Chino Odimba

October 2006 - West Africa Unwired and the Rhythms of the River

Welcome to Africa On Your Street - I am your host Chino Odimba. In this column I will be introducing you to three new compilations:

• West Africa Unwired
• Rhythms of the River
• The Rough Guide to the Music of South Africa
• Recommended gigs
• Chino's recommended CDs

One of the things that is still wonderful about African music that there is so much still undiscovered. Across the whole of Africa there are still musicians whose voices, rhythms and cultures are yet to reach the wider international audience. In just the last year artists and groups such as Etran Finatawa , Nuru Kane and K'naan , have burst on the African music scene with phenomenal success.

But now I can let you into a little secret: the best way to find new and upcoming musician is to look long and hard through the world of compilation albums. So, we will be looking at some of the most recent compilation releases - and getting to know some of the names to watch out for in 2007.

Our journey to find new names nestled amongst our favourites will take us from West Africa and take us all the way to the South Africa.

West Africa Unwired

The 'West Africa Unwired' album is a fantastic example of what compilations can do. With some of the biggest names in African music present, there is something here for everyone. Musicians like Baaba Maal , Mory Kante and Toumani Diabaté show off their genius as always. But the names to watch on this collection are Dieneba Seck and Mah Dambe - both from Mali.

First Dieneba Seck , a female singer with a huge musical range and a strong presence. Seck is not from a traditional griot family, or jali, but her musical style is very much of the traditional Malian music so familiar to western audiences. Having already produced four albums, her career has been a slow cook affair. And her popularity in her homeland of Mali reflects her place in the overcrowded world of female vocalists from this region of West Africa. Seck's skill is that she is able to combine the Wassoulou grooves with a deeply bluesy sound. It is only a matter of time before the world truly finds the unique and imaginative talent of Dieneba Seck.

Also on this album is Mah Damba , born as Mah Sissoko. Mah Damba is a traditional griot singer. Daughter of Djeli Baba Sissoko , one of the greatest singers in Malian history, Mah Damba is from a long line of singers dedicated to the journey of the storyteller and keeper of histories, with two albums, and an unbelievable discography working with some of the best traditional musicians in Mali. She works with small groups of musicians including with her husband Mamaye Kouyaté on ngoni, Djeli Moussa Diawara on kora and Lansiné Kouyaté on bala.

Both of these artists are pure examples of not only the strong position that female voices hold in African music, but also the passion that Malian music captures so perfectly. Go sisters!!!

Rhythms of the River

The 'Rhythm of the River' release is again a collection that relies heavily on the usual heavyweights of African music. However, one band worth mentioning is the multi-generational outfit known as Mabulu .

Mabulu translates as 'looking for a dialogue' in the local Shangana language and their case this is a dialogue between the old and the young. Their album 'Karimbo' was one of the first international releases of Mozambican music for nearly a decade, and well, the rest is history. Mixing the popular Marrabenta sound of Mozambique with rap and ragga has secured the band growing success nationally and internationally. When was the last you saw a 75 year old share a stage with a 10 year school children? Mabulu is a testament that there doesn't need to be distinction made between old traditional and the newer sounds on the street.

The Rough Guide to the Music of South Africa

Also released this month is the second edition of the 'Rough Guide to the Music of South Africa' . In the three years since the first edition South African music has introduced some 'newer' names to the international market. The artist I am referring to is Oom Hansie which is in fact a pseudonym used by the much-loved Lucky Dube .

Lucky has been recording under this name in South Africa as a way of reaching the African (Afrikaans speaking) audiences. Lucky Dube who is known for his African reggae beats shows his versatility through his Oom Hansie projects. The song ' Waas My Pyp?' is a rare treat as it is the first time that the track as been included on a CD outside of South Africa.

This packed CD demonstrated just how much South African music has dominated the presence of music from Africa. Giants such as The Mahotella Queens , Miriam Makeba and Ladysmith Black Mambazo are all names now recognised and played across the world. The surprising and innovative can be found in the form of the Soweto String Quartet , who are still the only string quartet playing music indigenous to Africa.

If you had any doubts about the mightiness and variety that can be found in South African music, then 'The Rough Guide to the Music of South Africa' will soon reassure.

Recommended gigs

There are lots of great gigs coming up in the next few weeks. Here are my recommendations:

23 October 2006 - Toumani Diabaté’s Symmetric Orchestra at Arches, 253 Argyle Street, Glasgow G2 8DL. Box office: 0870 240 7528 (national rate) | 7.30pm doors | £13 / £15 advance. Big Big World brings the world’s finest kora player to Glasgow. Mali-born Toumani Diabaté performs a cross-cultural blend of traditional Malian music, flamenco, blues and jazz. Great music in a great venue.

2 November 2006 - K’naan (acoustic set supported by Netsayi) at Book Slam, The Contact Theatre, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6JA. 8pm £6 (£4 conc.). If you missed K’naan’s performances at WOMAD 2006 then you missed probably one of the best new talents in African music - do not miss this again!!!

3 November 2006 - Afro Tema at Cellar Bar 8, 14 Tredgold Lane, Napier Street, Cambridge CB1 1HN. £5 (students £4) Doors 8pm, gig starts at 9pm. Afro-Tema 's sound is a blend of West African rhythms brought into the World Music melting pot of afro-latin sounds, hi-life, reggae beats, popular mbalax and a twist of jazz. Senegalese sounds with a twist.

10 November 2006 – ZubopGambia at Talbot Hotel, The Square, Tregaron, Ceredigion SY25 6JL. 01974 298 965. The ecclectic ZubopGambia featuring in another predictably energetic gig.

As always please keep your comments coming and also send in photos and let me know of gigs you think I should be reviewing. See all you AFRICA ON YOUR STREET people soon - and remember to spread the word of music everywhere you go!

Bye for now,

Chino

Chino's recommended CDs

Various Artists – West Africa Unwired

Various Artists – Rhythm of the River

Various Artists – The Rough Guide to the Music of South Africa ( 2nd ed.)