african music: where do i go from here.

the "merveilles du passe" series from Sonodisc has some great 60s and 70s Zairean guitar pop. More modern stuff from Franco and from Diblo Dibala are worth looking for.....Franco put out 100s of LPs, so there's a lot of choice there.

the Earthworks series "Zimbabwe Frontline" is worth it, too. I just got their new one "Roots Rock Guitar Party".

Earthworks has a couple of good comps of Kenyan pop, too. "Benga Blast" was a good one, and even better is "Guitar Paradise of East Africa".

Definitely look for Prince Nico Mbarga's "Sweet Mother / Free Education in Nigeria" CD. I think it's the only thing he put out, but it's a blast. There was also a Zairean guitar player called Dr Nico, not to be confused with Prince Nico.

The Oriental Brothers International band is another good Nigerian group.

The "Ethiopiques" series of comps is good, too. Quite different from the others I've mentioned, which are mostly guitar-pop, African style, with Rumba influences. The Ethiopian stuff has more horns, semi-soul touches, etc. Interesting, though I don't find it as addictive as the other stuff.

I've tried listening to a few other kinds of African music, but it seems to be the Congo/Zaire-influenced stuff I keep coming back to. Infectious, dancable, great guitar, sweet singing.

Others: Dark City Sisters & Flying Jazz Queens
Streets of Dakar: Generation Boule Fale
Kwanzaa Music and Kwanzaa Party! for connecting the African with its pan-
Zaiko Langa Langa's Zaire-Ghana and Pamelo Mounk'a's Les Plus Grands Succes de are both amazing Afro-guitar records
Kwaito: South African Hip-Hop is more like hip-house, early '90s style--think Snap! and the like, only tougher and harder
more as I think of it....

this is really good. and so is that Rochereau that comp featured in the "better together" listing.

Yah, the Tabu Ley reissue is dopeness.

And, of course, Hugh Masekela, Manu Dibango and Baaba Maal are all essential blocks and easy to come by.

Which Baaba Maal(s) do you recommended? I only have a live one and I'm not too keen on live albums from anyone, so I need to give him another go.

Thomas Mapufumo's Spirits to Bite Your Ears is another must have.

the recent Syliophone set of Balla et ses Balladins reiterates how crucial the entire Syliophone series from Stern's is.

I didn't realize it, but that Authenticité - The Syliphone Years comp is on eMusic. It looks good. I likely would never have found the disc if it weren't mentioned upthread. So, thanks.

emusic is really pretty good on african stuff. i recently got busi mhlongo's urbanzulu album off there, which i like. (contemporary s.african pop.)

"It looks good."

It's better than good. It's great!

Okay, I'm sold!

I've been intrigued by the 2 big bands from Bamako in the 70s. Les Ambassadeurs du Motel and Rail Band since seeing reviews of the recent Sterns compi by the former.
& see that there are 3 volumes by the latter.
So I've been wondering what I need.
Also has me wondering about 70s stuff by Orchestra Baobab which shares influences and was around at the same time.
Not sure what else compares.

Ghanaian music!

I got this a few months ago:
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/618EJ1J8%2BbL.jpg

and have now played it to death. What next? Doesn't have to be Ghanaian, I'm just after afrobeaty stuff with a raw, rocky edge to it.

Go for
Orchestre Polyrhythmo de Cotonou, Vis-à-vis
Ebo Taylor, Alhaji Frimpong, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley (Ghanaian)
the Rail Band, Ali Farka Touré, Djelimady Tounkara, Lobi Traoré, Sorry Bamba (Malian)
Super Étoile de Dakar, Tal National, Konono n°1, and it's not very rocky but do listen to Congolese music (the Rumba Rock compilation from African Pearls for example, and check the Senegalese one too)
my favorite related Soundway comp is Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds & Nigerian Blues 1970-6

or yeah, just listen to Afrobeat.

Thanks so much, that'll keep me going for a while.

I have been enjoying this quite a lot: https://www.mrbongo.com/products/the-original-sound-of-mali-vinyl-2-lp-cd-1

The 2 volumes of kenya Special are both good as is the Daniel Misiani and shirati Jazz set Kings of History. I have family history from kenya so like looking at music from the area.
Would also recommend Ethiopiques though not sure exact volumes before 4,8,9
there's a companion series from Zanzibar that has some interesting volumes in too. is it 3 & 5?

also Ofege, Edzayawa, Blo!, Hedzoleh Sounds, Monomono, Ngozi Family, Amanaz, The Peace and Witch.

i wasn't as knocked out by the entries on that area of music in the last Vernon Joynson as I'd hoped. Didn't sound like he was very familliar with the actual black rock bands.

I'd also really recommend the early stuff by Osibisa, and Cymande who were both adding African influences into more Western ones.