Guitar Riff Valley

African

After hearing a recording of The Hallelujah Chicken Run Band (yes, that's really a band! Check them out!) in the summer of 2011, I was inspired to learn more about the various styles of African Guitar playing. The book I found to be most helpful was <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1882146913/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=quiddle-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1882146913">African Guitar Styles</a> by Folo Graff.

After a few months, I began recording some of the songs so that I could listen closely and critique my technique. Recording also allowed me to practice layering the multiple guitar parts together. As I got better, some of the recordings got better too. When I get one that sounds decent enough, I'll add some drum samples and post it here for others to enjoy.

So far, all of these have been recorded with Garageband on my iPhone. Some of them used the microphone on my headphones, on others I used an Apogee Jam and, most recently, and Apogee MiC.

African Guitar

African Music

LiИG’S ₵HiLL ΘUT TiMΞ

Africa

اغني نغوووومتي :-)

Black Coffee

Sai (Kanda Bongo Man) - Performed by Don Keller

Story of Life - قصة الحياة

وكل يغني على ليلى وقالت يا اعز الناس دوام الحال من المحال فنق فؤادك حيث شئت اه من الهوا فم الحب الا وما الحب الا للحبيب الاول وقالت يا ولد تجري الرياح بما لا تشتهي فدع الايام تفعل ما تشاء وطب نفسا اذا حكم القضاء وقالت يا ولد تجري الرياح بما لا تشتهي فدع الايام تفعل ما تشاء وطب نفسا اذا حكم القضاء وكل يغني على ليلى وقالت يا اعز الناس دوام الحال من المحال فنقي فؤادك حيث شئت اه من الهوا

Al Farabi is a blend of many musical styles played on a special combination of instruments to give a unique living sound and feeling, fused with sentimental singing of a genuine arabian voice.

alfarabi@libraproductions.net

Facebook: www.facebook.com/alfarabimusic
https://m.soundcloud.com/al-farabi-music
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUPY...
Twitter: twitter.com/AlFarabiMusic
Instagram: instagram.com/alfarabimusic
Anghami: play.anghami.com/artist/2195184

music production by - Libra Productions - @libra-productions

Story of Life - قصة الحياة

African Guitar 2

🔥🔥🔥 https://on.soundcloud.com/CEkVX

Davido - Aye (Prod. TSpize)

Mama Africa - Bracket [Official music]

Runtown GALLARDO ft Davido

PSQUARE - Taste The Money (Testimony)

7 song EP consisting of singles from the Wide Awake Project plus new tunes. All remixed and remastered. 

I'm Wide Awake

CCFDL002
Every few weeks one of our esteemed artists will be blessing you with a free track. At the end of the year we'll be pressing the best of the series to vinyl. This track here comes from Daniel.T. of Cosmic Kids. He's re-edited a Congolese soukous song from 1984 and turned it into a DJ friendly, summertime party jam. The word "soukous" means "to shake," so if you don't like shaking or summer or partying, then you probably shouldn't download this. Otherwise, do yourself a favor and grab it.

Music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAZJiYgn5gE

Kanda Bongo Man - Malinga (Daniel.T. Edit) [FREE DOWNLOAD]

This song was recorded very roughly at a live performance in Stellenbosch.

The song is dedicated to the late Sipho Gumede, one of my greatest inspirations of all time.

The song is played by myself Chadleigh Gowar "Mr Africa" & The Comrades.. Featuring a very talented guitarist Dustin Julius.

A Song For Sipho- Mr Africa ft. Dustin Julius & The Comrades

Davido Ft Mafikizolo - Tchelete  (Goodlife)

Peyman Yazdanian - Strangers

(words & music Adrian Freedman)
Recorded Live at Gidleigh Hall, Dartmoor, June 21st 2009

Guitar: Ravi Freeman
Guitar: Rashid Sunny Winter
Harp: Camille Marie

Home Page:
☛ https://adrianfreedman.com
Itunes Music:
☛ https://bit.ly/adrianfreedman
Bandcamp:
☛ https://adrianfreedman.bandcamp.com/
Facebook:
☛ https://www.facebook.com/adrian.freedman.shakuhachi/
Instagram:
☛ https://www.instagram.com/adrian_freedman_music/
Spotify:
☛ https://bit.ly/adrianfreedmanspotify
Violin: Johnny Flynn
Accordion: Michelle Levi
Alto Recorder: Charlotte Mabon
Bass Guitar: Martyn Phillips
Maraca: Nancy Swinnen
Voices: The Eternal Heart family
Mixed and mastered June 2010 by Martyn Phillips, London UK.

Rainha das Águas

Live concert in Terre d´Âmes (Grandjean, France)
17.01.2015

Song of Peia Luzzi : http://peiasong.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM1VkW6TekM
in solidarity with Idle No More (idlenomore.ca)

Lyrics:
Blessed we are to dance on this ground
With the rhythm of saints to carry the sound
We hold a prayer for the Earth, for the ones yet to come
May you walk in Beauty and remember your song.

Blessed we are to dance on this ground
With the rhythm of saints to carry the sound
We hold a pray for all Life, for the days yet to come
May you walk in Beauty and remember your soul.

Remember why you came here
Remember your life is sacred.
Remember why you came here
Remember this life is sacred.

A ya ye ya ye ya ye yo (4X)



Blessed we are (Peia cover)

A song I received for the Ocean Mother, as her waters are polluted and creatures are dying. Bringing awareness to this issue and asking for prayer and healing to our earthly waters.

For The Sea

video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbD9PXIhw0s
music / música: Madeleine Bachan Kaur - http://huemanbeing.com/
co-produced by / co-producido por: Anthony Molina - http://anthonymolina.com/
cello & melodica: Nicholas Patterson
Sitar: Leonardo Har Prakash - http://www.bolemusica.com

Original Spanish lyrics  by Adrian Freedman. 
Bachan learned "Luz del Bosque" in Mexico and this new melody came to her while dancing in the forest under the light of the full moon.
Also contains Gurmukhi and english offerings. 
May we always remember who we are, and dance!

Lyrics / Letras

somos la luz del bosque
espíritu de todas las edades
somos la luz divina
sabeduria de los mares
transformamos el dolor
trayendo todo a luz
con el espíritu de amor
todo el día y la noche
(letra de un canto tradicional de México / words from a traditional song in Mexico)

translation:
we are the light of the forest
spirit of all ages
we are the divine light
the wisdom of the seas
we transform pain
bringing all to the light
with the spirit of love
all day and night

(((------::o::-----))))

Aad guray Nameh
Jugaad guray Nameh
Sat guray Nameh
Siri Guru Devay Nameh 

translation:
I bow to the primal wisdom.
I bow to the wisdom true through the ages.
I bow to the true wisdom. I bow to the great unseen wisdom.

Me inclino ante la sabiduría primordial
me inclino a la sabiduría a través de los siglos
me inclino ante la Verdadera Sabiduría
me inclino ante la grande sabiduría que no se ve 

(((------::o::-----))))

We’re all trying to find some peace of mind
in this labyrinth of space and time
that we find ourselves, can feel like such a bind
sometimes the illusion and confusion passing by
just remember it’s a moment, just a blink of an eye
but that moment lasts forever so we got to treat it fine
like a diamond in the rough, we’re gonna make it shine
find the curtains to your windows, open up them blinds
cause the world outside’s a waiting and it’s full of surprise 
and a brand new wind that will help you realize
all the beauty and the lovin, that you’ve got inside


(((------::o::-----))))

todos estamos buscando
felicidad y cantando
podemos re-encontrar y 
amando nuestra naturaleza bailando
esta canción esta vibrando
en el corazón despertando
la fuente de amor desbordando
pura vida brillando

translation:
we are all looking for happiness
singing we can rediscover
and loving our nature we dance
this song is vibrating
in the heart, awakening
the fountain of love, overflowing 
pure life shining
Video

directed & edited by / dirigido y editado por: Madeleine Bachan Kaur - http://huemanbeing.com/
Produced by / produced por: Alfonso Gorrido http://residenciagorila.com
co-producer & director of photography / co—predictor y director de fotografía : Catalina Ausin
2nd unit director of Photography / segundo operador de camera: Igor Cedeno
underwater photography / fotografía submarina: Ernesto Ortega https://www.facebook.com/eoophoto
make-up / maquillaje: Cunti

Cast / Actores

Prema Diez Gutiérrez Cuevas
Ixchel Cuevas Lara 
Kin Sac Be Cuevas Lara
Sergio Diez Gutiérrez (Tatanka)
Teotli Tutis Miranda
Cunti
Kytzia Vasquez M
Jap Dharam Kaur
Shiho
Sarah

Luz del Bosque (single)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhOycqWN8dQ
From Sitarsonic Selected Archives by Sam Lfo
https://ethnicalvibes.bandcamp.com/album/sitarsonic-selected-archives-by-sam-lfo
 Ethnicalvibes & Sitarsonic collaboration tracks, Produced between 2010 & 2017 
www.soundcloud.com/ethnicalvibes Studio.
Prog/machines /vibes: Sam Lfo
Prog/sitar/voices/Experience touch : Paco Rodriguez
Blessing & Great Respect  to Paco Ji : www.facebook.com/sitarsonic
All albums collection : https://sitarsonic.bandcamp.com
In Memory of LINDA FARKAS and Dedicate to all the Sun Dancers : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzuZ9_ExbTM&index=3&list=PLbfe7pJPiL_H6ICd1I6_e7mxd0X2VtnN2
 Also Our full support to I LOVE GOA DOG : http://www.goadogtrust.com
Contact Me : www.facebook.com/ethnicalvibes

download

Jungle Paradise with Sitarsonic

Holy Crap, I recorded this ON MY PHONE.


This song is from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1882146913/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=quiddle-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1882146913">African Guitar Styles</a> by Folo Graf.

Afro Twist & Jive

Another African Guitar song. I'm making a goal to record something on a regular basis and share it, even if it's not perfect.

On this song, I experimented a little more what the iOS Garageband had to offer. However, I think running an acoustic guitar through a crappy mic into an amp emulator is not the best idea. I'm not as happy with the final sound as I was on the last song, but I learned a lot in the process.

This song is from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1882146913/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=quiddle-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1882146913">African Guitar Styles</a> by Folo Graf.

Soukous Maringa

For all the times that you rain on my parade
And all the clubs you get in using my name
You think you broke my heart, oh girl for goodness sake
You think I'm crying on my own, well I ain't

And I didn't wanna write a song cause I didn't want anyone thinking I still care
I don't but, you still hit my phone up
And baby I be movin' on and I think you should be somethin'
I don't wanna hold back, maybe you should know that
My mama don't like you and she likes everyone
And I never like to admit that I was wrong
And I've been so caught up in my job, didn't see what's going on
And now I know, I'm better sleeping on my own

Cause if you like the way you look that much
Oh baby you should go and love yourself
And if you think that I'm still holdin' on to somethin'
You should go and love yourself

Love youself(feat.D.O.)

Ka Moun Kè by Rokia Traoré (Mali)
Kpindigbee Morning, Noon, and Night by S.E. Rogie (Sierra Leone)
Dagomba by Koo Nimo (Ghana)
Pay Me (Friday Night) by Kyekyeku feat. Vishal Nagan (Ghana)
Sabu Yerkoy by Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté (Mali)
Safare by Vieux Farka Touré (Mali)
Suzanah by Cheikh Lô (Senegal)
Deen Wolo Mousso by Victor Démé (Burkina Faso)
Tezartekma by Toumast (Tuareg - Niger)
Chérie by Amadou and Mariam (Mali)
Nanan by Manou Gallo (Côte d'Ivoire)

International Music Machine, Episode 8: West African Guitar

Gave myself an hour today to record something. Got this done in about 40 minutes. Called it good enough.

When I first started playing African guitar styles, this was the first really challenging song I encountered. The style was alien, yet beautiful. I practiced it as often as I could until that opening line flowed off my fingers. (Not perfect in this recording, but close enough) Something about the flow and blend of the first two guitar parts drove me on and on until I really got it.

Once I learned this one, new songs came more easily to my fingers and I was off on my journey.

The third guitar part was not from the book I learned from. A friend of mine came up with the basic sound while we played together and I added the harmony.

This song is from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1882146913/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=quiddle-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1882146913">African Guitar Styles</a> by Folo Graf.

Cutaway

Got a new microphone: the Apogee Mic. It's a condenser mic that plugs in via USB or directly into an iPhone or iPod using the dock connector. It's basically about the best thing ever.

Here's what I was able to record on my first go round. It's the best take I got, but in my defense, it was long after midnight when I recorded this.

This song is from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1882146913/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=quiddle-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1882146913">African Guitar Styles</a> by Folo Graf.

Mampama

Another song in my studies of African Guitar stylings. The first two guitar parts exhibit "polychordal harmony" (a term that that I'd never heard of until reading the notes for this song) in that the chord changes occur two beats apart and makes for beautiful interplay between the parts.

 Recording in Garageband on iOS has gotten much easier, so this time I focused on making longer recordings and relying less on looping- I think that keeps things more interesting.

This song is from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1882146913/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=quiddle-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1882146913">African Guitar Styles</a> by Folo Graf.

Gbongo-Wass

Mix tape African Guitar

Gypsi - Gispy Kings - Flamenco Guitar

I recorded this once before and accidentally deleted it from SoundCloud. The first recording used the Everyday Looper app on my iPhone and was fairly rudimentary. I've gone back and made a more expansive version of it.

There are three "Maringa Wan Way" songs published in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1882146913/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=quiddle-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1882146913">African Guitar Styles</a> and this recording uses parts from the first two variations. The best part of "Maringa Wan Way" is that each of the eleven different parts can be played on top of each other. At most, there are four guitar parts playing at once in this recording.

Maringa Wan Way

Melody: Hamza Namira
Oud: Mamdouh El Gebali
Buzuk: Ali Yilmaz
Arrangement: Odul Erdogan
Mixing: Hamza Namira

Hamza Namira Ibn El Watan - Instrumental

Enya - Only Time - (Violin Cover)

From an interview recorded in 2002, John Williams and John Etheridge talk about African Music and their work with Francis Bebey. This interview was recorded at the Association of Music Personnel in Public Radio conference in Savannah, Georgia as part of Sony Classical's showcase that I hosted to promote the John Williams cd "The Magic Box."

2002 Classical Guitar Alive interview: John Williams & John Etheridge on African Music

The last set in the series Chakra
https://soundcloud.com/kosh-a/sets/chakra

:::To beginnings & action:::

Manipura translates from Sanskrit as the "City of Jewels" Mani - gem, Pura or Puri - city). Manipura is often associated with the colors yellow,blue in classical tantra, and red in the Nath tradition.

Manipura is considered the center of dynamism, energy, will power (Itcha shakti), and achievement, which radiates prana throughout the entire human body. It is associated with the power of fire as well as with the sense of sight and the action of movement. Through meditating on Manipura, one is said to attain the power to save,change or destroy the world.

In Chinese qigong, there is a degree of correspondance with the term "Kua" or door. this series of doors connect with three Dantians that act as furnaces to convert different energies in the body. The lower Dantian exists in the stomach region. Its function is to convert sexual jing energy into Qi energy (a concept similar to Hindu prana). This is not the location of the lower Dantian.

The ten petals of Manipura are dark-blue or black, like heavily laden rain clouds, with the syllables ḍaṁ, ḍhaṁ, ṇaṁ, taṁ, thaṁ, daṁ, dhaṁ, naṁ, paṁ, and phaṁ upon them in a dark-blue color.

big hugs to all the beautiful artists who make me want to do this-
you guys are love <3
@kelliesakkaku
@foxallmusic
@mosemusica
@andreas-pfeiffer
@udasa @garasadahrecords
@jose-solano
@rkjvk @arian-911
@gulivert
@ritual-records-official
@estray-1
@mommusic
@miretmusic
@passierschein-a38
@masalarecords
@toulousemusique

Maṇipūra

News, Mixe & noch mehr Musik findet ihr auf: http://www.klangextase.de

Foto Cover: Klangextase
Copyright Foto Cover: @klangextase-1 - http://www.klangextase.de

---------- Download ----------

Kostenlos downloaden unter:
http://bit.ly/2sAaoXy

Weitere kostenlose Mixe, Podcasts & Livemitschnitte downloaden unter:
http://bit.ly/fh-auf-sc

---------- Playlist ----------

Falscher Hase | Kopfhörermusik (September 2012) | www.klangextase.de 

01. Hannes Smith - Mimi
http://soundcloud.com/hannessmith/04-mimi

02. Basti Grub & Mike Trend - Hang Over
http://soundcloud.com/bastigrub/basti-grub-mike-trend-hang

03. Hiatus - Third (Max Cooper Remix)
http://soundcloud.com/max-cooper/hiatus-third-max-cooper-1

04. Bocca Grande - Procedere 2011
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bocca-Grande/248691508486915

05. Cosmic Cowboys - Notre Jour Viendra (Lake People Remix)
http://soundcloud.com/musik-gewinnt-freunde/musik-gewinnt-freunde-mgf019-3

06. Andy Kohlmann - Kutter Someria
http://soundcloud.com/andykohlmann/lordag-035-a1-andy-kohlmann

07. Patty Kay - Spätsommerliebe
http://soundcloud.com/pattykay/patty-kay-spaetsommerliebe

08. Stimming & David August - Sexy Biest (Gui Boratto Remix)
http://soundcloud.com/guiboratto

09. Jonas Woehl Feat. Max Münch - Skizze 2
http://soundcloud.com/jonas-woehl/skizze-2

10. Fabu - Spring
http://soundcloud.com/fabu/fabu-spring

11. David Rappl & Jamie D (CH) - Windstille (Nico Pusch Remix)
http://soundcloud.com/nicopusch/david-rappl-ft-jamie-d

12. Bakermat - Zomer
http://soundcloud.com/fluttert/bakermat-zomer-original-mix

---------- Social Media ----------

Falscher Hase auf Facebook: http://bit.ly/fh-auf-fb
Falscher Hase auf Instagram: http://bit.ly/fh-auf-ig
Falscher Hase auf iTunes: http://bit.ly/fh-auf-it
Falscher Hase auf Resident Advisor: http://bit.ly/fh-auf-ra
Falscher Hase auf SoundCloud: http://bit.ly/fh-auf-sc
Falscher Hase auf Spotify: http://bit.ly/fh-auf-s
Falscher Hase auf Twitter: http://bit.ly/fh-auf-t
Falscher Hase auf YouTube: http://bit.ly/fh-auf-yt

Falscher Hases Termine: http://bit.ly/fh-live
Falscher Hases Musiktipps: http://bit.ly/fh-mt

Facebook

Falscher Hase | Kopfhörermusik (September 2012) | www.klangextase.de

Shika Shika is proud to present “Rwandance” the third album by German multi-instrumentalist @andiotto. Anyone that has had the opportunity to see Andi’s live performance knows about his talent as cellist and was no doubt blown away by his self-made device, the “Fello” - a sensor-extended cello bow.

“Rwandance” sees And move into new territory - born out of a meeting between And and Rwandan musician and dancer Evariste Karinganire, while collaborating for the music of dance piece Planet Kigali.

“The idea was to first listen to a music archive of songs and instrumental recordings of instruments from Rwanda. Then I tried to transform this material into my own sound. I was mesmerised from the very first moment when I heard this beautiful language: Kinyarwanda alongside these instruments like the Umuduri a percussive bow instrument, and rhythmical structures, like the 5/4 and 3/4 feelings which are the basis of many songs.”

Andi has a talent for using technology in a way that is touching and touchable, enticing out warm and organic tones from his machines. On “Rwandance” this sensibility enters into a perfect dialog and harmony with the traditional Rwandan rhythms. His break away from the traditional 4/4 structures of electronic music is not only refreshing but full of groove.

"Planet Kigali“ was premiered at Kampnagel in Hamburg at the end of 2018:

"Planet Kigali“ is about a bunch of time-travellers who come back from the future to our present year. They remember that there had still been borders and passports in 2019, a fine, utopian plot… and they represent a hypothesis of what aspects of Rwanda’s cultural tradition could look and sound like in 200 years. The time-warp makes it possible to shift the focus away from the topic of the country’s horrible genocide. Instead of investigating a post-traumatic society, the piece tries to jump ahead to the future and to the past simultaneously. Between old memories or recordings and our dreams, fears or expectations of the future.”

Soundcloud: andiotto
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andiottomusic/
Bandcamp: https://andiotto.bandcamp.com

Rwandance

PreOrder 12" + digital

Andi Otto - Igisasa (feat. Evariste Karinganire)

African fingerpicked guitar + whistling with deep male group vocals . 

Cheerful Whistler- African guitar + whistling with deep male group vocals .

Two classic albums from Sterns, originally released on vinyl in the 1980s and now for the first time in almost 30 years, re-released as digital downloads.

Artist: Kante Manfila
Title: Tradition
Cat.no: STERNS1021
Orig. year of release: 1988
Re-release:  29th April 2013
Format: digital only

From the Guinean guitarist of Les Ballets Africaines, the Rail Band, Les Ambassadeurs and who, with Salif Keita, recorded the pure-drop classic 'Mandjou', here is an acoustic-only album that includes, among others, Mory Kante on kora.

In the world of Manding music, it really doesn't get much better. Enthralling. 

Artist: Ebenezer Obey
Title: Solution
Cat.no: STERNS1005
Orig. year of release: 1984
Re-release:  29th April 2013
Format: digital only

As a member of the magnificently named Fatai Rolling-Dollar's, and to give him his full title of the “Chief Commander”, Ebenezer Obey began his career in the juju music of Nigeria back in the 1950s. By the early 60s he'd set up as leader of his own group, here the Inter-Reformers Band, and had begun to record the scores of albums upon which his fame rests today.

'Solution' with its rallying cry of “WAI” (War Against Indiscipline) catches him at the peak of his powers and not long before his effective retirement from juju music to concentrate on gospel.  


Maimouna Diaby by Kante Manfila (edit) / To Ba Nwa Ire by Ebenezer Obey (edit)

african guitar

3 ORIGINAL, CLASSIC ALBUMS BY BOPOL MANSIAMINA

AVAILABLE DIGITALLY  FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME ON JUNE 3rd, 2013
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/bopol-mansiamina/id128644468?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Paul Mfoko Mansiamina a.k.a. Bopol, is one of a small and select group of musicians whose story lies at the very heart of Congolese and, by that definition, African music of the last 30 years. Born in Leopoldville in 1949, Bopol was only 20 when he was part of the group that represented Congo at the first Pan-African Festival of Culture held in Algiers in 1969. This was 'Orchestra Bamboula' led by Papa Noel, one of several bands that Bopol has graced, including Dr Nico's 'African Fiesta Sukisa', Tabu Ley's 'Afrisa' and Sam Mangwana's 'African All-Stars'. These are not groups without substance, but bands whose output is part of the very fabric of classic African music.

But Bopol's greatest achievements lay in the 1980s and 90s, amongst the vast diaspora of French-speaking Africans who, as the political and economic situations of their originating countries deteriorated, made the metropolises of Europe and North America their home. By 1982  Bopol had settled in Paris and there, with Syran Mbenza, Wuta Mayi and Nyboma he helped form one of the most successful groups of the time, the Quatre Etoiles. 

Highly polished, chic, energetic yet sophisticated, here was a group to define the soukous sound that still, today, is one of the most significant and truly pan-African musics. In almost all cases, eschewing the stately intros of the older rumba music, soukous cuts straight to the chase, and with spiralling hypnotic guitar patterns, minimal horns and an insistent beat, it urges you to dance. And dance people did: in the clubs and concert houses of the diaspora, soukous swept all before it.  

One of the reasons for the Quatre Etoiles' success was their organisation. It was a partnership in which each member was free to record and perform with others, which they duly did to the benefit of all. Bopol was perhaps the most successful in this and, over time, his skills on rhythm and bass guitars together with his creativity in arranging, have been called upon by pretty much all of the key Congolese artists. 

Through all of this he released a string of solo albums that were both critical and commercial successes. It is these albums, beginning with 3 from 1983, '84 & '91, that we are able, by direct arrangement with Bopol himself, to bring to the digital marketplace for the very first time. 

Bopol Mansiamina: undisputed royalty in the field of Congolese music.

"While they fit the soukous mold—indeed they helped to create it—the musicians of Quatre Etoiles possessed a feel for the conventional rumba that many of their younger colleagues, whose careers were made in Paris, lacked. Each was a pedigreed performer from the heyday of the Congolese rumba, only a generation away from the music's founders. As solo artists and as a group, the Quarte Etoiles produced a body of work that ranks among the best of the eighties and nineties Congolo-Paris scene." Gary Stewart, Rumba on the River: A History of the Popular Music of the Two Congos.

Mix tracks: 

"Manuela" from 'Manuela'
Orig. year of release: 1983

"Afric' Ambiance" from 'Bopol'
Orig. year of release: 1984

"Djeneba" from 'Innovation'
Orig. year of release: 1991


Bopol Mansiamina: Manuela / Afric' Ambiance / Djeneba

Guitarist. Saxophonist. Harmonica-ist. Penny Whistler. Piano hack. Bell Choir Director.

Music for me started with the sax lessons in middle school. Everything else... just happened.

Maringa Wan Way

Quiddle