Old School Afropop

i'd be cool about seeing the ultra old stuff! umbaqanga is really nice and i hadn't heard it

yeah this thread isn't meant to be too specific, mostly what i know is pop/dance from the 80s-2000s but bring on the older stuff and if its more traditional thats fine by me!

here's an older one that I love...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM7sqPCws00

Cardinal Rex Lawson - Sawale

That’s an interesting one, in that it was remade in 2005 by Nigerian pop-highlife singer Flavour as “Nwa Baby (Ashawo)”, and again in 2011 as a remix. This last version especially was a huge pan-African hit (or maybe the earlier one as well? I’m not sure) and led to various cover versions, including a very popular Ethiopian one from 2012 (as far as I can tell).

Flavour 2005: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqQxxS1MLKo

Flavour 2011: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDbhyPS1sdk

Ethiopian version 2012 (?): http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=j5DkJz6VK7Q
Ziggy Zaga ft. Teddy Yo • Sawa Sawa Sawale

And then there’s the fact that “Sawale” (what year is it from anyway? 1969 or earlier?) itself is based on the Cuban/American classic “El manisero/The Peanut Vendor”!

Trying again with the Ethiopian version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5DkJz6VK7Q
Ziggy Zaga ft. Teddy Yo • Sawa Sawa Sawale

(sorry for posting two songs/videos that are too recent, but I thought in this case it was too interesting not to)

“Simply Hot And Naturally African”:

Lush South African house with occasional Jodeci-like harmonies? Count me in!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTH7H_WQhIw

SHANA • Ung’phula Intliziyo (2006)

(Further proof that I’m pretty much ignorant when it comes to What Came Before: so you’re telling me Demor, Shota and fucking Black Coffee started out in a group TOGETHER?)

(Listening to parent album Iyo Londaba now, and it sounds fantastic, not a weak track in sight)

That Shana song is great! I'm a little biased against the Sawale remake (for no good reason aside from just why would you assail a perfect song), but its pretty undeniable.

Here's another Bubblegum jam from SA in the 80s.

Pat Shange - Township Vibe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cvmh6CuRrE

“Gbese”, the new Wizkid (well, new DJ Tunez, nominally), interpolates this Ghana-Naija hiplife collaboration from 2003:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMkY65LM33s

Tic-Tac ft. Tony Tetuila • Fefe Na Efe

One of the first bunch of Nigerian songs I fell in love with when I started exploring Afropop in 2012 - so pretty and elegant. It’s from 2009:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBNkSYAEICQ
Bracket ft. P-Square • No Time

Prince Eyango - You Must Calculer

It came out in '87, Eyango is from Cameroon. It's pop/Makossa fusion.

― Will (kruezer2), Friday, 22 February 2019 05:33 bookmarkflaglink

Ok, I need to find more makossa, that song is amazing! Love the album too, so '80s and yet it still sounds fresh - and I like Eyango's You Go Pay as well. He's not the best singer, but you could say he's got great 'presence' on those recordings, and probably in concert too. One funny part is hearing the back-and-forth between him and the backing vocalists, when they're really just chanting a conversation. (Some of those singers have also had long solo careers.)

- https://youtu.be/J-J2b2CDP94 ("C'est ma peau")

Thanks for the recommendations Will, and Breastcrawl as always!

"Icha" by Congolese soukous guitarist Syran Mbenza, the song Shakira incorporated in her Superbowl halftime show with Jennifer Lopez (at 13:00). I think the track is from 1990:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU4dDhopvHc

this is recent but somehow didn't belong on the regular afro-pop thread. This is Frafra music from Northern Ghana. I love it, especially the jazzy instrumental section

Alogte Oho & his Sounds of Joy - Mam Yinne Wa

https://youtu.be/YdIvasx8CrE
.

An amazing inspirational album
Chiwoniso Maraire, RIP

Chiwoniso – Rebel Woman
- https://chiwoniso.bandcamp.com/album/rebel-woman

Zimbabwe's Chiwoniso performs entrancing and uplifting songs with ancient soul and modern spirit. Backed by the mesmerizing interlocking melodies of the mbira and the deep grooves of an all-star lineup featuring some of Zimbabwe and South Africa's top musicians, Chiwoniso's voice resounds with defiant strength and profound tenderness.

One of Zimbabwe's most powerful and influential voices, Chiwoniso passed away suddenly in 2013 at the young age of 37. Throughout her short life, Chiwoniso watched her ancestral land struggle to overcome the enduring legacies of colonialism, war, social inequality and political oppression. A devoted advocate of free speech, human rights and social justice, Chiwoniso's music gave voice to the voiceless and spoke to the problems and joys of the world around her. With a sound that recalled the fire of Angélique Kidjo, the inspiration of Oliver Mtukudzi, the rebellion of Thomas Mapfumo and the soul of India.Aire, Chiwoniso was one of the most exciting talents to emerge from the African diaspora, and though she was gone too soon, her message lives on in her music.

Recognizing that artists play a special role in society, Chiwoniso believed they must not be afraid to speak out against injustice. “We have a responsibility. We are not bankers, we are not doctors, we are not nurses. We have another part that we play in society that must be done. So, regardless of whatever world system is going to come in and say: ‘Cut what you are saying,’ going to send riot cops in to your shows, going to come and arrest you and say ‘We are going to try and put you in jail...’ – it doesn’t matter. We have a responsibility."

released September 2, 2008

Is there much pop-type music with the kalimba / mbira? The tone of the instrument makes it sound really distinctive.

Chiwoniso, Jan 22nd 2013 in Harare, Zimbabwe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czXxf6fKLrw

"Is it Kalimba, Karimba, or Mbira?"
https://www.kalimbamagic.com/blog/item/kalimba-kalimba-or-mbira

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwLMq3LZluU
Penny Penny - Milandu Bhe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agZZn_512nQ
Magic System - Zouglou Dance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX1o1GxwyR4
Awilo Longomba - Karolina

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lpuMD_zJCY
Khadja Nin - Sambolera

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwtezlZbdss
Youssou N'dour - Immigrés Bitim Rew

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIrKP4wuui4
Francis Bebey - The Coffee Cola Song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Srkb8vIn9XI
Franco - Mario

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt0NyaFw8ac
Gnonnas Pedro - Yiri Yiri Boum

Stretching a little bit what's a pop song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8lTiSWpU1Y
Brenda Fassie - Vuli Ndlela

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0WTfcXPlis
Dj Qness feat. Oluhle - Fugama Unamathe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PwH1U5s6bU
Arthur Mafokate - Oyi Oyi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBmwLwPOaCw
Dzoka Uyamwe

Fun selections, Nabozo! I added them all to the Spotify playlist: ILM Old School Afropop. It has doubled in size thanks to this new input.

I also decided to transfer the tracks you left on the other thread, including your remarks. I added [year of release] where needed.

(btw in general, track info (country, year of release) for any track people might be posting is very much appreciated!)

Here they are:

Magic System - Premier Gaou (2000), Ivory Coast
"Premier Gaou n'est pas Gaou, deuxième Gaou est niata ohh" means you're just silly the first time you've been had, completely stupid the second time

Awilo Longomba - Coupé Bibamba (DRC) [1998]

Francis Bebey - Agatha (Cameroon) [1976]
Cameroonian response to Billie Jean ?

Oliver Mtukudzi - Todii (What Shall We Do) (Zimbabwe) [1999]

Koffi Olomide - Loi (DRC) [1997]

Mory Kanté - Yeke Yeke (Guinea Conakry) [1987]

Penny Penny - Shichangani (South Africa) [1994]

Mandoza - Nkalakatha (South Africa) [2000]
He died from cancer at 38 in 2016. His funeral was a national event.

Mgarimbe - Sister Bettina (South Africa) [2005]
One-hit wonder off the Try Again sample

I will add Arthur Mafokate (or simply “Arthur”)’s legendary hit post-apartheid hit “Kaffir” - ”the first kwaito hit”. I had only read about it (maybe on ILM somewhere? – yes, here), but it was not on Spotify and even YouTube wasn’t very forthcoming. It’s there now!

I think I slightly prefer the Maestro Mix over the House Mix:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfZ7CNx7EF0

love the late 70s-early 80s mbalax of Super Diamano:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfShZqRPtcE
"Jaraaf"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XbUVEazCcs
"Domou Gainde N'Diaye"

and a slower jam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc63pozLDbk
"Ndaw Rabine"

An all-time fave album: Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou comp (still don't have Vol. 1)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P7Hxh-UCAk

All their youtubes! 71 tracks, check 'em out:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvZGvLobsRCNob9S6EIUxRSahowjF2z1U

vol 1 is great!

Don't think this was in that playlist. Performance footage of "Se Ba Ho". Careful watching, danger of funk overload.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0c34HLss-w

thanks very much for the curation Nabozo, Granny and breastcrawl; i've got this all pulled and am digging in!

John Nzenze, the veteran Kenyan musician who is being buried on Saturday, was belting out popular songs before the country gained independence more than 50 years ago.

The singer, guitarist and dancer was among the last of the pioneer artistes who popularised the Kenyan Twist genre of music, and was part of a band that produced East Africa's finest funk in the 1960s and early 1970s.

"When you become a celebrity, you become a bit arrogant, and in my arrogance I built my own band, the Air Fiesta Matata Band," he said in an interview in Swahili in January.

Good---some ads along the way for sure, keep on scrollin
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52978770

Revive!

Two from Charlotte Adigéry’s Studio Brussel radio show, as championed by dog latin:

1979, from Nigeria, and also featured on the Nigeria 70: Funky Lagos compilation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ukofie-kj7U
Lijadu Sisters • Orere Eljigbo

They have quite the backstory: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lijadu_Sisters

2008, from South Africa (Limpopo) – from one of the original Bolobedu Masters, long before KG:
(2010) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zcrYeyO1vA
DJ Call Me • Marry Me

Call Me updated this (disputed) classic for his recent Maxaka album:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYSgqb-hY7c
DJ Call Me ft. Liza Miro, Double Trouble & Mr Brown • Marry Me

sorry, the correct title of the Lijadu Sisters' song is "Orere Elejigbo"

...and yes, “Marry Me” is from (at least) 2008, the video is a 2010 YouTube upload.

lijadu sisters are fucking awesome and i had a standard "will see them at any price" alert going after their nyc appearance. never to be sadly.

I just read via google that one of the Lijadu Sisters died in 2019. But yeah would have been great to see them

It was I who championed it, not DL, though no doubt he'll be on board ;)

o, inderdaad! how did that happen? no idea why I mixed the two of you up. askies, I’m sorry.
(and thanx for the heads up of course!)

A DL/LBI abbreviation mix-up, perchance? Geen probleem natuurlijk :)

I'm the noobest of noobs when it comes to Afropop but her playlist is littered with it, mixed-in with choice cuts from other genres and an impeccable taste, so consider me on board. Here to learn!

completely addicted to this song at the moment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iuK3s8CCZo

ntombi ndaba - in my mind (south africa, 1991)

Wow I haven't heard that song in ages, thanks for posting! I had a copy of Why Me once upon a time but lost it somewhere along the line in life. The production on all of her albums is just top notch.

A great one by Yondo Sister (DR Congo), in 1993:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_UCP7eJFXk
Yondo Sister - "Wapi Yo"

On the album Deviation Sexy Soukouss, apparently (track written by Ballou Canta). Most of her other stuff is really good as well, from having a quick listen around...

People ITT should check out this excellent mix of old school Kwaito by Ru Robinson

https://m.soundcloud.com/rurobinson/old-school-south-african-kwaito-mix-vol-2

great revive! “Wapiyo” is maximum joy and
a reminder that I would be doing myself an enormous favour by checking out more soukous. those high-pitched synthy organ splashes and dashes are such a great bonus to all the more expected sonic pleasures.

Great thread!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9A7vPONmWs

Wild Fire - Living On A String

(I think it would specifically be classified as 'afro funk'? 'Afro disco' doesn't seem quite right but maybe I'm the one that's not quite right.)

this comp is an instant party, strongly recommended: https://bbemusic.bandcamp.com/album/yebo-rare-mzansi-party-beats-from-apartheids-dying-years-compiled-by-john-armstrong

i recently learned that this old song that was huge in SA back in the day was actually by a Canadian DJ, Nick Holder, so it doesn't quite fit this thread but is superb nonetheless...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpGZt9MJaMA