Benn loxo du taccu turns 2-years-old today!

There have been 265 posts and over 1200 comments since I started this site in September 30th, 2004. Thanks to everyone for listening, reading and participating. We’ve had some great guest posts this year and plenty of music, photo and idea submissions from people all over the world.

Judging from the feedback I got from that world map of Benn loxo listeners, many of you are interested in who else is visiting this site. As of today, 187 of you are subscribed to the notification e-mails and many more read Benn loxo on the web, via RSS or subscribe to the podcast. If Google Analytics is to be believed, we’re holding steady at about 350-600 unique web visitors per day from over 100 different countries, including:

United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Australia, Spain, Sweden, Senegal, Switzerland, Brazil, Japan, Colombia, South Africa, Finland, Portugal, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Argentina, Norway, Poland, New Zealand, Greece, China, Ireland, Denmark, Israel, Morocco, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Mali, Russia, Egypt, Croatia, India, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Philippines, Cyprus, Singapore, Romania, Cote D’Ivoire, Thailand, Nigeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Iceland, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, Kenya, Taiwan, Costa Rica, Peru, Chile, Bulgaria, Guatemala, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Uganda, Iran, Oman, Rwanda, Tanzania, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Panama, Mauritania, Pakistan, Cameroon, Slovenia, Algeria, Puerto Rico, Jordan, Congo, Sudan, Seychelles, Namibia, Libya, Madagascar, Macedonia, Gabon, Barbados, Syria, Uruguay, Botswana, Paraguay, Gambia, Slovakia, El Salvador, Qatar, Burkina Faso, Angola, Eritrea, Tunisia, Luxembourg, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Togo.

I’m constantly impressed by the diversity of the visitors and that people are interested in my casual exploration of African music. Sure, most people just swing by and pick-up the music.. but that’s cool, especially if they enjoy it. Many of you stick around and leave comments that enrich the content and keep me on my toes when I make mistakes. I’ve learned a lot over the last two years and maintaining this site has kept me motivated to keep collecting African music since leaving Senegal.

My collection continues to grow but so far we’ve only heard a tiny portion of what the African continent has to offer. With this in mind, I’m heading to Dakar, Senegal, for a week in October where I’ll hopefully dig-up some solid tunes for all to hear. Stay posted.

Cheers,
Matt

ps- the amazing cover below is courtesy of Fabian at Special de Kenya

Ex-roommate and Benn loxo listener, Ben, says:

“I know I’m late, but HOW COULD YOU miss I. K. Dairo (MBE) and his Blue Spots!?!?!

1. The guy has a seriously cool outfit.
2. He’s carrying an accordian.
3. In 1963 Queen Elizabeth awarded Dairo the MBE (Member of the British Empire).
4. And best of all… He helped to found “the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria” – tougher jobs do not exist.

And Michael sends us a album cover rarity, along with a request for some Tropics and Snow, plus some Fireworks to go with the music.

Ronald wants to hear some Langa Langa What? I think it’s a track called Pétrole by Zaika Langa Langa with Jocker on vocals but please correct me if I’m wrong. And Quieto, I finally re-posted my tales of Guinean Dance Bands and the Circus. Speaking of which, this year’s Nuit Blanche fast approaches…

Below are the last in a series of African album covers here on Benn loxo. I love Ezy & Isaac with their what-up-Run-DMC look. Big thanks to Zim, John, Christopher and the people over at bolingo.org.

If you want to see some more amazing African album covers, check out these two forum threads:

http://www.fryer-mantis.co.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=7018
http://www.fryer-mantis.co.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=6806

Several more Benn loxo listeners contributed their favourite African album covers this week.

Benn loxo listener, Robald, offered up some background for the ones he sent:

“The first one is by Keletigui et ses Tambourinis from Guinea, (circa 1972/3). I found this lp in a department store in The Hague and was very surprised to find it there. Any casual customer would think this was an album with electric organ music, nothing could be further from the thruth, in fact it is one of the best Syliphone albums I have ever heard, full orchestra with great guitar and horn work, the electric organ can only be heard in the last song.”

“The second one is by Africa Negra from the small islands of Sao Tome and Principe (1983). On the cover we see singer and bandleader Joao Seria standing on a low wall holding a bird in his hand, why is he holding that bird? The music is great, one can hear that the music is influenced a bit by Congolese music, but they have their own distinctive sound.”

“The third one is by Nyboma (now with Kekele) and Orchestra Kamale (1977), on the cover we see Nyboma on the left with his producer Verckys. Apparently they were in Europe for business reasons and had their picture taken, but why did they have to wear these winter coats in the studio?”

Thanks Ronald, Dominique, Tom and Michael for the covers. And quieto, this Balla et ses Balladins re-post will be back-up tomorrow morning.

After yesterday’s post Benn loxo listener, Michael, was the first to send in his favourite African LP covers. The first one, Ngaluka Ngaluka by F Kenya, is fantastic.