Africa Is a Country

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Boima Tucker

Boima Tucker is a music producer, DJ, writer, and cultural activist. He is the managing editor of Africa Is a Country, co-founder of Kondi Band and the founder of the INTL BLK record label.

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Maïmouna and African Urban France

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRQyfI8XEAM Friday night at Sutra Lounge in New York, Maimouna Coulibaly will be performing alongside myself and DJ King Solo for Africology's Afrique Sessions. Maïmouna Coulibaly is one of Paris's premier "African Urban Dance" boosters, choreographing some of the biggest artists music videos, teaching dance workshops, releasing DVDs, running her own dance company, and writing, directing, and starring in her own plays about Sub-Urban Paris, and African immigrant youth identity. This is her first and only public performance in New York, so come get a taste of Paris on Friday!

Nigerian Independence

Okay we're a day late. (It's Sean's fault.) Happy Indpendence Day Nigeria. Your music industry is too large and prolific and dominant across the continent and the globe to sum up in a few videos, but here's an idea: Neo-Juju [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEkG6EswH2w&w=600&h=369] Hip Hop [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrxL2XbHnjo&w=600&h=369] Nneka [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkDgnVJa7SU&w=560&h=315] Naija! If this isn't enough, check out King Ola and DJ E Cool's 2011 Nigerian Independence Day Mix!

Funky Liberia

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOq_6aVOqPI]   Italy based, UK Funky influenced, electronic music purveyors Pepe Soup recently released the above song and video, a proud recollection of Liberian childhood punishment survival. The Italian-Liberian duo have been busy this year, releasing a string of EPs on their own label, and contributing to the soundtrack for Al Jazeera and Dutch Public Television's series on African migration, Surprising Europe. It's nice to see such a strong entry coming in from the Liberian diaspora. Since Doneao's "Party Hard" was on repeat in Monrovia this summer, maybe by this time next year Funky Liberia a la Pepe Soup will be a staple at the city's clubs. H/T: TIA

Independence August

Since we'll be on break for a minute (details tomorrow) when the following central African countries celebrate their independence days, let's do a quick roundup for Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville, and Gabon. August 13, The Central African Republic is the home of Deep House DJ Boddhi Satva, who we talked about here before. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP9T9x6u71s&w=600&h=373] August 15, Today, Congo Brazzaville artists like Bisso Na Bisso and Freddy Massamba carry the flag of Brazzaville pride in the diaspora. While Freddy Massamba impresses me with his range of styles collaborating with the likes of Boddhi Satva, and a host of African superstars through his group Fresk, Abd al Malik, who we have covered before here, surprised me pleasantly. [vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/19120789 w=600&h=340] ___ August 17, Gabon is probably best known for African Zouk, and the classic pan-African hits of Oliver N'goma. But today (along with most countries), it's a Rap nation. Teenage rapper Jojo made a Pop-Rap hit that made enough noise to get an MTV Africa nomination: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jymi7mXCRNw&w=600&h=373] ____ Happy independence days to C.A.R., Congo, and Gabao!

August 11, Chad

There's still time left to recognize Chad's Independence Day today, and keeping with our regular feature, we're posting popular music from the country. First up is a short clip of Mounira Mitchala, handling a live show in Paris: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gM-LNwHo2w&w=600&h=373] Being part of the French sphere of influence, Chadians are listening to and making music popular in other Francophone African countries such as Ndombolo, Coupe Decale, Zouk, and Rap. Jorio Stars, a Cameroonian and Chadian collaboration(?): [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p1XE_8GoMQ&w=600&h=373] A nice dance song and video by Pyramydes: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaZ8r2cXy5U&w=600&h=373] And a Rap song with a beat that sounds (a little bit) like it's sampling Triggerman! [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbRYBdAv3HU&w=600&h=373] ___ Rap is no surprise really, partly because of the worldwide trend, but also because the most famous rapper of Chadian origin is non other than the one MC Solaar: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-zygf1U1ms&w=600&h=373] Today, it seems that there are nuff home studio recordings by Chadian teenagers, if youtube has anything to say about it. The francophone alignment has historical precedence, folks like Maître Gazonga were making Soukous hits in the 1980's: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvvD9RSp6c8&w=600&h=373] There's also the Arabic language sphere of influence which produced this Auto-tuned wonder set to a propaganda video: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7vdp-mH9XU&w=600&h=373] It's a symptom of the digital age that when finding new music information may be distorted, as Sahel Sounds put so eloquently. This is might or might not be Farge Elhaloani, and he might or might not be a Sudanese singer performing in Chad: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGpEfR3etVU&w=600&h=373] And finally to smooth out your evening... [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEL9Dia0zrg&w=600&h=373]

Independence Day: Côte d’Ivoire

Côte d'Ivoire celebrated their 51st year of independence from France yesterday. Music has played a role in national political identity throughout the country's conflict. I'm sure that it will continue to play a role as the country tries to move on from its recent turmoil. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqsCKlC0xW4 The Ivory Coast in the 70's and 80's had one of West Africa's strongest recording industries, and became a magnet for musicians, especially from what was then Zaire. Congolese Soukous still has a strong influence on Ivorian popular music today. In the 80's Alpha Blondy came on the scene and made the Ivory Coast a Reggae country. Tiken Jah Fakoly continues that tradition today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCmY1lcPvgo But, no other music points to Ivory Coast's national identity in the world today more than Coupe Decale. Of course, with the genius of those like DJ Arafat... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXIZs6Y__NQ and the international appeal of Magic System... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgmD7BDEWTA Zouglou and Coupe Decale have become important touchstones in my own musical life. I hear Zouglou is making a resurgence after being bumped out a little by the more digitally oriented Coupe Decale. To me, Zouglou is one of the best musics to hear live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMRxME_iWbg Also, with distinct styles coming out of camps like the Choco Gangster Rap crew (who we talked about here) and CIAfrica, the Ivorian Hip Hop scene is growing strong as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiznnwPziVo Here's to hoping that this independence can mark a permanent step towards peace and unification in the Côte d'Ivoire.

Princess Fatu

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZriKcTa2YUk&w=600&h=373] Back in the states, I'm going to be able to fulfill my promise to post on Liberian music, and the vibrant growing scene there. I'm publishing another couple of articles for Cluster Mag about it, and am really excited about a compilation Akwaaba Music and I have decided to put together. So keep a look out for those. In the meantime, enjoy this track from John Beadle's African Diva's Compilation Vol. 1. Most of the information on the Liberian music industry available on the web is from artists that were recording before the war and who have since left. Princess Gayflor is one of those artists. Read about her here.

August 3, Niger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adfb17JQYtg Let's celebrate Niger's independence day with a recording of Omara “Bombino” Moctar, whose story of exile -- and return -- speaks to many youth in the country. Along with Rap music: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd3rt3C-RzE&w=600&h=373] that is sometimes danceable... [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIPGzIWK5rU&w=600&h=373] sometimes political... [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1BfvP7Qa5g&&w=600&h=373] and sometimes incorporates tradition. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJCLJlFRaJI&w=600&h=373] Rap group Tchakey hops on the Night Nurse Riddim(!) to talk about freedom of expression. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCXJl1L1xNo&w=600&h=373] Since independence, music from Niger's various ethnic groups that had traditionally been separate, such as the Hausa, Taureg, Berber, Fula, and Songhai started mixing with each other, and with Western sounds like Jazz, Blues, and Reggae giving Nigerien music a distinct feel, a place where North, East, and West Africa meet. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0NuuWJscqg&w=600&h=373] A live performance by Moussa Poussi where Mami Wata, the water goddess gets a roots reggae dedication: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAuYfQCgSQU&w=600&h=373] This great Coupe Decale influenced Hausa song was shared not too long ago on Sahel Sounds: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkVjvbE_ApA&w=600&h=373] Three of the countries top women singers get together for a song with a social awareness message. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1TKKktqkQg&w=600&h=373] Support from The Festival in the Desert, and both upcoming and established Western labels has benefited Nigerien artists such as Etran Finatawa who formed at the festival in 2004... [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NjX1ziHVX8&w=600&h=373] Happy Nigerien Independence Day!

July 26, Liberia

The oldest republic in Africa, Liberia--formed in 1847--celebrates its independence today.  Chances are Dumyarea, the song we wrote about earlier will pump from stereos and in cars, but there's more. Right now you have two major styles Gbema and Hipco (the co is for Colloquial), and sometimes they mix. All of the songs on youtube are a few years old (because that's how long it takes to upload a video from Liberia -- Ha!). Friday the Cellphone Man - Simple Mistake, a previous big hit in the folk style Gbema: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQD5DNaPQ14&w=600&h=373] Monrovia's resident reggae artist Nasseman - Til' We Meet Again: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUGs0rhcwRE&w=600&h=373] Liberia's current number one Hipco artist Takun J - Who Make You Cry: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wP78ccrCok&w=600&h=373] Dream Team - One Man One Cup, a socially poignant, hilarious tune about the way youth are living in Monrovia. (I wrote a post about it here): [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENkAFdD2drY&w=600&h=373] John Bricks - Just Be There: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_8681D3eAg&w=600&h=373] K-Zee's Kountry Chicken (a mix of Hipco and Gbema): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc-_6yKE1lA Number one Liberian R&B artist David Mell does a style he calls Soulco: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp2nZLca_UM And if R&B isn't your thing, there's always the gospel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqaLcXFIHA8

Music Break / Baaba Maal and Duggy Tee

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InHTecgV9_M&w=600&h=373] My Brooklyn neighborhood is a center for Pulaar speakers in the United States. The community has its own association, a significant proportion of the local masjids' membership, and plenty of great restaurants that provide food from countries like Sierra Leone, Guinea, Senegal, and Mali. Baaba Maal and Duggy Tee get together on a track that would make the neighborhood proud.

Baloji on Tour

Baloji is back in North America, and while we're a little late on the draw, you can still catch him in a few cities this summer. Two dates in Quebec (tonight and tomorrow night) and the final show in Los Angeles on July 16th. Here.

'Imagine life without photos'

http://vimeo.com/15038440 A worthwhile project by two Canadian brothers who grew up in 1970s Liberia--it still feels like 25% of the city are expats--to restore photo memory because so many people here don't know what Monrovia looked like before the war. Details.

Music Break

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih4zoQGlOf8&w=560&h=349] Mikey AKA Kesse Babe, from Nigeria's Project Fame reality TV show, comes with a very nice Twi-Pop, Roots Reggae tune. I was able to visit Mikey's studio recently in Accra. The young R&B singer has a great voice and a lot of talent. Keep a look out for more from him.