HABASHAs & ZANGIs - Sounds of East Africa

01 Atzmtom keskisom

Chwaita - ya dain

Aziza Brahim - To you is coming

Mariam Hassan 1

http://blog.afropop.org

Afropop fans, prepare yourselves to hear a great deal about the Nightingale of the North, the reigning diva of Timbuktu, Mali, the inimitable Khaira Arby. We have been admiring Khaira’s local cassette recordings for a good fifteen years. Her voice is as strong, sure and distinctive as any the northern deserts of Mali have produced, and we’ve long wondered why no producer had made a representative CD and launched Khaira’s international career. We first met Khaira in 2000 when traveling in Mali with Bonnie Raitt, Habib Koite, and a band of Afropop listeners. We chanced upon her concert in the public square in Timbuktu, and became instant devotees. At the 2003 Festival in the Desert in Essakane, we filmed and recorded Khaira with her band for the radio program and for the film, The Tent Sessions. Again the question arose: Why is noone working to bring this phenomenal talent to the world?

Well, the long wait is over. Kudos to Khaira’s US representative Chris Nolan, who arranged Khaira’s first US tour. Her first international release, Timbuktu Tarab, hits the streets on August 10 2010. And the tour is underway. Khaira played her New York debut at The Shrine in Harlem on Friday, August 13. We caught her the next night at Zebulon in Brooklyn, and even for true believers like Sean Barlow and myself, the show was a revelation.

Khaira is traveling with a young band that includes family members. The grand lady of the Timbuktu music scene sure knows how to pick talent. This band absolutely rocks. They are as tight and fluid as any of the African groups to play the big stages of New York City this summer—and given how awesome that lineup has been, this is no faint praise! The band is two guitars, bass, traditional lute, calabash, trap drums, and two backing singers. They play Sonrai songs reminiscent of the late Ali Farka Toure, Khaira’s dear friend and “cousin,” as well as Tuareg, Fulani, and other folkloric genres. The songs talk about great Malians, about the empowerment of women, and the need to wipe out female genital mutilation (excision). Grooves can be dark and sinuous, or light and buoyant, but they are always rendered with flawless confidence. These players, even the youngest, play like seasoned pros, and they deploy masterful dynamics, never overpowering one another, or—heaven forbid—their illustrious leading lady.

The band’s exceptionally young and talented lead guitarist has serious chops--he's clearly listened to the rock-schooled Vieux Farka Toure--and a delightful stage manner. Khaira called him forth for long, florid, and totally rocking solos, and then silenced him with a wave of her hand to begin singing again. Their interaction was charming, like a proud, firm mother and her precocious, respectful son.

As the set went on, people began to dance. The club was packed, so by the end of her 90-mintue opening set, people were dancing right up against the band. Khaira sang in front of the stage, rather than on it, dancing with patrons and receiving their praise, kisses, and of course, money without missing a beat. The second set was even more unglued, with patrons joining the band onstage, everyone crushed together in an ecstatic, collective party, and Khaira filling the room with her steely, piercing voice. I can’t say I have seen a more exciting performance all year. If you are in New York and missed these shows, you have one more chance. Khaira plays Joe’s Pub on September 29. If you are elsewhere, check the itinerary and do what you have to do. This is going to be one of the headlining African acts of coming years once word gets out how great it is. Get your chance now to experience Khaira in an intimate setting.





Khaira Arby - Goumou

Baikoko has recently become one of the most favored night entertainments around Dar es Salaam. Baikoko groups play in roadside bars, at weddings or being invited as an added attraction for modern taarab nights. The group that started it all is Kaya Baikoko. More information at: www.jahazi-media.com

Kaya Baikoko - Mwana Kachanganya Dawa

FACE B : sewit lemlem

Réf : PH 139
Philips
1972

TIBERIH TESFAHUNEGN

FACE A : aimenekuan

Réf : PH 144
Philips
1972

BEYENE HABTEMARIAM

FACE B : biiwanu afkire

Réf : PH 144
Philips
1972

Fatuma binti Baraka (aka Bi.Kidude) is a Zanzibari Taarab singer. She is considered the undisputed queen of Taarab and Unyago music and is also a protégé of Siti binti Saad.[citation needed] Bi Kidude was born in the village of Mfagimaringo, she was the daughter of a coconut seller in colonial Zanzibar. Bi Kidude's exact date of birth is unknown, much of her life story is uncorroborated, giving her an almost mythical status.

In 2005 Bi Kidude received the prestigious WOMEX award for her outstanding contribution to music and culture in Zanzibar.

Bi Kidude - Alaminadura

Bi Kidude - Muhogo wan jang'ombe

NI MGENI DUNIANI 2

KWA KHERI WANGU MUHIBU

Dar es Salaam’s Young Stars Modern Taarab almost single-handedly created a new style when they released their song “Segere” in 2001. Besides its uncommon mixture of lyrics in both Zaramo and Swahili language the song was especially noteworthy for its fast rhythm directly descending from Zaramo cultural traditions! 
For more information on Segere and their upcoming album release please visit: http://www.jahazi-media.com/segere.html

Segere Original - "Segere Na 2"

Zanzibari qanun player Rajab Suleiman is probably best known as a member and featured soloist of the Culture Musical Club, which together with Ikhwani Safaa established the legacy of the Islands’ large taarab orchestras and social clubs. A natural musician and untiring in his quest for musical knowledge Rajab has moved beyond the frontiers of the taarab of old, becoming a virtuoso on this difficult instrument and including playing techniques and repertoire from the classical Arabic and Turkish schools, and anything else from Bach to jazz, molded by his own Zanzibari and taarab music experience. Thus Rajab and Kithara also strive to infuse their repertoire with rhythms and melodies of local Zanzibari local ngoma drum/dance traditions like msewe, bomu, msondo etc. For more information on Rajab Suleiman please visit: http://www.jahazi-media.com

Rajab Suleiman Trio -  "Msewe"

FIKIRI UTANABAI..

Alkibar Jr. La Paix feat. Afel Bocoum

Takamba

Kithara is a new taarab ensemble from Zanzibar founded by former members of Culture Musical Club. The group is lead by qanun virtuoso Rajab Suleiman and features old-is-gold singing star Makame Faki. Saada Nassor is the featured singer on  "Chungu", just recorded in Zanzibar in March 2013 for the group's first international release scheduled for summer this year. (This is a short edit of the song).

HABASHAs & ZANGIs - Sounds of East Africa

Touka Voodoo