Episode 117: Afrikaleidoscope
After each fund drive I try to find a chill out musical theme. This time the theme is Afrikaleidoscope… we’ll hear tracks from all around the continent on today’s show, but no dancehall shakers, no big rock guitars, and no James Brown screams. I wouldn’t exactly call this downtempo, but it is an armchair episode. We are kicking off with a mostly Ghana opening set; you listeners may know that Ghana joins Nigeria as the 2 powerhouses of African highlife; first set tracks today will be highlife with an artsy jazzy edge. The second set stays in a slower jazzy vein, bringing in flavors of soul, funk, and a taste of desert blues. To kick off hour two I’m dipping into some Ethio jazz, including a pair of tracks from Ehtio jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke. As the show goes out I’ll bring in a little bit of funk.
- 12:01pm Wigre Siemia Dah by Koffi Gboko on single (private press)
- 12:05pm Home Witches by Asaa Naho on This Is Kologo Power! (Sahel Sounds)
- 12:09pm Sanza Tristesse by Francis Bebey on Super Bebey (private press)
- 12:12pm Mee Bee (When) by Hedzoleh on Hedzoleh (Soundway)
- 12:16pm Kaa Ye Oya by Hugh Masekela & Hedzoleh Soundz on Masekela Introducing Hedzoleh Soundz (Blue Thumb Records)
- 12:21pm Kokoriko by Bunzu Soundz on Bunzu Soundz (Makossa)
- 12:24pm Makola Special by Bunzu Soundz on Bunzu Soundz (Makossa)
- 12:27pm Rekpete by Hedzoleh on Hedzoleh (Soundway)
- 12:32pm Jungle Warrior by Matata on Matata (President Records)
- 12:36pm Min We Tun So by T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo on Skeletal Essences of Afro Funk (Analog Africa)
- 12:41pm Woro Dance by Tony Allen on The Source (Blue Note)
- 12:46pm Yacouba by Zani Diabate & Super Djata Band on Live (Milady Music)
- 12:53pm Gboro Mi Ro by Shina Williams & His African Percussionists on African Dances (Mr Bongo)
- 1:01pm Ene Negn Bay Manesh by Girma Beyene on Heavenly Ethiopiques (Heavenly Sweetness)
- 1:05pm Yegelle Tezeta by Mulatu Astatke on Heavenly Ethiopiques (Heavenly Sweetness)
- 1:08pm Tchereqa by Menelik Wesnatchew on Heavenly Ethiopiques (Heavenly Sweetness)
- 1:11pm Lene Antchi Bitcha Nesh by Ayalew Mesfin on Assiyo Bellema (Mississippi Records)
- 1:14pm Muziqawi Silt by Wallias Band on Ethiopian Soul & Groove Urban Modern Music Vol 1 (L'Arome Productions)
- 1:18pm Emnete by Mulatu Astatke on Taitu (Soul-Fuelled Stompers From 1960s-1970s Ethiopia) (BBE)
- 1:21pm Bey Lesenabetesh by Getatchew Kassa & Soul Ekos Band on Assiyo Bellema (Mississippi Records)
- 1:25pm Astawesalehu by Lemma Demissew on Hasabe (Mississippi Records)
- 1:29pm Rhapsody in Berlin pts 1 & 2 by Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids on single (Philophon)
- 1:33pm Agboju Logun by Shina Williams & His African Percussionists on African Dances (Mr Bongo)
- 1:40pm Wolf Eats Wolf by Tony Allen on The Source (Blue Note)
- 1:46pm N.E.P.A. Dance Dub by Tony Allen & Afrobeat 2000 on N.E.P.A. (Comet Records)
- 1:52pm Unity in Africa by Eji Oyewole on Nigeria 70 Sweet Times (Strut)