I’m continually impressed by the Rough Guide African music compilations. One of their latest, The Rough Guide to African Blues, is another example of their well researched and wide-ranging musical surveys.

I’ll feature two tracks today off this compilation: the first from a “country” I’ve never featured on Benn loxo, Western Sahara. (If you’re unsure why I put quotation marks around the word “country” you better do some reading.)

Mariem Hassan’s voice is beautiful. She is a Saharawi, a Western Sarahan people who live in exile in neighbouring Algeria, born into a griot (igawen) family. Her brother plus two other musicians from the Tinduf refugee camp accompany her on the track, La Tumchi Anni, which translates to “don’t desert me.”

Our second track is by Ayaléw Mèsfin & Black Lion band who are from, as you probably already guessed if you’re listening to the track now, Ethiopia. He lives in the US now, but apparently his record shop back in Addis is still top for classic golden era Ethiopia rock and soul. We love that kind of thing here, you know.

Mariem Hassan – La Tumchi Anni
Ayaléw Mèsfin and Black Lion Band – Feqer Aydelem Wey

Today we break from our Original Music series while I’m away with a guest post from first time Benn loxo contributor, Gerben:

“Some time ago i saw the movie Va, Vis Et Deviens which features the Mahmoud Ahmed song Yaselame Lalo. I had actually forgotten i have it on his album Live In Paris. But i did remember i have a very nice 20 minute live recording from him playing in Amsterdam that i recorded years ago from Dutch radio.

I later digitized the tape, the quality is not very good but the music is great. Apparently the Dutch radio station that broadcast it received the tape from someone who went to this concert.

There are two songs there, the first one is Yaselame. This version is more traditional than on Live in Paris (no saxophone but flutes) and very dynamic. No idea what the other song is but I am curious to find it out and I am also very curious if more if these live recordings of him exist, it tastes like so much more.

The other recording is also a tape transfer from a Dutch radio broadcast and features Super Biton de Segou with I.R.I. and Tere, equally great. Both recordings are somewhere between 15-20 years old, don’t remember exactly when i recorded them.”

This Mahmoud Ahmed track is truly amazing. I would’ve loved to be at that show. I can just see his shoulders rocking out to the rhythms. Thanks for the music, Gerben. If someone can help him out with identifying the music I’m sure he’d appreciate it. -Matt

Mahmoud Ahmed – Yaselame (Live)
Super Biton (Live)

I went to a Gotan Project show the other night in Paris. They saved the best for last- their encore included a great version of Triptico, my favourite track that brings back memories of rainy Toronto nights many years ago, and a surprise appearance by Saian Supa Crew who managed to get the (very mixed) crowd out of the forcefully reclining seats at the Rex.

At the end of the show the stage was packed with a white French DJ, black French rappers, an Argentinian accordian player and the rest of the Buenos Aires crew. As the lights go up, what do we hear? Ethiopian jazz.

Well-known Ethiopian singer, Ejigayehu “Gigi” Shibabaw, put out a project a few years back called Abyssinia Infinite. It incorporates many elements of acoustic, more traditional Ehtiopian music but also adds a contemporary touch… and some accordian. The track I picked for today pretty much sums up that collision of culture and sound at the end of the Gotan show.

Abyssinia, by the way, is the former name for Ethiopia/Eritrea.

Abyssinia Infinite – Gedowa

James Brown died today. He was 73.

Benn loxo listener, Henri, sent me this Sekouba Diabaté track to post as a tribute. I’ll also post a track by “Ethiopia’s James Brown”, Alemayehu Eshete, to show how far his influence spread.

I can’t say anything positive about James Brown the person, but his music and style influenced multiple generations and forever shaped soul and funk. RIP.

 
Sekouba “Bambino” Diabaté – It’s a Man’s, Man’s World
Alemayehu Eshete – Hirut Beqele

Don’t get me wrong – I love Christmas, especially the bit where I get to blast Domenic The Italian Christmas Donkey in my car with the windows down.

But I need a break after the overdrive of carols… so I was digging through my collection this afternoon and decided to put together a little gift: my favourite African hiphop tunes, at least for this warm Christmas Eve afternoon.

It’s a good opportunity for new Benn loxo listeners to do some catch-up and hear tracks that were posted before they found this site. For the rest of us it’s a little collection of beats I hope you all enjoy.. plus a Madvillain bonus track that’s too good to leave off. Merry Christmas.

If you want to suggest any of your African hiphop favourites that didn’t make this quick mix leave a comment or send me an e-mail.

Bole 2 Harlem – Hoya Hoye
Emmanuel Jal & Abdel Gadir Salim – Elengwen
Gokh-Bi System – Xaesal
X-Plastaz – Msimu kwa msimu
Mode9 – Track 1
Daara J – Boomerang
Positive Black Soul – Boul Ma Mine
Outshine – Caution
Batman Samini – Lambori
Positive Black Soul – Redemption
Awadi – Le cri ou peuple
Xuman et Bugz Bunny – Sassouné
Abass – Abass
Viviane & Fou Malade – Taximan
Omzo – Missalu Aduna
Slam Revolution Feat BMG 44
Posse & Doudou – Africa Lakalé
Boul N’Baï – SIDA
Slam Revolution – Wax Degg
Mode9 – Track 4
Madvillain – Figaro (101 Remix)