There’s something really sexy about the word ‘rumba’. It’s also a bit of a misnomer in that over the years it came to represent a variety of Cuban-influenced musical styles popular across Africa, not all of them ‘rumba’ in its original sense.

While the heart of rumba was in the country-formerly-known-as-Zaire, there were many great groups in other countries as well. One reason is the civil war that erupted in Belgium Congo during the 1960s. It forced many Congolese musicians out of the country, a bunch of whom ended up in Tanzania.

Tanzania, located in East Africa just below Kenya, was heavy into the Afro-Congo-Cuban sound during the 1960s. Original Music’s 1983 compilation, The Tanzania Sound, captures this beautifully.

Reading the liner notes this morning I noticed a translation of the lyrics for the Dar Es Salaam Jazz Band’s up-beat track, Fitina Nyingi: “Everyone’s rotten, nothing’s any good, I’m better off alone than with these no-goods.”

Now if that isn’t an upper to get us through a grey Friday, I don’t know what is!

ps- thanks, John.

Nuta Jazz - Janja Yako
Cuban Marimba Band - Beberu
Dar Es Salaam Jazz Band - Fitina Nyingi

BBC Sound System are a Senegalese hiphop group based in Paris, France. Their 2003 release, Na Banko, resurfaced in my collection lately thanks to a random shuffle.

Once again I’m reminded how Wolof is a great rapping language.. so angular, filled with rhyming sounds.

Unfortunately it’s not much more than a collection of sounds to my ears; with every passing day my Wolof disappears, word by word. I can still make a Senegalese person laugh when I hear the accent in Paris and respond with a Wolof joke, but that’s about it these days.

Anyway, just a quick post this morning.

BBC Sound System - Kalama

Bob Brozman released a great album a few months ago called Lumière.

Every piece is based on an improvisation - he starts with a simple melody and builds on the idea, adding layer upon layer of various forms of stringed instrument. Styles range from classic American blues to calypso to music from the far east.

Normally I wouldn’t like such an ambitious fusion of styles, but he pulls it off on this record. He’s an amazing guitar player for starters, and if you’re at all into instruments the album is a great showcase of a variety of stringed sounds.

As we know here at Benn loxo, no “world music” tour of guitar music would be complete without a nod to Malian blues. I’m left wondering, however, why soukous was left off the list. I guess Bob is too laid back for that arpeggio wall of sound of Congolese electric guitar!

Bob Brozman Orchestra - Bamako Blues

I managed to miss Benn loxo du taccu’s 3rd birthday on September 25th. 383 posts, 2 moves and 1900 comments later and it’s still going strong.. with the occasional pause in our regularly scheduled programming! So happy birthday, Benn loxo, and thank you everyone for continuing to listen, read and contribute.

Sorry I’ve been away for so long. I’ll spare you the details about rugby, fashion and la rentrée and head straight to the music. Today we’ll have a special, extended post to thank you for you patience.

My friends Marta and Yves came to stay at my place last week. Yves is an Mbo Cameroonian from the northern part of the country. His wife, Marta, was a good friend while I was living in Senegal.

We had the chance to swap some music on their last night after eating a mean Ndolé near my place. This morning I put together a mix for Benn loxo of some of my favourites. If you’re into classic Cameroonian makossa, you’re in for a treat.

With any luck I’ll be back tomorrow.. I have a backlog of about 500 new tracks to work through!

ps- that’s an unrelated photo by my favourite photographer of African musical youth, Malick Sidibe.

Toto Guillaume - Dibena
Lapiro - No mek erreur
Sam Fan Thomas - Poma
Ben D - Sengi Bobe
Charlotte Mbango - Konkai makossa
Prince Eyango - You must calculer
Cella Stella - Na mea longue
Sallé John - Paï o Yabassi
Ebanda Manfred - Na baby na ma
Prince Nico Mbarga - Aki Special
Eboa Lotin - Elimb’a Dikalo
Les Quatre Etoiles - Enfant bamileke