“Zooming In” is a mix series focusing on African countries that the world seldom hears from and listens to. The selection is mostly composed of songs that haven’t been commercially released and float around in ephemeral online libraries.

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The rich and gorgeous music of the landlocked Central African Republic is little-known outside of its borders, and much of it has to do with decades of authoritarian rule and the ongoing civil war plaguing the country since the beginning of the 21st century: state support for the arts comes last when infrastructures crumble under the weight of war. 

Things haven't always been this grim though. The country was host to a vibrant scene in the 60’s and 70’s following its independence from France in 1958. Local legends such as prolific songwriters and bandleaders Prosper Mayélé (Tropical Jazz, Vibro Succès) and Thierry Yézo (Formidable Muziki, Tropical Fiesta) would play Bangui’s celebrated clubs like the Rex, Ciel d’Afrique and the Dragon Rouge and often hit the regional road with success.

Beyond crafting its own flavours of Rumba and Soukous due to the overbearing influence of two neighboring Congos during this "golden age", Centrafrique has nurtured its own fascinating set of musical roots due to its dozen of ethnical groups such as the Ak(k)a Pygmies living in the equatorial rainforest and the Oubanguins ("gens du fleuve") who dwell on the river edge and speak Sango, a language creolized with French and the country's other official language.
 
Nowadays, while some mimic other African or occidental trends, many Centrafrican musicians strive to keep their uniqueness alive. They pay the price by being overlooked in favor of domineering neighbours such as Cameroon and the D.R.C., which benefit from older and stronger musical ecosystems. When scouring the web, one finds a dizzying amount of low-quality uploads of high-quality tracks with frantic beats, intricate polyrhythms and mesmerizing polyphonies such as the yodel-sounding singing stemming from the Ak(k)a Pygmies. Dance and trance-inducing rhythms such as the Montè Nguènè ("pleasure" in Mbati) also derive from a celebrated Ngbaka Pygmy tradition from the Lobaye and were popularized by the band Zokela in the 80’s. The multi-layered genre has become the poster child for Centrafrique’s own musical identity on both rural und urban dancefloors.

Special thanks go to active YouTube uploaders such as Fred Yapande and Paul Cyriaque Sémaporo ("Sous Le Manguier"), as well as producer Didace Sabone ("Shogi Productions"). The digital store "Jowice Music" led by Guy Thierry Alima has also been a formidable source of songs.

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00:00 ·  Super Stars - Quartier Consigné
00:26 · Zokela de Centrafrique - Nostalgie de zokela
03:17 · Canon Star - The Yankata
04:17 · M Wanawa - Ceci-cela
07:19 · Formidable Musiki - Ti laso a ounzi awe
09:28 · JMC Quartier libre - Quartier libre
10:16 · Abakinlin de Bangassou - Gbèlin mando
12:26 · Ndaï Ndaï - Intrépide
15:31 · Francis Gon - Caresse des Les
20:21 · Gbadora - Gombana Bororo
22:28 · Vey-Zo - Ya Soso
25:04 · Losseba Ngoutiwa - Mensonge (Nvènè)
28:35 · Ozaguin - ?
31:54 · ? - ?
35:24 · Laskino Ngomateke - Soifa Tene
37:48 · Williano - Wambangana
39:30 · Zokela - Injection
42:39 · Les Yakuza de Centrafrique - Gbadouma
45:10 · Marina Reason - Ye ti kekereke
48:16 · Majora - Wa Vrin
50:31 · Canon Stars - Cousin
52:25 · Ashem & Senat Or Fée - Centro love
54:39 · Sultan Zembellat - Rebecca
58:42 · Centrafrican Jazz - Promesse
1:00:53 · Orchestre Vibro Succès - Dounia
1:04:42 · ? - Dikoboda Sombe

Zooming In, Vol. 3 · Central African Republic

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