"Something New in Africa" podcast

This is a 40 minute radio programme on African popular music that I made a while ago. There's mention of Highlife [around 5 mins in] and South African music [around 6 mins and 19 mins in], and lots of other stuff that hopefully will interest you. Some of the technical quality leaves something to be desired as I was a novice. Enjoy!

Something New in Africa podcast

Ghanaian Highlife

Starting with a Nigerian (!) demonstration of bell and shekere playing, formidable and including a sponge. Then traditional drums played by Mustapha Tettey Ade. The talking drum in an ensemble and Sammy Odoh demonstrating palm wine guitar complete the Ghanaian ingredients of Highlife.

Put together with a big band influence in the 50s and 60s E.T. Mensah was one of the pioneers of the highlife band, as in the 1960’s freedom anthem Ghana Freedom and All For You. 

Highlife had its height in the 80s with bands such as Orchestre Jazira in London, and Bessa Simons. Since the 90s the popular music coming out of Ghana has been more studio based, the term hiplife describing tracks such as this remix of Kwabena Frimpong’s highlife track by Omanhene Pozo.

Guitarist Alfred Bannerman performs with Konkoma around London, and Ghanaian singer Richmond Kessie’s band Yaabafunk is performing on 25th May at the Hootenanny, Brixton.

Watch this page for the upload of my radio programme on African music.

Samba

Good view of fancy tamborim and relentless surdo on Brazilian carnival. Lots of carnival atmosphere Carnival  and more tamborim, including ‘South Afric…’ at 2.15. Samba Enredo several rhythms including samba reggae.

Details of how to join the London School of Samba or the Paraiso school of samba

Watch bits of the film Black Orpheus for samba: 4.00-4.30, 3.30-6.00. And the  track Manha de Carnival from this film demonstrating the morphing of Samba to the slower Bossa Nova feel.

The Gal Costa is the O Orvalho song in the key of the music attached. 

Plus simple arrangement plus original with a clarinet.

 
Alcione here is singing a samba song with some kind of accordion?
Finally, Caetano Veloso is playing at the Barbican this month, and here is performing with Gal Costa. Listen to Gal's entry at 1.10.