Awesome Tapes from Africa’s Brian Shimkovitz has done a brilliant job over the past seven years or so of bringing new life to legendary artists whose genre-shifting music has often been lost in the sea of modern sounds. One of these prolific musicians is Ethiopian Hailu Mergia, the keyboard and accordion...
All posts by Tashan Campbell
A great revival in music is always well received, especially when the artist is as joyous to watch as Ata Kak. Disappearing into near obscurity since the release of underground game changer, Obaa Sima in 1994, Ata’s infectious concoction of leftfield rap, lo-tech house beats and hiplife flavours make for...
Kenya is rich in musical history, from the much loved taarab through to caracha and more recently cumulating reggae and even rock scenes. Stripping Kenyan music back to its origins however, reveals the culture shifting style of benga, a beautiful finger and thumb guitar style originating in Eastern Kenya in...
South Africa has long been a prime breeding ground for fresh African talent and ideas, and Batuk are certainly bringing something new to the table. The three-piece-collective from Johannesburg is formed by established electronic/kwaito producers Aero Manyelo and Spoek Mathambo, and eclectic vocalist Manteiga. Together they have created a house driven sound, which is...
Derived from the Afrikaans word ‘kwai’ literally translating to angry, kwaito is the heavy, house music pumping out of modern South Africa. Kwaito was formed South Africa’s Soweto township, drawing on several South African genres such as kwela, marabi and bubblegum music, the thriving afro pop scene of the 80’s....
Paying tribute to one of the all time kings of music is no easy feat, however there are few as up the job as afro jazz pioneer Bukky Leo & Black Egypt, and few venues as apt as The Jazz Cafe. Approaching Fela’s eclectic back catalogue with their unique acid...
Originating in Ghana but with roots also placed firmly in Nigeria, Highlife music has had a major impact on modern African music since its birth in the 1920’s. Originally performed in small clubs and on street corners by brass bands, musicians gradually began incorporating vocals and jazz elements, usually driven...
Deriving from the French term, ‘secousse’ literally meaning ‘to shake’, Soukous music has a simple aim, to make the people dance. Originating in Congo, Soukous spread its rhythms throughout Africa, eventually capturing the hearts and dancefloors of London and Paris in the 80’s, with Paris based musicians such as the...
Focus Organisation Africa are no strangers to hosting some of the finest names within the afro roots London scene. Having recently invited soukous legend Kanda Bongo Man to grace London’s Rich Mix, as well as Diabel Cissokho, Focus welcome Reggae Roots and African Music to Lewisham’s Fox and Firkin. Sengalese songwriter,...
It’s always an exciting time for music when a legend pays a visit to British shores, and Kanda Bongo Man is no exception. The legend of soukous headlines London’s Rich Mix on Friday 1st April. Known as the father of ‘kwassa kwassa’, a dance craze in which hands follow swinging hips...