube (2016.Jun.26 by Falilou Ndiaye)
   around 2008 one the most popular female singers in Senegal

7.Fallou Dieng - Beuge Tekki (200x, K7, Feuk Dieuf) - afromix / many K7s at ndiakhass
8.Fallou Dieng - Bouko Bayi (2002, K7, Bouko Bayi) - this K7 at ndiakhass
   nicknamed 'le Roi de l'Ambiance' because he invented a famous mbalax dance

9.Mbaye Dieye Faye - Rimbi Rimbi (K7, Rimbi Rimbi) - youtube (2016.Aug.21 by Falilou Ndiaye)
   percussionist in the "Super Etoile" band, made several solo K7s

NEVER EVER FORGET:

"il faut me pardonner - you must forgive me"

Pap Djah's last words before left on his own in the Sahara desert (in Niger)

Mamar Kassey - 2013.Dec.11 KIT Dusseldorf FHE

Mamar Kassey in 2013 [picture from innacor.com.com]

Biography

The name Mamar Kassey belongs to the history of the Songhay people whose empire was extended from Walata (Moroco) to Dendi (Dahomey-nowadays called Benin). Mamar Kassey is the most famous of those people's ancestors who decided, to avoid fratricidal conflicts, to exile all along the Niger river and establish themselves in the areas of Kolmane, Yatakala, Wanzarbé, Tillabéry, Gotheye, Téra, Gaya and as far as Kandi in Benin.
Original band Mamar Kassey was created 1995 November 22 by two men: Yacouba Moumouni and Abdallah Al Hassane who are musicians trained by the "Centre de Formation et de Promotion Musicale de Niamey (CFPN Elhadj Taya)".
Yacouba Moumouni, more known under the nickname of "Denke Denke", nowadays is considered to be the most popular artist in Niger. Mamar Kassey is widely appreciated in all Western Africa. Tradition is not a limitation for Mamar Kassey's music but the dynamic element giving it all a sense and taste.
The essence of tradition flows into the band's compositions, free from any rigid codes, thanks to its open minded view of the music and respect of oral traditional singing. It propagates at the speed of light through the calabash's tempo and the "kalangou" drum. It unites in a subtle game of contrasts, the melodic lines of the rhythm guitar and of the little luth "Komsa". It talks through the singing and the "Seysé" flute which bounces as a tightrope on the lines of a bass under high voltage.
Mamar Kassey plays brilliantly and with professionalism well-executed arrangements supporting Yacouba's beautiful and powerful voice, full of sensuality and warmth with an authentic Nigerian identity strongly affirmed by a subtle play, performed by the traditional lutes "Komsa" and "Molo" and an armpit drum (Kalangou).
The beauty of dancers gestures is in perfect harmony with the rhythmic and melodic nuances of well-executed music. Mamar Kassey's music is a lot more than an addition of talents. It is the expression of a mutating culture, the link between the secret words of an art reserved to the "hogon" masters, God, fetishes and the universal language of the new millennium.
The band is not a mere coincidence but the accomplishment of combined efforts of men and women convinced by the necessity to give Nigeria its voice into the concert of world's music.
source: innacor.com/INNACOR2013/spip.php?rubrique46 [disappeared, not archived]

Listen to the 1.Lelly Yoro [live]

MAMAR KASSEY - 20131211 Dusseldorf FHE

Mamar Kassey - rec.2013.Dec.11 Dusseldorf - bc.2013.12.13 Funkhaus Europa 23h "World Live" 

setlist unknown, recording split-up in:
1.concert pt.1 / interview / 2.concert pt.2 / 3.encore

update - found the setlist through web.archive.org/web:
1.Lelly Yoro / --interview-- / 2.Mali (Djinnaarou) / 3.Daneedjo / 4.Taboussizé / 5.Mansaarou / 6.Hadoré / 7.Yeti - Yeta / 8.Habdè / 9.La Famille / 10.Dinké-Dinké / --encore-- / 11.Maidé e Gonga / 12.Mossi-Gueidou

probable line-up: Yacouba Moumouni - vocals, Peul flute, dance / Harouna "Harou" Abdou - bass, choir / Boubacar "Barry" Souleymane - calebas, vocals, choir / Abdramane Albarka - electric guitar / Adamou Daouda - kalangou (talking drums) / Seyni Halidou - molo, komsa (2/3 stringed lutes) / Fatoumata Amadou - vocals, choir, dance / Catherine Onadja - choir, dance

Related MultiMedia:

• Mamar Kassey in 2014.Jan at VPRO Vrije Geluiden: Daneedjo / Mali [on youtube]
• Mamar Kassey 2013 promo video by Studio le Rocher - vimeo

as Mamar Kassey are from Niger, they may be aware of:

"il faut me pardonner - you must forgive me"

Pap Djah's last words before left on his own in the Sahara desert (in Niger)

Nahawa Doumbia - 2020.Feb.04 KIT Dusseldorf

Nahawa Doumbia live in 2019

Early this year, before the virus hit our lives, there was live music to be enjoyed. One of those highlights I could catch from the German COSMO radio station [former FunkHaus Europa], Nahawa Doumbia at KIT in Dusseldorf.

Biography

Nahawa Doumbia was born in 1960 in Mafélé (Mali), a little village located near the border between Mali and Ivory Coast. A few days after she gave birth to Nahawa, her dying mother predicted her daughter a great career as a singer, though she did not belong to the griot caste.
"Nobody was allowed to sing in my family. That is why it has been so hard for me to come to music. One day, agents of the malian Ministry of Culture came to see my father and told him that I should take part in the "Youth Week" local event. He refused but I eventually was able to take part in it. Then I came to Bamako to compete at the "Youth Biennial", an event showing young artistic talents from Mali. I have been prized in 1980 with one of my songs. It was the very beginning of my career..."
Nahawa is now a star in Mali. The charm of her thin, childish voice made her one of the vocal references from western Africa. The queen of Didadi - a rhythm from Wassoulou region danced by young people at ceremonies and celebrations - decided to return to Wassoulou instrumental tradition with balafon, djembe, kamélé n'goni and guitars.
In 2011 the critically acclaimed blogger and ethnomusicologist Brian Shimkovitz chose Nahawa's early tape La Grande Cantatrice Malienne, Vol.3 to become the first official release on his new Awesome Tapes From Africa label. It received rave reviews worldwide. In 2015 Nahawa Doumbia played at the Le Guess Who? festival in Utrecht to great acclaim. This year, 2020, she was back with her band, still singing and swinging as ever before, untill the Corona-virus struck us all... Meanwhile she recorded her new album Kanawa, to be realeased early next year [2021]!
source: Mali K7 [from 2004] with recent additions from EarthBeat

NAHAWA DOUMBIA - 2020.Feb04 KIT Dusseldorf COSMO

setlist: 1.Mbalima Nyuma / 2.Nkaranka Tji / 3.Djon Konian / 4.Ntana / 5.Dunukan / 6.Sogo Duno / 7.Korodia / 8.Yan Kadi / 9.Sokono Wuluni

line-up: Nahawa Doumbia - vocals / N'Gou Bagayoko - guitar / Drissa Sidibe - n'goni

When downloading enjoy a 2015 Malian videoclip from Nahawa

For your full information an extensive discography and collected articles about Nahawa are all included in the download.

For who has enough time now between Christmas and New Year and is interested to see a very good film, I highly recommend to watch a beautiful film directed by Idrissa Ouedraogo from Burkina Faso. Have seen it several times at various locations, even once on Guinean TV in the court-yard of the compound I was staying then. I think it's very fitting in this Corona-virus year, which has hit our elderly the hardest.
You can watch Yaaba [1989] at youtube [with subtitles, if needed!]

By The Way NEVER Forget:

"il faut me pardonner - you must forgive me"

Pap Djah's last words before left on his own in the Sahara desert (in Niger)

Christy Moore - 1969-2009 Selection

Ireland's greatest living musician
Christy Moore

Some of you might think: Who's that, what's he doing on Mangue Music? Well I decide who fits in the Mangue Music Box, and for me Christy Moore surely is in.

Early 1990s [again] a friend of me, who had seen Christy perform at a festival in Ireland, told me that it was one of the best concerts she had ever been. To be honest I think I had never heard of the man before, but when I heard he came on tour in the neighbourhood, I asked my friend if she was interested to go. Well of course she had tickets already and thought the concert was sold out, but lucky for me I could get my hands on one of the last tickets.
The concert was a blast, one man solo on a for him alone way too big theatre podium, but capturing the attention of each and everybody present. Of course there were also quite some Irish women and men in the audience, singing along with most songs, but most importantly reacting to specific details which truly made the concert even better!

I have got several of his albums, incl.live recordings, but none of those I don't want to post because widely available. Unfortunately I haven't got live radio recordings, nor special K7s or LPs, so decided to present to you a selection of tracks I once catched from the ConcertZender [still including some lives and included one bonustrack!]. So here for you all Christy after Christmas!

Biography

Christy Moore was born 1945 May 07 in Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland. He was originally a bank employee who wanted to express himself using traditional music. During a bank strike in 1966, which lasted twelve weeks, he went to England, as many striking officials did, but didn't return when the strike was settled. Doing general labouring work, he frequented the folk clubs and the Irish music pubs where he met Seamus Ennis, Margaret Barry, Luke Kelly, Martin Byrnes and many other traditional musicians.
In 1969 he recorded his first album, Paddy on the Road, with Dominic Behan. 1972 brought his first major release, Prosperous, in 1972 brought together the four musicians who shortly thereafter formed a band: Liam O'Flynn, Andy Irvine and Dónal Lunny. For a time they called themselves "CLAD", an acronym of their names, but soon decided on Planxty. After leaving Planxty in 1975, Moore continued on his solo career, reforming his old band on occasion. In 1980 together with Lunny and five other musicians he formed the band Moving Hearts. In 1987 he appeared on Gay Byrne's The Late Late Show performing with The Dubliners for their 25th Anniversary.
Moore's earlier years of heavy drinking, sleeping dysfunctional hours, continual travelling and often eating takeaway foods resulted in a decline in health and several operations. Moore's battle with alcohol, and subsequent heart operations, have taken their toll. At the end of the 1990s, Moore reduced his workload for medical reasons.
Some of Moore's songs are heavily influenced by drink and the effects of drink, his song "Delirium Tremens" being a good example. Listening to Johnny Mulhern's song "Hard Cases" caused Moore to recall the Galway drinking scene with local musicians Mickey Finn, Pete Galligan, Corky and Terry Smith.
In 2007 Christy Moore was named Ireland's greatest living musician in RTÉ's People of the Year Awards.

quote from christymoore.com:
"I played to 50,000 over 12 nights. Me and my guitar. Weird. I'd be totally fucked after it. The cigar smoke was getting to me a bit. Some of the backroom boys were startin' to lose the plot and believe their own publicity. I was believin' in False Gods and that is bothersome and dangerous.
A fellow told me once that I was the greatest Irish writer since Sean O'Casey. I didn't believe him. Then I discovered he'd never read either me or O'Casey!"

CHRISTY MOORE - Selection 1969-2009

 The selection:

• 1969: Christy Moore - Paddy on the Road (written by Dominic Behan) - The Box set 1964-2004
• 1973: Planxty - The Raggle Taggle Gypsy [live] (traditional) - The Box set 1964-2004
• 1975: Christy Moore - The Moving-On-Song - Go! Move! Shift! (written by Ewan McColl) - What Ever Tickles Your Fancy 
• 1978: Christy Moore - 90 Miles to Dublin (written by Moore) - VA - H-Block
• 1978: Christy Moore - The Sun Is Burning (written by Ian Campbell) - VA - High kings of Tara 
• 1981: Moving Hearts - No Time for Love (written by Jack Warshaw) - Moving Hearts 
• 1994: Christy Moore - Go, Move, Shift [live] (written by Ewan MacColl) - Live at the Point
• 2002: Christy Moore - McIlhatton [live] (written by Bobby Sands) - Live at Vicar Street
• 2006: Christy Moore - Beeswing (written by Richard Thompson) - Burning Times
• 2009: Christy Moore & Declan Sinnott - Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pink Floyd cover)
• bonus 1994: Christy Moore & Shane MacGowan - Spancil Hill [live RTE The Late Late Show] (traditional) 
  mainly based upon Christy Moore special bc.2011.Nov.10, ConcertZender NL, Folk It! 

While you're downloading watch Christy play a song about the Irish Football team at the 1988 European Championship

MultiMedia [some more]

• 1994: Live with Shane MacGowan - Spancil Hill - RTE The Late Late Show [bonus in selection]
• 2006: Live... Come All You Dreamers - live at Barrowland, Glasgow - youtube [nevermind the wrong title!] -  note especially the audience! 
• 2007.Jun.17: Desert Island Discs Revisited - BBC Radio4 
• 2020: series of Lockdown Sessions - episode 1 at youtube 

and I'm sure Christy agrees:

NEVER EVER FORGET:

"il faut me pardonner - you must forgive me"

Pap Djah's last words before left on his own in the Sahara desert (in Niger)

Oumou Sangare - 1993 Kershaw Session

Oumou Sangare 1991.Oct.09 Amsterdam
picture by Frans Schellekens [gettyimages] 

As promised and guaranteed yesterday, now something I have been searching for, for a very long time. Early 1990s sessions by Oumou Sangare, the Songbird of Wassoulou.

I first discovered Oumou Sangare, when preparing for my first travel to West-Africa in the early 1990s, before checked music which I didn't now, and well Oumou was my greatest discovery [followed by Senegal's Orchestre Baobab].

Her first album Moussoulou remains one of my alltime favourites, is one of my max.10 "Desert Island Albums". It's not music which makes you dance at once, but when you start moving to it you'll not be able to stop. I call that subtle swinging, which in my opinion goes therefore much deeper and is much longer lasting than most wild swinging music, which is over when the music finishes. Oumou's early music is never really over after it's last sounds, it keeps going on inside!

Have Oumou with her band seen many times live in the 1990s. Later on, she didn't cross my path for more than 10 years, because I had moved to Eastern Europe. Just before the end of my period there I saw her during her 2009 tour at a free festival. Which didn't really exceed my expectations, to put it mildly, though that was not only because of the music. But also because of the audience, which was absolutely unfamiliar with Oumou's music. At hindsight that wasn't strange, a free festival, way out east, in an area where few foreigners travel. Well anyway, finally I had seen Oumou again after many years hoping she would come there one time.

So since the late 1990s I was after live and special session recordings of Oumou with her band, but found very few till the moment when I started this blog. Since then some kind followers send me some, the best one from AfroPfingsten I posted here for you all. I knew that there had to be early BBC recordings, but never came across even one, till fully unexpectedly a BBC 6music DJ, while announcing a 1999 Toumani Diabate & Taj Mahal session in reality played some Oumou Sangare session tracks! Mailed the DJ, didn't get any reply, of course. But my quest for early BBC sessions by Oumou and her band was triggered again.

Now finally last week I received something I was after, incomplete recordings, but anyway I'm happy to be able to present those to you, today, during Corona Christmas times in 2020.

OUMOU SANGARE - 1993.Sep.04 Kershaw Session BBC

BBC 1993 Kershaw Session  - bc.1993.Sep.04 BBC Radio 1 [rec.date unknown]

tracklist: 1.MISSING / 2.Ko Sira [*only last 30 sec] / 3.N'Diya Ni title unknown** / 4.Woula Bara Diagna*

source: digitized radio taping

**see comments by Ngoni: track is not N'Diya Ni but also not Dya Gneba, so if anybody cancome up with the correct title, please comment it to this post [thanks in advance]

Also included are the 2 tracks of the unknown wrongly announced BBC Session, mentioned above, probably also a Kershaw Session, but which, when, no clue, anyway here are:

bonus: Kayini Wura* / Woula Bara Diagna* [again, but different, later? version]

source: captured stream 2018.Feb.07, BBC 6music Gideon Coe 

update: 6music could be repeat of by Andy Kershaw on 1998.Mar.09 broadcasted session [only tracklist, no audio available], which itself seems a repeat of Oumou's first session from 1991 [because of tracks from 1st alum/K7 only]

PS: if anybody has more songs from above sessions, or better recordings of those presented here, I'm very very interested of course! So please leave your info in the comments to this post!

And before I forget:

Merry Christmas to You All!!

and even in these Corona-virus times

NEVER EVER FORGET:

"il faut me pardonner - you must forgive me"

Pap Djah's last words before left on his own in the Sahara desert (in Niger)

Diblo Dibala 1992.Jul.19 - Kershaw & Peel Complete

For today the complete 1992 Kershaw & Peel Sessions by Diblo Dibala with Matchatcha. With this you can "Dansez Dansez" till it's 2020, YaHuu!!

promo picture of Diblo with two Matchatcha members
[source: eBay]

I have earlier made two posts about Diblo Dibala, both incomplete and mostly repeats:

• 1992.Jul.19 - Kershaw & Peel Session #1 [4 Kershaw repeats]
• 1994.Nov.19 - Peel & Kershaw Session #2 [1 Peel original with 3 Kershaw repeats]

But this time it's the complete first session, meaning all the tracks, from the original first broadcast, including in- and outro's of the songs by Andy Kershaw and John Peel.


Listen to a [earleir posted] repeat of Bolingo from the session




DIBALA DIBLO - 1992.Jul.19 - Kershaw & Peel Session COMPLETE


bc.1992.Aug.08, BBC Radio 1 - Andy Kershaw 21-23hr:
setlist: intro by Andy Kershaw / 1.Mondo Ry / 2.Matchachacha Wetu / 3.Bolingo / 4.Merci Papa //

bc.1992.Aug.08, BBC Radio 1 - John Peel 23-02hr:
setlist: 5.Tcheke / 6.Medisance / 7.Laissez Passer / 8.Extra Ball / show outro by Peel

add.info from Keeping It Peel [BBC]
Line-up: Diblo Dibala - guitar, vocals / J.P.Kinzaki - rhythm guitar / Alain Dieng - bass / Serge Bimangou - percussion / Ringo Avom - drums / Emi Laskin - vocals / Mondo David - vocals / Gwen Lemonnier - backing vocals / Electra Weston - backing vocals / Laure Anne - backing vocals / Antoinette Yelessa - backing vocals, dancer

I think the in- and outro's with background info about the session, some peculiar details and just the pure enthusiasm of the DJs themselves, really add to the music itself. So I cut all the tracks with full in-outro's, as far as available.
Note this session was earlier posted at Maggot Caviar, but that was the music only [probably from a different taper] and for some sort of reason the blog is recently deleted, so not available anymore.

More about Diblo Dibala:

• biography by Janet Planet at africanmusic.org
• biography [incl.disco and biblio] by Gary Stewart at rumbaontheriver
  note both included as stand alone htm-files in the doanload 

NEVER EVER FORGET:

"il faut me pardonner - you must forgive me"

Pap Djah's last words before left on his own in the Sahara desert (in Niger)

Music from MALAWI - 1993.April - Kershaw Sessions BBC

Let's go to some not yet visited areas during this festive period, and start with Malawi.

Kasambwe Brothers late 1980s in Malawi [source: Rough Guide to WM]

As I have only two short recordings from Malawi, combined them in one post and let's this time start with the music, later background info for both very different bands will follow.

Listen to the Kasambwe Brothers



MALAWI-MUSIC-19930400_Kershaw Sessions BBC


Kasambwe Brothers - recorded 1993.April in Malawi
setlist: 1.Mtengo Waminga* [tree of thorns] / 2.Check Your Movements* / 3.Anyamata Kasambwe [MISSING] / 4.Simuyamika* [you don't think]
bc.1993.Sep.25, BBC Radio 3 - Andy Kershaw

Katawa Singers - probably also recorded 1993.April in Malawi
setlist: 1.My Lord I'm Coming* / 2.The Lord Help Us* / 3.Ndasawera Meharo [missing] / 4.Wela Welako [missing]
bc.1993.May.22, BBC Radio 3 - Andy Kershaw

Kasambwe Brothers

Biography

One of the top bands in the 1990s in Malawi were the Kasambwe Brothers from Thyolo district in southern Malawi. Isaac and Frank Chikwata, being in their early teens, started the band in 1987 by playing homemade instruments, lead and bass guitar respectively. They were joined in 1989 by their (then) 9-year old cousin, Kennedy Nagopa backing them on vocals, drums and percussion. Their folk-based material is startingly original and they have strong lyrics, too, about matters like family life, separation and survival, marriage and duty in a matrilineal society - and of course love and alcohol.
Translated lyrics of their song "Ndilibe Ambuye" ["I have no uncle"]:

I went to old Rodgers' place, with matrimonial matters on my mind.
Rodgers asked: Hey kid, what is it you want here?
I replied: The hand of one of your daughters, sir.
Rodgers sneered: Away with you! And next time bring your uncle!
Now, my uncle is far away, and I'm al the poorer for it.
For I can't get my marriage arranged, for what shall I, a lad with no uncle, do?

source: Rough Guide to World Music [1994/1999 edition; note in 2006 edition the Kasambwe Brothers strangely disappeared]

Discography [sort of...]
info from natari.com and the RG to World Music [1994/1999]

199x?: Ndilibe Ambuye [K7/CD, Pamtondo #PAM.005]
note: CD includes also songs by another band
At one time the most pirated K7 in Malawi. 14 wonderful tracks from the Brothers at the peak of their youthful powers. Pure magic from the the three boys who make up the band, the oldest is 18, the youngest just 12 years old. Gorgeously rootsy guitars, one of which is home made, as are the drums, all vibrantly played with loads of feeling. Sweet vocals add the finishing touch to this really danceable album. 
199x?: VA - Acoustic-Electric Dance Hits Vol.I/II/III [3xK7, Pamtondo #PAM.001/002/003]
incl.track[s] by Kasambwe Brothers

More Information

• 1993.April: Malawi Travelogue by Andy Kershaw - youtube
• 2000.August: Rhythms of the Continent - MALAWI - bbc worldservice
• 2019.Feb.01: Kasambwe’s unsung heroes - mwnation.com
• 2019.Jun.28: Sweating for nothing - times.mw [be careful with original times.mw site!]

Katawa Singers

Biography

The Katawa Singers, from Mzuzu in Malawi, started as a church project fundraising music group in the late 1980s. In 1991 they recorded 4 songs for MBC Radio, which became so popular that they decided to record a real album. That debut album "Ambuye Ndibwera" was a big succes and it sold a total of 20,000 tapes.
They were the first group to play electric musical instruments in church, therewith re-defining gospel music and initiating the departure from a conservative way of worship.
In 1996 they recorded their best and most successful album Tiyimbire Yesu, to date there's still demand for it. The Katawa Singers are not only popular in Malawi, and started touring in neighbouring countries, like Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Kenya.
In 2008 they opened their own Hena Katawa Music Studios with connected office and with the release of their first DVD entered the digital world. In 2014 they were awarded the Legend’s Award during Radio MBC’s 50 years’ celebration of broadcasting. In 2015 they released their 10th album Yankho ndi Yesu, with three founding members, Auden Nthala, Thomas Lupeska and Kenan Munthali, still singing in the choir.
based on mwnation and times.mw articles see under

Discography
based on mwnation and times.mw articles see under
1992: Ambuye Ndibwera [debut K7]
1993: Chikondi Ndichanu [2nd album]
1994: title unknown [3rd album]
1995: Ku Eden album [4th or 5th album]
1996: Tiyimbire Yesu [6th album] - THEIR BEST!
2013: Yesu ndi Tanthwe Lolimba [9th album!]
2015: Yankho ndi Yesu [10th album]

Articles used [all included in download]:

• 2013.May.31: Katawa Singers launch 9th album - mwnation.com [google cache]
• 2014.Dec.26: Gospel legends from Mzuzu - mwnation.com [google cache]
• 2015.Jun.17: Gospel music in Malawi - musicinafrica
• 2015.Sep.25: 25 Years of Katawa Singers - times.mw [be careful with original times.mw site!]

Multi Media:

• playlist with 10 songs - youtube [all uploaded by Rodney Bakasi from Malawi]
• related: video report about Samora Machel - youtube [see post about Shalawambe]

Katawa Singers - date unknown [source: mwnation.com]

NEVER EVER FORGET:

"il faut me pardonner - you must forgive me"

Pap Djah's last words before left on his own in the Sahara desert (in Niger)

Fanfare Ciocarlia - 2018.Jul.27 Heimatsound Festival DE

Wanted to post this one last weekend, but I got ill. I'm still not fully recovered now, but could put myself to it to let you enjoy this speedy music just before Christmas: Fanfare Ciocarlia blowing it live!



 

Fanfare Ciocarlia at 2018 Heimatsound Festival - source of pictures

Have posted music from them before: two 2007 live recordings [incl.bio and disco] and
at the 2006 BBC Awards for World Music

Listen to a live track



FANFARE CIOCARLIA - 2018.Jul.27 at Heimatsound Festival DE


setlist: 1.Bunica Bate Toba / 2.Suite a la Ciobanas / 3.Lume Lume / 4.Swing Sagarese / 5.Trenul Masina Mica / 6.Mister Lobaloba (Shaggy "cover") / 7.Ya Rayah / 8.Born to be Wild (Steppenwolf "cover") / 9.Iag Bari
[inbetween tracks interview with German manager]

Line-up: Costica "Cimai" Trifan - trumpet, vocals / Radulescu Lazar - trumpet, vocals / Paul Marian Bulgaru - trumpet / Trifan Craciun - trumpet / Oprica Ivancea - clarinet, alto saxophone / Daniel Ivancea - alto saxophone, vocals / Constantin "Pinca" Cantea - tuba / Monel "Gutzel" Trifan - tuba / Constantin "Sulo" Calin - tenor horn / Laurentiu Mihai Ivancea - baritone horn / Costel "Gisniaca" Ursu - large drum / Paul Benedikt Stehlescu - percussion
bc.2018.Dec.29, Radio Bayern 2 - Radio Revue

• radio Bayern2: "It was one of the highlights of the Heimatsound Festival 2018: the twelve-member Balkan brass band Fanfare Ciocarlia. They are unbeatable live. This brass band has been rocking stages around the world for about two decades." 
• Photos from the Festival at br.de [some used in this posts's picture]
• TV broadcast of the very concert in the night of 2019.Jan.11 on German ARD - available till 2020.Jan.10 at ardmediathek.de [audio from video as bonus in the download, incl.full setlist]

More Multi Media [mmm from www]

• 2006 BBC Awards for World Music - youtube
• 2014 NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert - youtube
• 2018 interview at the very Heimatsound Festival - youtbe

PS1: noticed in the video that the fanfare is using a similar base drum with a cymbal on top as the recently posted Kamalamas band from Surinam [their "skratji-drong"], which consisted mainly of brass players also!

PS2: interested in your thoughts about Fanfare Ciocarlia performing live with Brass Band(s) from Africa, could they together make it rhythmically work?

NEVER EVER FORGET:

"il faut me pardonner - you must forgive me"

Pap Djah's last words before left on his own in the Sahara desert (in Niger)

Big Fayia 1989.Nov.02 in Sierra Leone recorded Peel Session BBC

This post I had prepared some time ago, to post it today at 2019.Dec.07. Now you may think why? Well because the session was broadcasted exactly 30 years ago, and the recording of that broadcast includes the BBC news of that day [about that more at the end of this post]. Now first the music!

Big Fayia - the only good picture I found from the man
source: sierraleonejournal

Big Fayia (real name: Mustapha Sahr) was a musician from Sierra Leone, he died in 1999. I can summarize some of the writings I found about him, but I think you'd better read them yourself:

• 1987.Apr.27 article by Gary Stewart at sierraleonejournal
• 1992 book "Breakout: Profiles in African Rhythm" by Gary Stewart [again] includes a full chapter about Big Fayia - google pg.53-61
• 2000 tribute by Gary Stewart at sierraleonejournal [again]
• Various writings with some info about Big Fayia:
  1999: "African Music on 45 rpm records in the UK, 1954-1981" - at mustrad.org.uk
  2017: "Live music in Sierra Leone" - at musicinafrica.net

Note: all webpages are included in stand-alone html-format in the download.

Listen to a 1972 single track as played by John Peel in 1983



BIG FAYIA 19891102 - BBC local recorded Peel Session


bc.1989.Dec.07 John Peel Show BBC Radio 1
setlist: 1.Gba Nya Ma - Nga Mone Biwe / 2.Kamo Ahmadu - Nginamudele / 3.How Are You - Lawoseh - Look Waiu Wowo - Co Co Ros / 4.Tiawama A Kpandei - U Deh Make Make Panme / 5.Muana Limia - Yawolo Yiama - Sandi Manya - Heile Nay Hun

recorded 1989.Nov.02  in Sierra Leonne by The British Council, Freetown, Sierra Leone [when John Peel and his wife were visiting Sierra Leone]
line-up: Mustafa Joe [is Big Fayia] - lead vocals (1, 2, 5) / Sidikie J.C. Kortogbou - lead vocals (3) / Tamba Musa - shengbi drum (3) / Sahr Karimu - kongoma, lead vocals (4) / Daniel Lavalie - mendi shengbai or big drum (5)

included bonuses:
*repeat on 2018.Dec.04 of 4 tracks of above session on BBC 6music Live Hour
*original audio of Peel playing in 1983 a track from Big Fayia [see soundcloud above download]
*Big Fayia & Sierra Leone Military Band - OAU One [from 1980 LP] - from soundcloud
*the BBC news item from 1989.Dec.07 about the situation in Czechoslovakia [more about that later]

Discography
Big Fayia probably released many locals K7s, but (acc.discogs.com) surely some (local) singles between 1973 and 1977 with various bands (e.g.The Invisible Five, The Afronational Band, The African Hunters and Afri Hunters) on the Born Trouble and Afrodisc labels. And his one and only LP with The Sierra Leone Military Dance Band called "O.A.U. 1980" ‎(LP, 1980, Organization Of African Unity #OAU.1), from which one track is included in the download.


1989 News
Now, as promised, on to the BBC news item from 1989.Dec.07. This is about the the political situation of that time, at the end of communist rule and just before the "Velvet Revolution" in Czechoslovakia.
Next to Nelson Mandela I consider Vaclav Havel as one of my heros, and this news item hit me so deep that I had to include into this download. For those with similar feelings or just interested in how things were then, I highly recommend to watch a video of the first permitted demonstration in 1988 communist Czechoslovakia just 1 year before the news. It happened somewhere in the outskirts of Prague, as the communists tried to make it as low profile as possible. Somewhere in the video one can see that the demonstrators are happy for the one and only banner a few brave people dared to put high up in the air. The whole video is in Czech [which I also don't understand as most of you], but when I watch Vaclav Havel being introduced, climbing up to speak and then hearing the roar of the crowd, shivers down my spine [same as when Nelson Mandela could leave prison and the introduction of Les Amazones de Guinee at their 1983 Paris concert]!!
Watch and enjoy that moment in the video here!

Now this all happened only 30 years ago! What will be in 30 years from now?
But also:

NEVER EVER FORGET:

"il faut me pardonner - you must forgive me"

Pap Djah's last words before left on his own in the Sahara desert (in Niger)

 

 

PS: I have the Plastic People of the Universe's "Egon Bondy's Happy Hearts Club Banned" [1978, LP], the band which was prisoned in Czechoslovakia in 1977, because they played music the communists didn't like. Havel with friends started Charta 77 because of that. The music is weird and interesting alternative rock music, a little out of the scope of this blog. But if people are interested, let it be known through the comments and I'll upload it [including some scans of its very good booklet].

Souad Massi - 2003-19 BBC Sessions

Today I have for your earful enjoyment two BBC sessions by Souad Massi, the first from 2003 for Andy Kershaw's show, the second from only a month ago for BBC Radio 3. Actually I discovered that last one, when searching info to prepare a post about her 2003 session.

Souad Massi - picture from BBC Artists

Short Introduction
Souad Massi, born 1972 August 23, is an Algerian Berber singer, songwriter and guitarist. She began her career performing in the Kabyle political rock band Atakor, before leaving the country following a series of death threats. In 1999, Massi performed at the Femmes d'Algerie concert in Paris, which led to a recording contract with Island Records.
Massi's music, which prominently features the acoustic guitar, displays Western musical style influences such as rock, country or the Portuguese fado but sometimes incorporates oriental musical influences and oriental instruments like the oud as well as African musical stylings. Massi sings in Classical Arabic, Algerian Arabic, French, occasionally in English, and in the Kabyle Berber language, often employing more than one language in the same song.
sources: wikipedia and for much more head over to worldmusiccentral


Listen to a track from her 2003 session



SOUAD MASSI - 2003-19 BBC Sessions 
test: direct link
[direct link after some time not working, so deleted]


Souad Massi - 2003.Apr.11 BBC Kershaw Session
setlist: intro / 1.Bladi - my country / interview / 2.Amessa - a day will come // 3.Deb - heart broken / interview / 4.Moudja - the wave / outro
bc.2003.Apr.11 -22:15, BBC Radio 3 - Andy Kershaw
BBC guide: tonight's show features a session from Algerian singer Souad Massi, who performs acoustic versions of songs from her new album Deb.

Souad Massi - 2019.Nov.08 BBC Radio3 Session
setlist: 1.Oumniya [mon souhait - my wish] / interview / 2.Salam [quiétude -  tranquility] / interview / 3.Wakfa [debout - stand-up]
bc.2019.Nov.08, BBC Radio3 - In Tune
Line-up: Souad Massi - vocals, guitar / Mehdi Dalil - mandoline


Archived information from bbc.co.uk about Souad Massi [all included in the download]:

• profiles for Awards for World Music: 2002 / 2004 / 2005 / 2006
• others features: 2002 interview / 2003 album review

Souad Massi was featured before on Mangue Music, but so far never had "her own" post:

• 2 tracks from her performance at BBC Awards for World Music 2006 
• session together with Kiran Ahluwalia on 2018.Apr.19 at KEXP Radio

Souad Massi - MultiMedia etc.

• Souad Massi at facebook / twitter -  / soundcloud
• Her management - your-european-stage 
• Souad Massi's page at BBC artists [incl.links to BBC Radio shows in which tracks are played] 
• 2014.Aug: Souad Massi in Hammamet [Tunisia] - youtube
• 2014.Nov: Interview during Nour Festival - on the festival's blog
• 2019.Jul: live session [promo new album] -  Oumniya / Pays Natal
• 2019.Sep.30: Souad massi concert in Paris [Arte & Fip] - arte.tv 
• For her discography, I think everything is listed at discogs.com

NEVER EVER FORGET:

"il faut me pardonner - you must forgive me"

Pap Djah's last words before left on his own in the Sahara desert (in Niger)

Bako Dagnon - 2008.Nov.01 at Womex [R6]

Bako Dagnon - live at Womex 2008 [source: Radio 6]

Bako Dagnon (also written as Backo or Baco Dagnon), born 1948 in N'Golobladji [near Kita in Mali], started singing as a child, accompanying her mother at ceremonies such as baptisms and marriages. Being a griot, she was teached in genealogy and the history of Mali, in order to sing about Mali's great past, going back to the Mali empire of the thirteenth century. After having participated at local shows in Kita, she was selected for the Biennale of Bamako in 1972 to represent her region.
At the Biennale, she was very successful with he song "Yiri Kolo". In 1974, she was recruted to join the Ensemble Instrumental National du Mali, where she stayed for 10 years. Along with great female singers such as Mokontafe Sacko, Sarafing Kouyaté, Wandé Kouyaté and Nantenedié Kamissoko, she helped developing and promoting traditional Malian music with the Ensemble Instrumental. Moreover, the dean of Mali music, the late Bazoumana Sissoko, invited her several times to sing at his house.
After a serious road accident in the 1980s Bako decided to leave the Ensemble Instrumental, which at the time was suffering from a lack of funding. In 1990, she was offered a record deal by an Indian music producer from Liberia and registered her first cassette record [Super Sound #SS.81]. After the recording of a second cassette [title unknown], the production company disappeared in the midst of the Liberian Civil War.
In the 1990s, Bako Dagnon continued giving public and private concerts, however she didn't do recordings until the beginning of the 2000s when she managed to gain some popularity outside of Mali. She participated on the albums Mandekalou (2004), Mandekalou II (2006) and Electro Bamako (2006). In 2007, under the production of Ibrahima Sylla, her first international solo album, Titati, was recorded and released on Syllart Records. At the end of 2008 she did a showcase at Womex in Sevilla. On 2009 January 14 Bako Dagnon was made a knight of the National Order of Mali. Later in that year she recorded with the same team as two years earlier, her next, 7th, album titled Sidiba.
Some years later Bako became seriously ill, she died 2015 July 07 in the Hospital of Point-G in Bamako. Her funeral was organised the following day in the neighbourhood where she had been living, it took place in the presence of numerous public figures and political leaders.
sources used: musiques-afrique and wikipedia


Listen to a track of Bako's showcase at Womex



DAGNON-BAKO-20081101_Womex - R6


setlist: 5 tracks [titles not given]
broadcasted 2008.November live at Dutch Radio 6
line up: Arnold Moueza - percussions / Bako Dagnon - vocals / Hadja Kouyaté - backing vocals / Lassana Aliou Diabaté - guitar / Mama Sissoko - guitar / Pascal Mikaelian - harmonica

Bonus in download:

• 2010.Sep.09, RFI Musique du Monde - Live au studio 136 avec Bako Dagnon [et Mouss et Hakim]
  setlist: interview / 1.Sidiba / interview // others // 2.Badjigui / interview // others
• live video of Bako Dagnon - as promotion for Sidiba [2009]

More from and about Bako Dagnon

• 2007-09: album tracks at soundcloud - Toubaka [from Titati] and Fadeen To [from Sidiba]
• 2009-12: The Voice of Tradition - Bako Dagnon and her Family - at growingintomusic and vimeo
  this is an extract of the film 'Da Kali - the pledge to the art of the griots' by Lucy Duran
  note: Trio Da Kali was brought together during the above filming by Lucy Duran
• 2010.July: article in Le Monde - in French
• 2010.Aug.12: article in Liberation - in French
• 2010.Sep.22: live performance at Ina Music Live - watch Sidiba / Titati
• 2013 [?]: Sumu Kura Bako Dagnon - starting with performances by others - followed by a talk with Bako - final with Bako performing
• 2015.Dec.22: Remembering Bako Dagnon [and Venâncio Mbande] by Banning Eyre - afropop [note: page layout is chaotic, corrected version is included in download]

Discography

ca.1990: Bako Dagnon [local K7, Super Sound Inc #SS.81, Liberia] - posted at freedomspear *
other local K7s: Nnah vol.1 / Kedo / and 2 more, titles unknown
2004: VA - Mandekalou - The Art And Soul Of The Mande Griots - vocals on 2 tracks
2006: VA - Mandekalou II - he Art And Soul Of The Mande Griots II - vocals on 2 tracks
2006: Marc Minelli - Electro Bamako [CD, All Other ‎#AOM.007] - vocals on Donso Ke
2007: Titati [CD, Syllart /Discograph 613301-2] - press release [in French]
2009: Sidiba [CD, Syllart /Discograph] - press release [in French] [seems liner notes of CD] / liner notes by Lucy Duran [in French]
2011: Live [digital release only] - listenable at bandcamp

* have missed that K7 posted at freedomspear and now the download is not available anymore, can a kind soul reading this post and having the audio of this K7 contact me by mail or through this post's comments [thanks in advance!]

NEVER EVER FORGET:

"il faut me pardonner - you must forgive me"

Pap Djah's last words before left on his own in the Sahara desert (in Niger)