Salif Keita - Celebrating "50 - 70" this summer

Two weeks ago I came across recordings of Salif Keita's concert at this year's Womad Festival, unfortunately the BBC broadcasted only two tracks. So I started searching for more of Salif's supposedly goodbye tour "Celebrating 50 - 70", for 50 years being a musician together with his 70th birthday [on Aug.25].

Salif Keita 50-70 - 2019.Jul.27 at Womad Festival - source: gettyimages

I know that Salif is pretty flexible celebrating the date of his birthday, as in 2009.July I enjoyed a concert of him during which he celebrated his 60th birthday. Fantastic concert by a great band at a marvelous location, the old square on the castle hill in Veszprem, Hungary. So that's why, even some weeks later, I dedicate this post to Salif's 50 years of being a musician and his 70th birthday!
My search for more recordings of this tour was successful, I found Salif's concert at the La Mar de Músicas Festival in Cartagena, Spain, originally broadcasted live by RTVE Radio 3.
Even better at the Festival Salif received the 2019 Festival Award for his whole carreer and his activities to help make our world a better place. After receiving the award from Lucy Duran [!], Salif started with a short acoustic set, followed by concert with his whole band.

Listen to Salif performing "Tassi" on acoustic guitar at La Mar de Músicas:



SALIF KEITA - 2019.Jul.27 at Womad UK BBC

setlist: intro at Womad / 1.M'Bemba / 2.Laban / outro radio
bonus: Road Trip to Mali - by Paul Chandler
bc.2019.Aug.02, BBC Radio3 Music Planet with Lopa Kothari

SALIF KEITA - 2019.Jul.22 at La Mar de Musicas Spain RTVE

part 0: award speeches in Spanish and Lucy Duran speech
part I [acoustic]: 1.Tassi / 2.Gaffou //
part II [with band]: 3.Mama / 4.M'Bemba / 5.Tonton / 6.Yamore / 7.Laban / 8.Mandjou by Mamadou Diabate / 9.M'Bife / 10.Were Were / 11.Tekere / 12.Madan / 13.Salif acapella [cut]
bc.2019.Jul.22 live on RTVE Radio 3 Spain

line-up: Salif Keita (vocals, guitar), Cisse Abou (sequencer), Aminata Dante and Bah Kouyate (backing vocals and dance), Molobaly Kone (percussion), Mory Kante Djessou (guitar), Mamadou Diabate (kora), Oumarou Diarra (drums), Modibo Sissoko (bass) and Soumah Mohamed Lamine and Adonaide Bohui (keyboards)



Salif Keita 2019.Jul.22 solo at La Mar de Músicas Festival in Cartagena, Spain
source: efe.com / Marcial Guillén

Links to more Salif Keita for your enjoyment:

• for his discography the best place is at radioafrica by Graeme Counsel
• Salif Keita - Janjon (1975, scene from film "Den Muso") - youtube
  with balafon by Keletigui Diabate - see mandebala.net
• Salif Keita - 2019.Jan.28 Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris ARTE - arte.tv and youtube
• Salif Keita - 2019.May.05 Vrije Geluiden VPRO.NL [incl.great interview!]
  individual tracks at youtube: Yamore / Tassi / Awa (Gaffou)
• Salif Keita 2019.Jul.22 at La Mar de Musicas - short video report at rtve.es

NEVER EVER FORGET:

"il faut me pardonner - you must forgive me"

Pap Djah's last words before left on his own in the Sahara desert (in Niger)

Shalawambe - 1988.Aug.23 - Peel Session

Hello All, back at the wheel of Mangue Music. Longer break than planned, but during it could score some more music to share with you all. Music that is unfortunately not new K7s, searched and asked at many places, very hard to find, nevertheless expect more concert recordings and some old [still to be digitized vinyl] to appear here in the near future.

Now let's begin again, begin the begin, let's begin again with: Shalawambe from Zambia, a country only featured once here before and again related to John Peel, as it's a session for his BBC Radio 1 show.

I couldn't find any good picture from the band,
so herewith an advert for a Shalawambe K7*
(original 1991 article about Shalawambe published
together with this advert is included in download)

Biography

Hailing from the Copperbelt in the north of Zambia, Shalawambe, a Bemba word and literally meaning "stay behind and gossip", is a 5-piece kalindula band made of three brothers. They are considered one of Zambia's top bands and in 1988 toured Europe with great success. Their style is 'Kalindula,' one of the major genres of Zambian pop music - electric, but with a high traditional content.
When not recording or performing music, the brothers make their living as farmers and can be found working the land. Their beat stands out distinctively as a rich inclusion to Zambia's collection of indigenous music that carries a national identity. This has been achieved through deep research by gifted and highly experienced musicians. Bands such as Shalawambe cannot miss out especially with contributions from band leader Dolenzy Kabwe.
sources: musicinafrica.net/directory/shalawambe [and VA-Zambiance liner notes]

Listen to "Samora Machel" (not the session version!) as played 1990.Jan.15 by John Peel [some writing by John Peel about Shalawambe at the soundcloud page]:



SHALAWAMBE 19880823 - Peel Session BBC

rec.1988.Aug.23 / first bc.1988.Sep.12 / this audio from rpt.1988.Dec.21 [festive fifty, end of the year show with listing of best tracks and sessions]
setlist: 1.Mulemena / 2.Mulamu  / 3.Samora Machel [truly only 3 tracks!]

line-up: Julius Kabwe (drums) / Claudie Kabwe (bass) / Ricky Chota (rhythm guitar) / Dolenzy Kabwe (lead guitar and vocals) / Gerard Bwalanda (keyboards) / Victoria (conga, percussion, backing vocals) / Beatrice (conga, percussion, backing vocals) / Agnes (conga, percussion, backing vocals)

Discography 

1985: Abantu Balafwa - pt.1&2 (7", Zambia, Kariba)
1985: Mulumeleni (7", Zambia, Kariba)
1986: Shalawambe (LP, Zambia, Kariba)
1986: Ka Shimutengu - pt.1&2 (7", Zambia, Kariba)
1987: Mulemena / Samora Machel (12", Zambia, Kariba)
1989: Samora Machel (LP, UK, Mondeca Records ‎#MON.002) - see hollandtunneldive
1989-various: Zambiance! (LP, Globe Style) - at globalgroovers
2006-comp: Best of Shalawambe (Supershine, Zambia)
2016: Kula Umone (Zambia NBC) - acc.local news at daily-mail.co.zm


Note: when searching for info about and pictures from Shalawambe, I came across some interesting articles and newspaper scans [incl.writings by again John Peel], which I all included for your enjoyment in the download

*if anybody has more info about this election K7 and/or some audio of it, please inform me through the comments to this post, I'm VERY VERY interested!!

NEVER EVER FORGET:

"il faut me pardonner - you must forgive me"

Pap Djah's last words before left on his own in the Sahara desert (in Niger)

Diblo Dibala 1992.Jul.19 Kershaw Peel Sessions

Just found the missing track of the 1992.July19 Kershaw Session by Diblo Dibala & Matchatcha.
Therefore today: Maintenant C'est Dansez Dansez!!

Diblo Dibala 1992.May.01 in the Boston Globe

Diblo Dibala, born in 1954 in Kisangani in the Congo (now Zaire), of the Baluba people, is one of the hottest African Soukous lead guitarists around. At the age of 6 Diblo moved to Kinshasa and by the age of 15 he was playing guitar in the great Franco's TPOK band. In Kinshasa, Diblo continued to master his lava-hot guitar chops with such top Zairean bands as Vox Africa, Orchestre Bella Mambo, and Bella Bella.
In 1979 Diblo left Zaire and landed in Brussels where he played a rented guitar and washed dishes to make money. In 1981 he moved to Paris, where the Soukous scene was a happening thing. He rejoined Kanda Bongo Man, who he had played with in Bella Bella. Their first album, Iyole (1981), was a big hit: Kanda became a big star, and Diblo became the most sought-after session man in Paris. Diblo's huge European success with Kanda Bongo Man led to the formation of his own band, Loketo (which means 'hips', as in 'shake your...'), featuring the work of the gifted vocalist Aurlus Mabele. By this time Diblo was the dominant Soukous session man in Paris and he was in great demand. On recordings by such Soukous giants as Kanda Bongo Man and Pepe Kalle you can hear them calling out "Diblo" when guitar solo time comes around. In 1990 Diblo left Loketo to form Matchatcha (which means "a type of flower that produces an itch").--Janet Planet, The African Music Encyclopedia - http://africanmusic.org/artists/diblo.html

John Peel and Andy Kershaw, on learning Diblo was making an appearance at Stern's African Records, raced there to get his autograph. He repaid the compliment by giving name checks to both of them on 'Matchatcha Wetu' (included in the session).

Listen to Bolingo from the session



DIBALA-DIBLO-19920719_Kershaw Peel BBC-rpts


rec.1992.Jul.19 / double session with Kershaw (four on each show) / bc.1992.Aug.08
tracklist Kershaw:  1.Mondo Ry* / 2.Matchacha Wetu* / 3.Bolingo* / 4.Merci Papa*
source: rpt.2018.Sep.10 and 2019.Jan.15, BBC 6music Gideon Coe

After the 1992.Aug.08 Kershaw show, John Peel played the other part of the double session by Diblo Dibala & Matchatcha, this is posted by Sterling Cale on his blog Maggot Caviar

As a bonus to this session I have included the only track I have found so gar of the 2nd Peel Session:
rec.1994.Nov.19 - bc.1995.Jan.14: tracknr.4 Destin (also in earlier post about Diblo)

For more info about Diblo Dibala head over to the Bio by Gary Stewart at rumbaontheriver (incl.selected disco and biblio).

NEVER EVER FORGET:

"il faut me pardonner - you must forgive me"

Pap Djah's last words before left on his own in the Sahara desert (in Niger)

Assa Drame 2004.Apr.18 Kershaw Session BBC

Assa Drame, born in 1976, is a daughter of the famous singer Tata Bambo Kouyate from Mali.


Assa Drame - daughter of Tata Bambo Kouyate (detail of album cover)

In 1992, at the age of 16, she was introduced as singer by her mother with the K7 "Tata Bambo presente sa Fille Assa Drame - Hommage aux Griots". In 2004, at the age of 28, she made her first visit to the UK, during which she did this lovely session for Andy Kershaw. There are several videoclips from some of her songs up on youtube [from 2007 till 2013].

Couldn't find more information about Assa, so here some links to info about her more famous mother [in which Assa is mentioned]:

• www.musicinafrica.net/fr/directory/tata-bambo-kouyat%C3%A9 
• chantshistoiremande.free.fr/Html/tata_bambo_kouyate_disco.php 

Listen to "Sabou - the reason" of the session



ASSA DRAME - 20040418 Kershaw Session BBC

tracklist: intro Kershaw / 1.Sabou - the reason / songs explanation / 2.Kaira - happiness / outro-intro Kershaw / 3.Mande Bourou - voice of the Mande / songs explanation / 4.Iyamba - praises to family / outro Kershaw
line-up: Assa Drame - vocals / Yacouba Sissoko - kora / Makan Tounkara - guitar
broadcast: 2004.Apr.18 BBC Radio 1 Andy Kershaw

Discography of Asse Drame

1992: Tata Bambo presente sa Fille Assa Drame - Hommage aux Griots (K7, Afrique Musique #AM.92002) - listen at youtube
2007/2011: Sabu Nium An (K7/digital, Kalitex Production) - clip of Sabou
2011/2013: Koyoumandon (digital, DMS/Kebe Cheickna) - clip of Fourou

The Four Brothers 1994-2000 Peel Sessions

- happy new year - bonne année - frohes neues jahr - feliz año nuevo -
- boldog új évet - gelukkig nieuwjaar - štastný nový rok - gott nytt år -

A connection to the last post from last year, in the video playlist two live recordings from these four and now two radio sessions.

The Four Brothers 2000.Dec.29 in London (source: flickr album)

In 1977 four musicians from Zimbabwe, Alex Chipaika-Phiri (guitar), Marshal Munhumumwe (drums, vocals and a nephew of Thomas Mapfumo), Edward Matigasi-Ulaya (guitar) and Never Mutare (bass) formed a band and, though not related at all, called themselves The Four Brothers for their first recording. That name was meant to be temporary, but as that first recording, "Mandega", made such an impact, they decided to keep it.
In the following years they made many recordings, many became big hits in Zimbabwe, especially the after independence in 1980. In 1986 the band was approached by Stern's Africa from London to tour Europe, contracts were signed and between 1987 and 1990 the Four Brothers had performed in over ten countries in Europe and even in Canada.
In the UK they became favourites of BBC radio DJs Andy Kershaw and John Peel, who started playing their music regularly and recorded several sessions with them. John Peel and his wife had enjoyed the Four Brothers when visiting Zimbabwe, Peel himself wished that they could play at his birthday party. So his wife secretly organised that to happen on his 50th birthday in 1989 in the garden behind his own house.
In the early 1990s ill fate hit the Brothers, first Chipaika-Phiri and Matigasi-Ulaya died and later Munhumumwe, following a car crash, suffered a stroke and was unable to continue to perform with the band. Replacements were found in Frank Sibanda, Robrum Chauraya and Albert Ruwizhi, so Never Mutare, as the only original bandmamber, could continue to play and succesfully going on international tours as The Four Brothers.
Finally in 2001 Munhumumwe died at the age of 49 and the following year bass guitarist Never Mutare did his very last breath.
In 2016, Marshall Munhumumwe Jr., the son of the founder, decided to join the new Four Brothers/Makombe Brothers band as their manager, to maintain his father's legacy. However, this new band has struggled to gain traction in the music industry due to scepticism from promoters and the public.
summarised from https://www.herald.co.zw/four-brothers-lost-musical-heroes/


Listen to Mberko Yakaramba from the 1994 session



FOUR BROTHERS 1994-2000 - Peel Sessions #3/4


Peel Session #3 - rec.1994.Oct.27 - bc.1994.Dec.09
tracklist: 1.Mbereko Yakaramba* / 2.Takabva Neko* / 3.Tsvaga Hunhu* / [missing 4.Wachiveiko]
line-up: Marshall Ticharwe Munhumumwe - drums / Never Mutare - bass / Robrum Chauraya - rhythm guitar / Frank Sibanda - guitar
source: repeat 1995.Jul.29 in John Peel Show

Peel Sesssion #4 - rec.2000.Sep.06 - bc.2000.Sep.28
tracklist: 1.Vamwene* / 2.Ndibvubamire* / 3.Ndateterera*  / 4.Regai Nditaure*
line-up: unknown
source: broadcast 2000.Sep.28 in John Peel Show

More from and about the Four Brothers

• Peel Sessions #1/2 from 1988/1989 at maggotcaviar
• Several Four Brothers' albums at Global Groovers
• Zimbabwe compilation incl.Four Brothers at likembe
• Good articles by Fred Zindi in the Zimbabwean media through google [best included in download]
• John Peel's Desert Island Disc incl.The Four Brothers - johnpeelarchive [audio of Peel about The Four Brothers in download]
• The Four Brothers ca.1990 live in London: Vimbai / Uchandifunga [with subtitles!]
• Photos of The Four Brothers 2000.Dec.29 at the Africa Centre in London - flickr album 

Disfrutar de su Música! Come Mango Siempre Crudo!!!

Arby Khaira 2018.April interview Bamako - Sahara VPRO [video]

For today, in my humble opinion, the most boring one in 12 months, no audio, but video upload to enjoy [and remember Khaira Arby]




Interview with Khaira Arby made around 2018.April in Bamako
[note: Khaira Arby died, aged 58, 2018.Aug.19 in Bamako]
This is part of the brilliant Sahara series made by Bram Vermeulen for VPRO, in which he travelled from the west coast of Mauretania through Mali, Niger all the way to the east coast of Sudan. Chad wasn't visited and flown over, because it was too dangerous there.
Though there is very little local music in the series, like Khaira Arby, it's HIGHLY recommended by us here from Pays de Mangues.
The series is made for Dutch television, but most of the language spoken is French and English, only sometimes some Dutch or local language, so pretty easy to follow for non-Dutch speakers.

Full info about the series at https://www.vpro.nl/programmas/sahara.html (incl.links to watch the
individual parts: 1.Mauritania / 2.Mali / 3.Niger - Zinder / 4.Niger - Agadez / 5.Sudan)

PS: sometimes the sound (in the VPRO player) is doubled, my solution is to switch the sound in the player off, the 2nd sound remains and is synchrone with the pictures

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And now that we're playing with videos, two playlists for you to enjoy




Uploads by henkrut:
Fatala from Guinee / SeneMali from guess where... Senegal and Mali / Stella Chiweshe live in Germany / Four Brothers live in London

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The very inspiring Fatoumata Diawara with videos about and from her 2018 release Fenfo - Something to Say (videos are provided with subtitles to be switched on)

remember Rachid Taha, Khaira Arby, Kasse Mady Diabate* and Pap Djah together

"il faut me pardonner - you must forgive me"

Pap Djah's last words before left on his own in the Sahara desert (in Niger)

*if you haven't seen yet, check wrldsrv's tribute to Kasse Mady Diabate

*playlist with the by Ngoni recommended videos

Bitori - 2017.Oct.27 WOMEX Katowice

Now a favourite from me, I wanted to post for some time, from a country not featured before here in Mango Land. Had only 4 live tracks and searched for some more, now stop searching and give to you to enjoy, what I collected so far...

Bitori ft. Chando Gracioso (source: culturebox)

LEGENDS OF FUNANA RETURN - Masters of the once forbidden music of Cabo Verde.
When iconic singer Chando Graciosa invited master accordionist Bitori and bass player Danilo Tavares to record a Funana album in Rotterdam in the early '90s, they couldn't have imagined the impact it would have still in the 21st century. 20 Years after the 1997 release of that innovating album 'Bitori nha Bibinha', they were reunited: Prompted by the re-release (2016.Sep) of that record on renowned label Analog Africa, founder Samy Ben Redjeb reached out to the old crew to create a live band, partenring with Kokako Music to take on management and bookings.
At age 79 Bitori is going stronger than ever! An inspiration to many generations, this gaita player continues to baffle both audiences and artists, with his unique technique, energy and style.
Now, with an all star line-up, they are touring the globe, sharing their exhilarating, refined yet raw, infectious dance music of 'Funana':
Complimented by the veteran Toy Paris on drums and multi instrumentalist Miroca Paris on percussion (12 years with Cesaria Evora), the band has already wowed crowds, made them dance and celebrate life.
-- from womex promo: https://www.womex.com/virtual/kokako_music/bitori_ft_chando 


Listen to Bitori Nha Bibinha live at Womex 2017



BITORI 2017.Oct.27 at WOMEX in Katowice [rec.RTP-VPRO]

setlist: 1.Bitori Nha Bibinha / 2.Cabelo / 3.Futi Futi / 4.Didi di Rez
1-2: bc.2018.Mar.16, RTP - Raízes *
3-4: bc.2018.Aug.11, NPO Radio S&J - VPRO Vrije Geluiden

line up: Bitori (Victor Tavares) - accordion / Chando Graciosa - lead vocals, ferro / Danilo Tavares - bass, vocals / Miroca Paris - percussion, vocals / Toy Paris - drums, vocals

bonus: Bitori - Funnana (2015.Apr.18 live from Atlantic Music Expo - AME)
bc.Radio 3 from Spain - 2015.Apr.18 - Taratana - Cabo Verde

*RTP - Raizes [=roots] highly recommended radio show, regularly playing live shows recorded all over Europe, and with an extensive archive, CHECK IT OUT!! (unfortunately coudn't find playlists)

More Bitori to listen, watch and read about:

• News from 2016.May.28 about release - mixedworldmusic [incl.2 old 2008/2010 videos] 
• Very good 2017 interview with Bitori - pan-african-music [incl.nice pics and short live videos]Womex 2017 - Field Report by Tom Pryor - afropop
• Bitori in concert at Festival Banlieues Bleues 2017 - video (available till 2019.Apr.23)
• Bitori at VPRO Vrije Geluiden - TV show of above VPRO radio show [incl.3 videos] 

NEVER EVER FORGET:

"il faut me pardonner - you must forgive me"

Pap Djah's last words before left on his own in the Sahara desert (in Niger)