Hear the new sounds of West African music that combines traditional n’goni and kora together with hiphop production and electric guitars from Bassekou Kouyate, Tartit, and Mdou Moctar.
Listen to music by Malian ngoni master Bassekou Kouyate, who was a founding member of Toumani Diabate’s Symmetric Orchestra, worked with Ali Farka Touré, and has performed with Africa Express, in addition to founding his own band, Ngoni Ba. Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba’s latest record is Miri, which means dream, or contemplation. Hear some music from that record, featuring guitarist Habib Koite along with the Moroccan oud and Guimbri player Majid Bekkas, among other collaborators. Also, hear music from the Bamako-based Sékou Bah, from his recent record, Soukabbè Mali' ("the children of Mali"), which talks about the failing Malian education system and features some vocal assistance from rapper Master Soumy.
Then, listen to possible Manding-based fourth world music from Bamako-based Luka Productions, aka producer Luka Guindo, whose latest is a mix of West African Hip Hop and sample-based folktronica. There’s also music by Alpha Ousmane “Hama” Sankaré, a Malian calabash percussion master. Hear call and response music by Tartit, (‘union’) from Mali. Led by singer Fadimata Walet Oumar, aka 'Disco', the Tuareg group is made up of four women who sing and play percussion - plus veiled male instrumentalists.
Then, listen to music from the Danish-based Gambian kora player Dawda Jobarteh along with the latest from Tuareg musician and ‘Prince of the Desert’, Mdou Moctar. Moctar’s latest record is Ilana, where he turns to folklore for inspiration, as well as the hypnotic music, takamba– popular at festivals and weddings in the North of Mali and Niger, and adapts them for his guitar-shredding. Plus, listen to music from Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour, as he puts Babatunde Olatunji, the late Nigerian-American drummer, singer, and social activist in the spotlight with a cover of “Takuta” on a recent collection called, History.
#4239: the New Sounds of West Africa (First aired 5/16/2019)
ARTIST: Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba, feat. Habib Koite
WORK: Kanto kelena [4:27]
RECORDING: Miri
SOURCE: Out Here Records OH 032LP
INFO: outhere.de |outhererecords.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Hama Sankare
WORK: Baba Gomni [6:23]
RECORDING: Niafunke
SOURCE: Clermont Music
INFO: clermontmusic.com
ARTIST: Luka Productions
WORK: Forêt [3:32]
RECORDING: Falaw
SOURCE: Luka Productions, due out May 24
INFO: lukaproductions.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Youssou N'Dour Featuring Babatunde Olatunje
WORK: Takuta [3:31]
RECORDING: History
SOURCE: Naïve Records
INFO: youssoundour.world
ARTIST: Sékou Bah, ft. Master Soumy, rap vocals
WORK: Kalan Ko [4:07]
RECORDING: Soukabbè Mali
SOURCE: Clermont Music
INFO: clermontmusic.com
ARTIST: Luka Productions
WORK: Tolobana [3:22]
RECORDING: Falaw
SOURCE: Luka Productions, due out May 24
INFO: lukaproductions.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Ibibio Sound Machine
WORK: Kuka [2:38]
RECORDING: Doko Mien
SOURCE: Merge Records
INFO: ibibiosoundmachine.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Mdou Moctar
WORK: Anna [4:32]
RECORDING: Ilana The Creator
SOURCE: Sahel Sounds SS=-051
INFO: mdoumoctar.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba, feat. Habib Koite
WORK: Kanougnon [5:19]
RECORDING: Miri
SOURCE: Out Here Records OH 032LP
INFO: outhere.de |outhererecords.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Tartit
WORK: Amankor [4:48]
RECORDING: Amankor / The Exile
SOURCE: Riverboat Records
INFO: worldmusic.net
ARTIST: Dawda Jobarteh
WORK: Firifiroolu [2:51]
RECORDING: I Met Her By the River
SOURCE: Sterns Africa
INFO: dawdajobarteh.bandcamp.com