The First Case of the African Funk Farm

This week we try something new from Africa...

I've nibbled around the edges of African funk in the past, but never devoted a full two hour show to the theme. That's exactly what we're doing this week.

As you look around African music in the late 70s, there is no shortage of acts who were directly appropriating the sounds, the politics, and the fashion of funk. A mid-70s African tour by James Brown particularly lit a flame for funk in the African music scene. 

Songs today from English-speaking funk strongholds Ghana and Nigeria, as well as Benin, Senegal, and Burkina Faso. For today's set I have looked for tracks that retain some measure of African roots feeling, with occasional psychedelic guitar elements. It is a heavy, greasy African funkburger today! May clog your arteries with phat.

PS lots of tracks today from compilations and reissues (thank you Soundway, Analog Africa, Kindred Spirits, and Strut!). So instead of album covers, this week instagram postings are some of my fave pics of Africans bein' funky.