The Mombasa Vikings were the house band of the Mombasa Reef Hotel in the 70s, so called because of the location and due to a…
Tag: Africa
08/02/2019: “Odio Sem Valor” by Pedrinho
The Cape Verde islands have a rich musical heritage, as a result of their mixed heritage of African and Portuguese cultural influences. The label which…
12/01/2019: “Mawethu” by Amampondo
“Mawethu” is traditional South African song. The word means “friends” in Xhosa. The Pondo are a South African ethnic group. They can also be called…
06/01/2019: “Rough Rider” by The Hygrades
The Hygrades are were a Nigerian funk outfit in the 70s headed by Goddy Oku. His instrument of choice is the guitar, and with his…
01/12/2018: “Asante Kwa Wazazi” by George Mukabi
You don’t need an orchestra to make beautiful songs. Sometimes simplicity is the best. George Mukabi, from Kenya, played guitar in a way that combined…
30/10/2018: “Fantastic Man” by William Onyeabor
William Onyeabor is one of those figures in music that both mystify and amaze with their talent and enigmatic nature. Most attempts to piece together…
10/09/2018: “Malukayi” by Mbongwana Star featuring Kinono No.1
The Democratic Republic of Congo is usually known around the world for it’s horrific civil wars and blood diamond mining. But in amongst all the…
08/09/2018: “Tezeta” by Mulatu Astatke
“Tezeta” means “Nostalgia” in Amharic, the main language in Ethiopia. This song evokes that feeling incredibly well. The track takes its name from traditional Ethiopian…
05/09/2018: “Sisini” by Super Biton De Segou
“Sisini”, or “Siseni”, is a song by the most famous national orchestra of Mali. Similar to the other African orchestras featured on this blog, Le…
25/06/2018: “Mbira” by Kevin Volans Ensemble
Kevin Volans is an Irish composer with South African roots. Much of his music provides a synthesis of Western musical culture with traditional African instrumentation…