Rolling Global Outernational Non-West Non-English (Some Exceptions) 2020 Thread (Often African bands)

Sauti Sol, 2 words and ILXors have mentioned them in the past, sometimes here and sometimes on Afrobeats thread. The song mentioned above has Sauti Sol backed by the Soweto Gospel choir. I like the choir’s backing vocals more than Sauti Sol.

https://youtu.be/OQEByF4dtY0

I am not liking new Songhoy Blues , well some of it. First song is kinda Malian metal/hard rock and that’s not my thing. “Bob Bon “ has some prog aspects I don’t like either . Still listening

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/501345/city-lights-jam-to-kino-musicas-ep-ifaan/

But I like Kino Musica’s Ethiopian with a tinge of North African sound. Their guitarist is Ethiopian but grew up in Texas where he also listened to blues and rap, and played blues. Although you don’t hear too much of that on the ep. They also do a Black Sabbath cover live ( the guitarist told me likes the anti war lyrics) but make it sound less rock

I still haven’t listened to recent Mdou Moctar mixtapes, or those Sahel Whats App ones that come out monthly.

The guitarist of Kino Musica also emailed me a bunch of 80s to the present Ethiopian musicians he likes ( that I have never heard).

Would be interested in seeing that list - def know kino's name - feel like i maybe have the music but not listened but the texas background sounds interesting - shld check if i know who that is - but would be interested in seeing the list he he suggested

Kumera Zekarias of Kino Musica faves:

Artists Mentioned
Ali Birra-- Oromo singer, oud and guitar player. He's my biggest influence on current song writing
Tilahun Gessesse--the most famous Ethiopian singer among Ethiopians. He was my father's favorite singer
Yared Negu-my favorite contemporary Ethiopop artist
Galaanaa Gaaromsaa-my favorite contemporary Oromo artist
Abinet Agonafir-my favorite contemporary/2000's Ethoipian artist

I've got to listen to the above plus been reading about some new Awesome tapes from Africa releases and Sahel Sounds ones too

Saw someone mention Ustad Saami in albums of the year thread, but I think it was because he got a good Quietus review during the year but didn’t make their list.

The Hailu Mergia ep is a top 10 for me. Still thinking about and listening to others when I can.

That was me. The new one from Ustad Saami is breathtakingly good.

i'll agree on that mergia, would like to see it in more places

Siti Muharam
Siti of Unguja (Romance Revolution on Zanzibar

This taraab music album made the NPR album top 50 list . I forget whether someone had mentioned it earlier this year

Is it good? There was a taraab album on another list I saw (iirc either Gioa's or Songlines)

Must admit I haven’t heard it yet

Heh no problem, I kept the Songlines list tab open for a day until I gave up on the hope of listening to it all. This year is beyond overstuffed.

I'm listening to Afel Bocoum's Lindé album right now, which is quite nice. I've been getting into Malian music in general this year, so the horn parts are a genuinely surprising flourish

oh cool I didn't realize that it's Vin Gordon playing the trombone on this

Didn't realize he's still alive!

same! I guess he was only about 14 or 15 when he joined the Skatalites

I am liking the Bocoum album too and the collaborators despite my concern that producers Nick Gold & Famon Albarn are trying to impose their hipster world music visions

Damn autocorrect. Damon

Nyege Nyege is doing an online festival today and tomorrow, it seems.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyegeNyegeM

OOF, so embarrassing. Here's a better link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=featured

fuck my life

December 3 through 6 is Nyege Nyege fest and those YouTube links don’t seem to work

all the links are here on the Nyege Nyege Music YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UClyGfHMQNG

this one's live right now:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c0gWTviskQ

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

“it” doesn’t do channel links apparently

the live link works tho

Alas, most music critics included in year end polls discussed in that other thread aren’t listening to music on this thread

:-(

Notable that Duma, among some other Nyege Nyege-related artists, have made it onto many lists.

That’s good . It’s beat driven and noisy enough. But others on this thread are ignored as they’re considered too traditional or too old ; or just ignored by folks just listening to only age 20-something artists from the genres of country, rap, chart pop, and rock .

...but not afropop

so it’s probably not so much age-related as geographical

Or maybe both. I see Jon Pareles of NY Times included Burna Boy in his album list, and a Tiwa Savage song in his song list. He has Bad Bunny and Lido Pimienta too. Other Times critics had no African music. NY Times jazz list had 2 South African releases though

LA Times song list I glanced at was largely US pop, rap, country with some token reggaeton

they are some of the exceptions that prove the rule unfortunately (I’ve been moaning about it on the 2020 end of year music lists thread)

I wasn’t clear enough. I agree with you that those are the exceptions.

Los Angeles Times top 10 album list with 10 more honorable mentions includes no African based acts. It does include Los Angeles resident ( via DC area) Kali Uchis new Spanish language release as its one exception to the rule.

this list includes some thread-worthy selections:

https://thevinylfactory.com/features/best-albums-of-2020/

(apart from two Nyege Nyege Tapes releases, I glanced Groupe RTD -
The Dancing Devils of Djibouti at 41, Benin's Star Feminine Band - s/t at 36, and Siti Muharam - Siti of Unguja (Romance Revolution On Zanzibar) at 25)

I finally listened to some of Siti Muharam - Siti of Unguja (Romance Revolution On Zanzibar). Hand slapped percussion with some traditional high-pitched female vocals, some jazzy horns, and high-pitched strings that all together evokes a mid-eastern, north African, and South Asian whirling Islamic feel

Still more to catch up on here and on Afro Thread, dancehall, soca , Brazilian ones too

Majid Bekkas' Magic Spirit Quartet is good
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTFoqHJtap8

oh wow, the Siti Muharam albums RULES

X-post - have only heard a little of Moroccan stringed instruments player Bekkas with his Scandanavian based band but I like it so far.

I need to dig through that Ted Gioia critic’s list

Nomcebo Zikode - Xola Moya Wami [Feat. Master KG]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPDyF04DyOQ

wow, what's that language? those qh like aspirations remind me of Greenlandic

it’s Zulu (and she’s South African). the same people made one of the big global hits of this year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCZVL_8D048
Master KG ft. Nomcebo Zikode • Jerusalema

excellent, thanks

Skeleton Move is one of my all time faves, but that's light on lyrics (although maybe that first phrase "uaneetamos"? is Zulu)

really like his/their melancholy/inspirational/banger vibe

In fairness, it's very hard to keep up with the ridiculously high volume of great music coming out of South Africa right now.

we’ve got threads for that!

Albums from Ted Gioia list I am curious about (with his little descriptions; artist name is listed on top):

Bab L’ Bluz
Nayda!
If Motown Had Existed in North Africa...

Chouk Bwa & The Ångstromers
Vodou Alé
Haitian Drumming and Singing with Touches of Electronica and Dancehall Music

Contours
Balafon Sketches
Gamelan, Percussion and Traditional Instruments Meet Synthesizers, Software and Pedal Effects

André Mehmari and Danilo Brito
Nosso Brazil
Mandolin and Piano Duet Performances of the Works of Brazilian Choro Composers

Penya (with Msafiri Zawose)
Penya Safari
East African EDM/Call-and-Response Tanzanian Pop

Various Artists
Apala Groups In Nigeria 1967-70
First Collection of Apala Music Released Outside Nigeria

more from Ted's honorable mentions:

Caixa Cubo: Angela
Electric Brazilian Jazz-Rock-Pop

Dumama + Kechou: Buffering Juju
African Traditional Song Meets Synthpop

Seu Jorge & Rogê: Night Dreamer Direct-To-Disc Sessions
Acoustic Brazilian Popular Music

Matthew Joseph: Mood Masala
Funk Influenced by Indian Music and Fingerstyle Guitar