In case you haven’t noticed I’ve been really busy lately and have been slacking a bit on the posts. Benn loxo is going to continue indefinitely, but the reason why it’s stalled a bit lately is part travel, part work and mostly because I’m moving to Paris in the Spring. Don’t worry – I’ll keep posting during and after the Parisian relocation. In fact, at my new job at AP Paris I’ll still be working closely with our West Africa office and will be responsible for some stuff in North Africa.

It’s ironic, but there’s arguably a better pan-African music scene in Paris than in Dakar. I’ll definitely have more access to great African music there, too. Regardless, in honour of this move we’re going to listen to some music by some French North Africans based in South-East France, Gnawa Diffusion.

We haven’t touched North Africa much on this site. I think when I move to France I’ll start focusing more on the north side of the Sahara, but for now we’ll stick to the Sahel and all that’s sub. Today’s an exception – pop the champagne, I gotta new job.

Gnawa Diffusion’s style varies from rap to reggae to raï and they sing in Arabic, French and English. Most of the lyrics and music are put together by the group’s front-man, Amezigh Kateb. They often sing/rap about the plight of North African immigrants in France, but they also produce such weighty tracks as Je Suis Un Fauteuil. Either way, I like what I hear. I have much to learn about the music from my neighbours to the north.

The track I’m posting today is off a bootleg bought in Morocco (right, Jake? and thanks for the CD, by the way) so please correct me if the track title is incorrect. Not sure what album name is, either. I think it’s one of those street “best ofs”, but whatever. There are some solid tracks and the following is definitely worth posting. Buy some here.

Gnawa Diffusion – Sabrina