Various Artists – ቴዎድሮስ ታደሰ, ኩኩ ሰብስቤ, አረጋኸኝ ወራሽ, ነፃነት መለሰ – 4 Stars

Afrosunny Records present a compilation of Ethiopian music that bears the marks of their complicated time signature, but this is imbued with the energy of Ghanian highlife music, giving it a joyous, almost ska-like feeling.  Some of the happiest music I’ve heard in a while. For those of you curious Continue Reading

Felix Lebarty – Girls For Sale

It’s safe to say that 1976 Nigeria was a somewhat different world from today’s.  The Edo-Delta region must have been a rather swinging place if this reissue of Felix Labarty’s classic, Girls For Sale, is any indication.  The music is lush, perhaps a little tinny, disco mixed with reggae vibes Continue Reading

Afro National – African Experimentals (1972​-​1979)

An Afrobeat treat from Sierre Leone originally formed in 1972 is what we have here from Afro National. From their Bandcamp site: “The Afro National band was formed in Freetown, Sierra Leone in 1972. Their inspirational leader, Sulay Abu Bakarr accompanied by his wife Patricia and Ayo Roy Macauley split Continue Reading

S​.​E. Rogie – Further Sounds of S​.​E. Rogie

This is our second African gem this week, following the marvelously brutal release by Kenya’s Duma.  This release by the late S.E. Rogie is a more relaxed, bluesy highlife affair from Sierra Leone.  According to the Mississippi Records Bandcamp website, Rogie, “…went from running a tailor shop in Sierra Leone Continue Reading