Atiah Mba was a kologo player and singer from Ghana's Upper East region. He had a very special style and was well respected. The community will miss him, may het rest in peace.

Atiah Mba - Bala Bala Kologo

This is the music being played on the cell phones, car speakers and sound systems in and around Bongo and Bolgatanga, the main city and capital of Ghana’s Upper East. This is the mix of local rhythms and melodies played on traditional instruments mixed with Ayamga’s Fruity Loops sample madness and Cubase programmed electro beats with on top of it all the words, rhymes, vocals and stories of the young people hanging around the Top Link studio waiting for an opportunity to throw down their voice on a fresh made track.

The main language on this album is Fare Fare, the regional language in Ghana’s Upper East region. ‘Zologo’ means ‘crazy’ in Fare Fare (also known as Frafra).

All beats, synths and bleeps by Francis Ayamga. Track 4 - kologo by Prince Buju, track 10 - sinyaka by Dondada. Mastering by Zea, Amsterdam, NL. Pictures by Francis Ayamga, artwork by Zea.

Release date:
7 April 2023

Fadester - Guru Anowuu

https://itdockumerlokaeltsje.bandcamp.com/album/trump-yn-makkum
https://makkumrecords.nl/shop/
https://makkumrecords.nl/shop/trump-yn-makkum/

3. Trump Yn Makkum - De Musical I

This is a King Ayisoba hit track, from his "Modern Ghanaians" album, played by Dagati Maxwell who is the xylophone player in King Ayisoba's live band.
Go here for King Ayisoba albums:
http://www.makkumrecords.nl

Dagati Maxwell - Champion No Easy (King Ayisoba)

Van het in september te verschijnen album Niets dan dit (MR40).
https://makkumrecords.nl/
https://makkumrecords.bandcamp.com/

Dutch poet Piet Gerbrandy reads his lyrical poems.

* Originally published in book form as "Niets dan dit - Een lijflied voor de Ziel" by Atlas Contact

cover picture by Bianca Sistermans

[in Dutch]
'Niets dan dit. Een lijflied voor de ziel' (2023), geschreven in de tijd waarin het corona-virus rondwaarde, is een muzikaal leerdicht over de mysterieuze connectie tussen lichaam en ziel. In een afwisseling van verhalende en betogende gedichten, pure lyriek en behoedzaam tastend proza maakt de dichter een reis door het lichaam, van teen tot kruin, die tevens een tocht door de evolutie is. Daarbij komt ook de vraag aan de orde wie of waar we zijn als we dromen. Het werk maakt gebruik van onmiskenbaar autobiografische elementen, maar verwijst ook graag naar de geschiedenis van de natuurwetenschappen. 
In dit gedicht vormen steen, bloed, adem en licht de vier elementen, met de liefde als verbindende kracht ertussen. Erotiek is dan ook een steeds terugkerend motief in deze poëzie, die de totaliteit van het Zijn poogt te omvatten. 

---

With this variation on the good old Didacticism Piet Gerbrandy investigates in verses and prose poems the (un)knowability of the self and the enigma of the body versus the soul. Whether it concerns love, the transience of the body, the state of nature or evolution, this work attempts to encompass the whole of being. Gerbrandy proves to be a great observer, who shows in compelling language that man in all his transience is a wonderful being.

Piet Gerbrandy (1958) is a poet, classicist and essayist. For his work he received amongst others the Herman Gorterprijs, the Frans Kellendonk-prijs en de Jan Campert-prijs. IN 2015 his poems up to that point were collected in 'Voegwoorden'. His last poetry collection 'Ontbindingen' (2021) was critically acclaimed and nominated for De Grote Poëzieprijs. In 2024 Gerbrandy received the Ida Gerhardt-prijs for 'Niets dan dit'. Gerbrandy teaches Latin at the University of Amsterdam and is editor of 'De Gids'.

Review:
“Piet Gerbrandy is misschien wel de interessantste dichter van dit moment. [...] De bundel getuigt van zeldzame filosofische diepte, uitgedrukt in virtuoze verzen van verbluffende schoonheid. Ook de overpeinzing van het wezen van de muziek – en natuurlijk de jazz – slaat de spijker op zijn kop.” (Ede de Jong in Poëziekrant)

Het Lied Van Het Licht

Van het in september te verschijnen album Niets dan dit (MR40).

Dutch poet Piet Gerbrandy reads his lyrical poems.

* Originally published in book form as "Niets dan dit - Een lijflied voor de Ziel" by Atlas Contact.

[in Dutch]
'Niets dan dit. Een lijflied voor de ziel' (2023), geschreven in de tijd waarin het corona-virus rondwaarde, is een muzikaal leerdicht over de mysterieuze connectie tussen lichaam en ziel. In een afwisseling van verhalende en betogende gedichten, pure lyriek en behoedzaam tastend proza maakt de dichter een reis door het lichaam, van teen tot kruin, die tevens een tocht door de evolutie is. Daarbij komt ook de vraag aan de orde wie of waar we zijn als we dromen. Het werk maakt gebruik van onmiskenbaar autobiografische elementen, maar verwijst ook graag naar de geschiedenis van de natuurwetenschappen.
In dit gedicht vormen steen, bloed, adem en licht de vier elementen, met de liefde als verbindende kracht ertussen. Erotiek is dan ook een steeds terugkerend motief in deze poëzie, die de totaliteit van het Zijn poogt te omvatten.

---

With this variation on the good old Didacticism Piet Gerbrandy investigates in verses and prose poems the (un)knowability of the self and the enigma of the body versus the soul. Whether it concerns love, the transience of the body, the state of nature or evolution, this work attempts to encompass the whole of being. Gerbrandy proves to be a great observer, who shows in compelling language that man in all his transience is a wonderful being.

Piet Gerbrandy (1958) is a poet, classicist and essayist. For his work he received amongst others the Herman Gorterprijs, the Frans Kellendonk-prijs en de Jan Campert-prijs. IN 2015 his poems up to that point were collected in 'Voegwoorden'. His last poetry collection 'Ontbindingen' (2021) was critically acclaimed and nominated for De Grote Poëzieprijs. In 2024 Gerbrandy received the Ida Gerhardt-prijs for 'Niets dan dit'. Gerbrandy teaches Latin at the University of Amsterdam and is editor of 'De Gids'.

Review:
“Piet Gerbrandy is misschien wel de interessantste dichter van dit moment. [...] De bundel getuigt van zeldzame filosofische diepte, uitgedrukt in virtuoze verzen van verbluffende schoonheid. Ook de overpeinzing van het wezen van de muziek – en natuurlijk de jazz – slaat de spijker op zijn kop.” (Ede de Jong in Poëziekrant)

Het Lied Van Het Bloed

Het album Pieta van Mischa Andriessen verschijnt op 3 februari op Makkum Records. De presentatie is die dag in OCCII, Amsterdam. Kijk hier voor tickets en het hele programma: https://occii.org/events/occii-poezie-2/

2-1 Nature Morte

Het album Pieta van Mischa Andriessen verschijnt op 3 februari op Makkum Records. De presentatie is die dag in OCCII, Amsterdam. Kijk hier voor tickets en het hele programma: occii.org/events/occii-poezie-2/

5-3 En dan

A new song by King Ayisoba which appears on the compilation "This is Kologo Power!", out on Makkum Records and Red Wig, spring 2016.

This is a taste of the kologo scene in Ghana right now. From Bolgatanga to Kumasi to Accra kologo music is heard on weddings, funerals, in local pito bars, on parties and on the dance floors. It is an overview that is structurally incomplete because the scene is vibrant and new players and new songs and combinations appear every week. But it is definitely an intense meeting with the scene of today introduced and selected by King Ayisoba who puts the spotlight on the acoustic sound; “man power” as he calls it. 

check: http://www.makkumrecords.nl for more music and sales.

King Ayisoba - Nerba

In 1906 Komitas Vardapet wrote and performed a cycle of dances for piano in Paris. It is an exciting and original composition. All six pieces are based on original Armenian dances. Keiko Shichijo plays a compelling, playful and enchanting interpretation. Out on November 14, 2016 on Makkum Records, buy the 10" inch vinyl or CD here: keikoshichijo.bandcamp.com
http://www.makkumrecords.nl

Keiko Shichijo - Shushiki (Komitas)

Atamina, or actually we should say Dr. Professor Atamina, is one of the protagonists of the new wave of Kologo Power, a music scene that hails from Ghana's North East Region, that spread all over Ghana after King Ayisoba's number one kologo hit song “I Want To See You My Father”, and is now conquering the whole world. Atamina is the smart guy, with tongue-in-cheek social-critical lyrics, pulling away the carpet under the feet of West Africa's new developing bourgeoisies. There is a strong link to the Delta blues with its story-telling but Atamina might as well be called the Sleaford Mods of West Africa with his stripped beats and obnoxious rants. 
order the CD or LP here:
http://www.makkumrecords.nl/
or here:
https://atamina.bandcamp.com/album/sycophantic-friends

Sychophantic Friends

Nosonayine means “my father God”. In the song I give thanks to God. The live was hard before and I thought it would stay like that but now things have changed in a different way. There is a good living for me and my family now. I wish I could do an announcement so everyone can hear it, but that will not reach all ears so now I sing it as a song so all people can hear it; I thank God.
I was born in Yipale, now I live in Soe, near Bongo. As a child I was singing, singing, singing. My mother had a group of three or four women. They were going around at funerals and ocassions, small programs. They would clap hands and sing. There was no school, I used to go with them as a child. I listen and try to copy all. Later I took over from them, but there were no churches around there, only funerals. Now there is a church so I sing for the Catholic Church. I sing in a group called Gurune Choir, Gurune is our language. Gurune is the name for all Frafra and different languages in the North East Region. Now I am also singing in different programs, weddings, funerals, launchings.

get the album here: https://thisisfrafrapower.bandcamp.com/releases
or on https://www.makkumrecords.nl
or at your local record store.

Fausty Amoa Mabila - Nosanayine

From the upcoming album ALLES IS GOED, out on February 14 on Makkum Records: http://www.makkumrecords.nl

Album release party on February 14 at OCCII:
https://www.facebook.com/events/612440666169074/

De Rôver En De Prins

Instrumental acoustic guitar improvisation by Arnold de Boer (ZEA. The Ex)
Get the album here (Limited edition):
https://makkumrecords.nl/

A region with a degree in redemption

new album by Ghanaian kologo star Ayuune Sule, released on March 16, 2021 on Makkum Records, Red Wig and Rebel Up Records. This song is featuring Bonjo from African Head Charge.

get the LP or CD at https://makkumrecords.nl/

TEZAA SO NDEYINE

Prachtig en eigenzinnig, totaal anders dan anders. Haal de cd, cassette of plaat:
https://makkumrecords.nl/

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