Oct 19/06
Pre-theatre funk
Just enough time for a quick post today from a 1999 African funk music compilation that I re-found recently.
Today’s tracks are a funky reminder that afrobeat and its derivatives weren’t just an anglo-West African phenomenon. Great bands like Mombasa, Matata and others rocked the Kenyan soul and funk scene during the 1960s and 1970s.
I also thought of today’s songs because a friend was asking for tips for a song that “you’d listen to while walking down the street.” Both of these tracks are good mood, long walk classics. If you see a guy on his bike on rue Saint Honoré tonight, bobbing his head to an inaudible beat, it’s probably me singing these tunes to myself.
Matata were BBC’s Best Band in Africa in 1971 but unfortunately they faded away by the mid-70s. Mombasa I know much less about. Can someone fill us in?
You can find both of these tracks on the quality compilation Africafunk from the guys at Harmless Records.
Mombasa – African Hustle
Matata – Talkin’ Talkin’
Mombasa was actually a band out of germany, let by an african american trombinist – Lou Blackburn (he had played with Mingus).
other band members included Bayo Martins, Ugonna Okegwo, Donald Coleman, Tom Nicholas, Doug Lucas, Tony Nahar
there’s a lot more info on matata as well in a guardian article that came out with the release of the compilation “Afro-Rock” on which they were featured:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4228456,00.html
If you check Dusty Groove you’ll see the Mombasa LP coming up for re-issue.
[...] Thats all folks. Matata’s talking would have been right here but I will send you over to Benn Loxo to pick it up. [...]
I’ve been catching up.
A great selection of music, thanks.
JKE over at kikuyumojas realm sent me a link to a 1995 post he did about Matata and other things Afro. Being a Parisienne, I was sure you would enjoy the Galloises ad . . .
Steve
Wow! Fantastic ad! You made my day, Steve. Now I’ll never quit smoking…
Cheers,
Matt
Sam writes,
“Hoi Matt,firstly thanks for one of the funkiest Afrikan music sites on the web.Can t say I that I know that much about Mombasa,but here my likkle talk.Mombasa was a German based group from Kenya that was led by the departed Buddhist trombonist Lou Blackburn that also played in Duke Ellingtons band.They played their own mix of AfroJazz with RnB and produced some seriously sought after records for the German Spiegelei Records in the Seventies.I believe they did five there in total,of which the first African Rhythm and Blues is probably the most sought after trading for loads of dosh on the net.By chance I have recently seen that this album will be re-released early November.Check out Dusty Groove Upcoming Releases Global Grooves.And as with the fusion of the Afrikaan Beat,I always say CrossPolyNations make da nectar sweeter! Greentings Samboerou”
Seconded. Steve’s link to the video rocks.
are these the same people? http://uclalive.org/event.asp?Event_ID=355
L, don’t think they’re the same. Mombasa Party looks like a taarab group.. and the 1970s Mombasa was far from that style.
-Matt
see it’s very define,your one of a kin. Mihangel Caiaphas.