Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
56 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Great music from countries we're supposed to despise and fear (Original Post) klook Jan 2018 OP
How about a little Mahmoud Ahmed? klook Jan 2018 #1
Mali has so much to offer, it's hard to choose... klook Jan 2018 #2
Nigeria in the house! klook Jan 2018 #3
Congo BluesRunTheGame Jan 2018 #4
Smokin' - thank you! klook Jan 2018 #6
Let's hear from Algeria's own klook Jan 2018 #5
The Lion of Zimbabwe, klook Jan 2018 #7
France, Algeria and Cote d'Ivoire ornotna Jan 2018 #8
Killer! klook Jan 2018 #11
Another great one from Mali, klook Jan 2018 #9
I'll see that and raise you one Youssou N'Dour hatrack Jan 2018 #10
Oh man, so great! klook Jan 2018 #13
Especially at . . . oh, 150 bpm . . . hatrack Jan 2018 #14
Zamrock from Zambia ornotna Jan 2018 #12
Lovely ballad - thanks klook Jan 2018 #15
K&R!!!!!!! burrowowl Jan 2018 #16
Oh, yeah, almost forgot Angelique! hatrack Jan 2018 #17
She's a goddess and a force of nature klook Jan 2018 #19
You're killing me here! hatrack Jan 2018 #20
Happens to me all the time... klook Jan 2018 #22
The great South African jazz saxophonist Dudu Pukwana, klook Jan 2018 #18
And from Somalia -- the great Maryam Mursal klook Jan 2018 #21
Uganda ornotna Jan 2018 #23
Beautiful setting for the kora klook Jan 2018 #24
Another one from Uganda - Geoffrey Oryema klook Jan 2018 #25
Countries we're supposed to despise and fear?! democratisphere Jan 2018 #26
I did this on FB yesterday. Stunning music from those cultures. nolabear Jan 2018 #27
More from Ethiopia -- Abyssinia Infinite! klook Jan 2018 #29
This is an AWESOME playlist in the making! nolabear Jan 2018 #32
Let us hope!! (nt) klook Jan 2018 #35
I would like to raise you some Ladysmith Black Mamabazo (South Africa) meow2u3 Jan 2018 #28
Hell yeah -- and how about some more a cappella greatness, from Congo/Belgium? klook Jan 2018 #30
And another from South Africa -- klook Jan 2018 #31
What a treat! thucythucy Jan 2018 #33
You are so welcome! klook Jan 2018 #34
It's not all happening on the mainland -- Rossy from Madagascar! klook Jan 2018 #36
More from Madagascar - Tarika Sammy, with klook Jan 2018 #37
Nelson Mandela called him "Our Mozart." klook Jan 2018 #38
Just try to sit still when you listen to Zimbabwe's Jonah Moyo and and Devara Ngwena klook Jan 2018 #39
From Congo - Kanda Bongo Man with "My Love Elisabeth" klook Jan 2018 #40
Can't forget Haiti klook Jan 2018 #41
Merging music from despised cultures of yesterday and today: klook Jan 2018 #42
And another smoking performance from this fantastic group, klook Jan 2018 #44
Thank you, what a wonderful idea. NT enough Jan 2018 #43
Thanks, I'm having fun! klook Jan 2018 #45
Beautiful tribute to the great Malian bluesman, Ali Farka Toure klook Jan 2018 #46
Amadou and Mariam! (who will be at Bonnaroo this summer) jpak Jan 2018 #47
Great - thank you! klook Jan 2018 #48
From Gambia, klook Jan 2018 #49
Ayub Ogada, Kenya enough Jan 2018 #50
Beautiful, healing tones and rhythms - thank you! (nt) klook Jan 2018 #52
Some Akonting playing from the Gambia cemaphonic Jan 2018 #51
Very cool klook Jan 2018 #53
Mali meets France: Mamani Keita & Marc Minelli klook Jan 2018 #54
More from Ethiopia: the fabulous Aster Aweke klook Jan 2018 #55
Gigi from Ethiopia klook Jan 2018 #56

klook

(12,134 posts)
2. Mali has so much to offer, it's hard to choose...
Fri Jan 12, 2018, 11:10 PM
Jan 2018

but Tinariwen does a fine job of representing their home country. Here's "Lulla," from their 2009 album Imidiwan: Companions:

klook

(12,134 posts)
3. Nigeria in the house!
Fri Jan 12, 2018, 11:20 PM
Jan 2018

Here's Fela Kuti with his monster band Africa 70, performing "Pansa Pansa":



and for good measure, let's hear some King Sunny Ade - "Gbeyo Gbeyo":

ornotna

(10,763 posts)
8. France, Algeria and Cote d'Ivoire
Fri Jan 12, 2018, 11:43 PM
Jan 2018

(113 is a French hip hop group with African and Caribbean roots originating in North and West Africa and the island of Guadeloupe)

klook

(12,134 posts)
13. Oh man, so great!
Fri Jan 12, 2018, 11:53 PM
Jan 2018

Love this guy -- thank you for posting this. Dancing to this would be a great way to lose weight!

hatrack

(59,439 posts)
20. You're killing me here!
Sat Jan 13, 2018, 12:07 AM
Jan 2018

My wife and I saw her on some PBS show years ago - "Sessions At West 52nd" or something like that. We both said "Damn! - I'd LOVE to see her!"

Then I opened the paper the next day and found out she'd been in town four days earlier.

klook

(12,134 posts)
22. Happens to me all the time...
Sat Jan 13, 2018, 12:09 AM
Jan 2018

I just saw that Mahmoud Ahmed was in my area a couple of years ago. Arggh! I did see him once, and it was amazing -- but I've gotta get out from under this rock more often.

klook

(12,134 posts)
18. The great South African jazz saxophonist Dudu Pukwana,
Sat Jan 13, 2018, 12:02 AM
Jan 2018

here in a lovely live setting with Pinise Saul on vocals and a sweet guitar intro by Lucky Ranku:



Gotta go to bed now, but I hope more will chime in -- looking forward to hearing more treasures tomorrow!

ornotna

(10,763 posts)
23. Uganda
Sat Jan 13, 2018, 12:26 AM
Jan 2018

I was lucky enough to see Kinobe & Soul Beat Africa back in 2009. Great show, absolutely mesmerizing.

klook

(12,134 posts)
24. Beautiful setting for the kora
Sat Jan 13, 2018, 12:33 PM
Jan 2018

Moving lyrics and great photos give this a deep, compassionate feeling. Very nice.

democratisphere

(17,235 posts)
26. Countries we're supposed to despise and fear?!
Sat Jan 13, 2018, 02:15 PM
Jan 2018

Only a madman would say such things. Great music throughout this entire thread! Thanks for exposure klook!

klook

(12,134 posts)
29. More from Ethiopia -- Abyssinia Infinite!
Sat Jan 13, 2018, 03:15 PM
Jan 2018

Updated to note that this features the wonderful Gigi (Shibabaw) on lead vocals.

I love this track so much - "Aba Alem Lemenea":



Another gem from one of Charlie Gillett's compilations.

Edited to note that your selection comes from South Africa, not Ethiopia! I was lucky enough to see Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens live a few years back. They were wonderful - as exciting visually as they were musically.

klook

(12,134 posts)
30. Hell yeah -- and how about some more a cappella greatness, from Congo/Belgium?
Sat Jan 13, 2018, 03:19 PM
Jan 2018

Zap Mama - "Brrrlak"

klook

(12,134 posts)
31. And another from South Africa --
Sat Jan 13, 2018, 03:23 PM
Jan 2018

Shangaan Choir, with "Welcome Song":



I first heard them on the CD compilation "The Secret Museum of Mankind."

klook

(12,134 posts)
36. It's not all happening on the mainland -- Rossy from Madagascar!
Sat Jan 13, 2018, 04:35 PM
Jan 2018

Paul Bert Rahasimanana, a.k.a. Rossy, gives us "Hamadika":



He's one of many great artists I discovered on the excellent compilation A World Out of Time, released in 1991 and curated by Henry Kaiser & David Lindley.

klook

(12,134 posts)
39. Just try to sit still when you listen to Zimbabwe's Jonah Moyo and and Devara Ngwena
Sat Jan 13, 2018, 06:44 PM
Jan 2018

performing the infectious "Taxi Driver":

klook

(12,134 posts)
44. And another smoking performance from this fantastic group,
Sat Jan 13, 2018, 07:21 PM
Jan 2018

"Cascade" --



They'll be playing live on the east coast of Australia on April 1st. I'm very tempted.

klook

(12,134 posts)
46. Beautiful tribute to the great Malian bluesman, Ali Farka Toure
Sat Jan 13, 2018, 07:31 PM
Jan 2018

from Bassekou Kouyaté & Ngoni Ba -- "Lament for Ali Farka":



Ngoni Ba are featured on the Bela Fleck album Throw Down Your Heart. I got to see them live together - amazing.

klook

(12,134 posts)
48. Great - thank you!
Sat Jan 13, 2018, 07:55 PM
Jan 2018

Love the kids and the Africa Space Program set! Nice tip of the hat to Abdullah Ibrahim (formerly known as Dollar Brand):



I meant to post something by A&M earlier, but somehow didn't get around to it. So here you go: "Je pense à toi" -

klook

(12,134 posts)
49. From Gambia,
Sat Jan 13, 2018, 08:01 PM
Jan 2018

the brilliant kora player and griot, Foday Musa Suso:



Probably best known to westerners for his collaborations with Philip Glass, Herbie Hancock, and others, Suso continues to make music in the tradition of his homeland.

cemaphonic

(4,138 posts)
51. Some Akonting playing from the Gambia
Sat Jan 13, 2018, 09:31 PM
Jan 2018


Most musicologists regard the West African akonting as the ancestor of the American banjo.

klook

(12,134 posts)
53. Very cool
Sun Jan 14, 2018, 04:29 PM
Jan 2018

I love how you can hear blues elements in there, but then again it's really something different! Thanks for posting.

klook

(12,134 posts)
55. More from Ethiopia: the fabulous Aster Aweke
Tue Jan 16, 2018, 12:01 AM
Jan 2018

Live TV performance of "Hagere":



... and the beautiful, haunting "Kabu," the song that introduced me to her when I heard it on the radio:

klook

(12,134 posts)
56. Gigi from Ethiopia
Tue Jan 16, 2018, 12:12 AM
Jan 2018

Her full name is Gigi Shibabaw, but she performs sans surname. Treat yourself to the funky, driving "Gud Fella":



If I remember correctly, some of her recordings were arranged by the American jazz saxophonist Henry Threadgill -- this may be one of those records, I can't remember at the moment. Whatever the story behind it, this is one smoking track!
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Great music from countrie...