Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou - Gbeti Madjro

Here a little "summer present" for all the people who have supported Analog Africa in recent years.
2008 has been a very exciting year and a humbling experience, thank you!!
This video was especially edited by Mario Stahn (from Rockstahn Media in Frankfurt) for Analog Africa using 45 minutes of video material found in various places in Africa. One of them I got in Niamey and shows Orchestre Poly-Rythmo performing Gbeti Madjro in front of "La Voix du Sahel", Niger´s state owned broadcaster.

Zexie Manatsa´s legendary Wedding

For the last three years I have spend most of my time listening and writing about Afro Beat and Afro Funk related music and I have to admit that listening to more traditional African Music by the Green Arrows (and Orchestre Poly-Rythmo) recently has been an incredible breath of fresh air. Their music is deeply anchored in my soul and I´ve come to realize how much that band means to me.

I´ve discovered their music 10 years ago in Harare and I still cant hold my jaw dropping when listening to the way the instruments interact.....it´s absolutely impressive.
I believe it has to be one of the tightest African bands I´ve ever had the chance to hear. (this might sound like a promotional post for the Green Arrows compilation but I have been out of stock for months now and I do not think the demand would justify manufacturing some more....less then 800 copies sold in Europe mind you)

I travelled to Benin in 2005 to met the musician of Orchestre Poly-Rythmo and one of the first thing I did was to offer them my Green Arrows compilation so that they can have an idea of what I was planning to do. Lohento Eskill & Melome clement whom I met again few days later, had spend a whole evening listening to the compilation at Bentho Gustave house and they were astonished by the way the Bass guitar was handled. I heard the same comments from Mulatu Astatke and Roger Damawuzan.

This might be the first time you ever heard of Zexie Manatsa but in Zimbabwe Zexie was a Legend and one of Africa´s most amazing bass player, an instrument he had learned to play on an acoustic guitar. Self taught, Zexie played his instrument in a way I rarely heard before. Some of my friends who study Jazz music at the university of Mainz were saying that he was actually Zig-Zaging between the other instruments notes (Whatever that means) and they couldn´t figure out how he was doing it. After 10 years composing amazing tunes, including some revolutionary tracks for which the band was emprisoned and tortured, Zexie became such an icon that when he decided to get married to Stella, the woman who has been by his side for more then a decade, they though of celebrating the event at Harare´s Rufaro stadium on August 29th, 1979.

In the liners notes for the Green Arrows release I wrote:
"It was one of the most memorable events ever to take place in Salisbury. The festivities took place at the national Rufaro Stadium where a huge concert took place, with some of the most important bands in the country performing in honour of one of the legends of Zimbabwean music. A crowd of people 60.000 (!!?) packed the stadium. As soon as Stella and Zexie made their entrance, Thomas Mapfumo started performing one of his most popular tunes "Africa". Later that afternoon, things started to get out of hand when Tineyi Chikupo & the Mother Band (Picture Below) started playing the song "Sirivia" (Listen Below....a monster hit in Zimbabwe). The crowd became really wild and started tearing fences apart to get closer to the stage. Two people were hospitalised as a result.



Bishop Abel Muzorewa, who was at that time prime minister of Zimbabwe / Rhodesia, and who was campaigning for the forthcoming elections, had made the mistake of organising a political rally on the same day. Muzorewa later blamed Manatsa for the poor attendance. The Daily Mail had a screaming headline on their front page the following day: “Zexie’s Wedding Spoils Muzorewa’s Rally”.

While writing this I wished I could find some picture to document what was going to be published as my first though was that few would believe this story in the first place. Despite trying hard I couldn´t find any (I manage to find a poster advertising the event though).

When the Green Arrows compilation was released in Zimbabwe I´ve organized a Party at Zexie´s place in Glen Norah. Friends as well as people working for the record industry and few journalist were invited. On that day I offered Zexie the wah-wah (Fuzz) pedal he had been asking for (for the last two years) and I very clearly remember the moment I hand it to him.
It had started raining so all the guests were now sitting in the living room, Zexie had passed my present to Stella to Open it, When she realized what it was she started jumping and shouting wah wah wah wah wah wah!!!.....everybody was steering at her not really understanding what was going on. To make explanation easier she just played the track "Bambo Makwatila" (Listen Below) that when things became clear to everyone. Zexie was literally speechless, it was the first time I saw him close to tears and also the first time I saw him kissing his wife (...I might even have a picture of that)

Zexie´s wish was to re-create the typical sound of the Green Arrows mastered by Stanley Manatsa, his late young brother and without doubt Zimbabwe craziest guitarist. Now Stanley´s blood and Talent was running in Tendai´s veins, Zexie Son, who at the age of 21 was already considered one of the best. (few month later he was already doing some amazing stuff with the wah-wah....I had connected him to Chains, Legendary Guitar player and founder of The Acid Band, who showed him how to handle it)

Anyway at the end of the Party Zexie asked me to follow him into his bedroom (sacred place) Stella was sitting on the bed with a picture Catalog on her knees. "There is something we would like to show you" she said. I sat between the two. When she opened the book I could hardly believe my eyes: Pictures of Zexie and Stella in their wedding dresses, walking as if it was the most natural thing in front of a crowd of 60.000 fans........so the whole legend was real, I thought.



TINEYI CHIKUPO & THE MOTHER BAND - Sirivia......LISTEN HERE (Recorded from the original master tape)
THE GREEN ARROWS - Bambo Makwatila..................LISTEN HERE

Analog Africa Selection Vol.1

This mix is to celebrate the release of our compilation "African Scream Contest" which is going to be released in the UK tomorrow, March 17th 2008 and few weeks later in the other territories. I had initially made this mix to promote the crazy Africadelay party in Frankfurt on myspace (www.myspace.com/africadelay) .
The response was such that I decided to make it more accessible via my blog and Julien´s (a.k.a Djouls from Parisdj.com) website where you´ll find a mastered version. The one here is the raw and original one....you now can have both. This is a selection of tracks I found during my last three months trip which took me to five African countries. This is the first Volume....do let me know if you´d want me to carry on. (S)



Fasten your seatbelts then CLICK HERE
Special thanks to Phabao

ANALOG AFRICA No.3 - AFRICAN SCREAM CONTEST

Raw & Psychedelic Afro Sounds
From Benin & Togo 70s
14 tracks compilation available on CD and double vinyl (Release Date March, 2008)

This project initially took off in August, 2005 when I arrived in Cotonou without any special expectations, just hoping to lay my hands on few good records.
What I found in the process cannot really be described in words. This first trip was followed by eight more to the region. Thirty Months and a few thousand Records later Analog Africa is proud to present this compilation which comes with a 44 pages full liners notes and features many rare photographs handed to me directly by the artists.

16 interviews were made and recorded in various cities in Benin & Togo with musicians, producers & sound engineers who kindly offered their support to reconstruct the history of the 70s music scene. Composers gave me a detailed biography, hilarious anecdotes and sometimes the story behind their song. (S)
More infos soon...........to contact me directly: analogafrica@yahoo.com
ALL TRACKS OFFICIALLY LICENSED

1.Lokonon André & Les Volcans - Mi kple Dogbekpo
2.Picoby Band D´Abomey - Mi Ma Kpe Dji
3.Gabo Brown & Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - It´s a Vanity
SAMPLE1 - LISTEN HERE
4.El Rego et ses commandos - Se Na Min
SAMPLE1 - LISTEN HERE
5.Napo de Mi Amor Et Ses Black Devil´s - Leki Santchi
SAMPLE1 - LISTEN HERE
6.Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Gbeti Madjro
7.Roger Damawuzan - Wait For Me
8.Ouinsou Corneille & Black Santiagos - Vinon so Minsou
9.Orchestre Super Jheevs des Paillotes - Ye Nan Lon An
SAMPLE1 - LISTEN HERE
10.Tidiani Kone - Djanfi Magni
11.Discafric Band - Houiou Djin Nan Zon Aklumon
12.Le Super Borgou de Parakou - Congolaise Benin Ye
13.Vincent Ahehehinnou - Ou c´est Lui Ou C´est Moi
14.Les Volcans de la Capital - Oya Ka Jojo


"One of the most satisfying and exciting records of
the year so far."
Music Week

"A thrilling discovery."
The Observer

"An explosive afro-funk collection dripping in the
feel of hot nights in crumbling mud-brick nightclubs."
The Daily Telegraph

"Raucous funk gems from the 1970s."
The Word

"Samy Ben Redjeb has struck black gold here."
Time Out*****

"One of the party albums of the year ... extraordinary
music that mostly never heard in the west."
The Guardian ****

"I can't think of a more invigorating way to start the
day than with this wriggling bag of jagged, ragged 70s
funk."
Songlines ****

"The rawest funk, roughest guitars and squawkingest
saxes."
Mojo ****

"The music lives up to the title: funky electric
guitars, honking saxophones and voodoo rhythms, with
strong influences from soul, highlife and Latin
music."
Evening Standard ****

"Astounding."
Kruger magazine

"Wonderfully eccentric arrangement and tuning ...
Browntastic."
The Wire

"Sterling work."
Observer Music Monthly

"Benin and Togo mixed highlife and nascent Afrobeat
into a psychedelic echo chamber."
Financial Times ****

"An exuberant blend of Cuban, Congolese and high-life
strains, streaked with slithery psychedelic guitar
fills."
The Independent (Independent Music supplement)

"When New York slicksters thought they were at the
centre of the universe - Studio 54, say – these bands
were taking the coolest parts of funk, soul and disco,
reinventing it and, at the same time, transforming
their own music and culture... A lot of the reaction
to West African blues has focused on origins and a
going-back-to-roots, but the groove in Benin and Togo
was far deeper and far more inventive than that."
BBC Music Online

"One funky freak-out of a history lesson."
Straight No Chaser

Charles Rodriguez & His Psychedelic Organ

It took me months to find Charles Rodriguez but I eventually did. "Samy, I found the guy you are looking for..... what his name again?" On the other end of the line the legendary Melome Clement. "We all knew him, he use to hang at our concerts all the time, but i didn't know his name."
About a year earlier I had bumped into a strange looking single. Strange because it was released with a Decca label Sticker but for another label named Alofty Music, which apparently was a shop in Lagos. I had never heard of that Label before and no one in Nigeria had ever heard of that shop...obscurity was total. The two sides of that single are quite similar, while most prefere Side.1 I had fallen in love with the flip Side, "L´amour ne s´achetes pas" (You can´t buy Love) and its amazing Organ Solo (Listen Below)

Melome and myself took a commuter to Ouidah on the very next morning and met the guy that I have been searching for so long. At the entrance a sign board saying "Bar Charlie". A very happy chap, warmly welcomed us:

"You Know Samy, This Bar use to be hot. I am from a highly regarded family so all the heavy guys who wanted a rest in Ouidah, came here for a drink or two. Politicians use to spend their nights sleeping here on the terrace, under the palm trees with their "maitresse". But then everything came to a halt when I had a very severe car accident. I was in a coma for 13 days and had to stay 8 months at Boni hospital. I had saved Three millions CFA, its all gone now. They even cut the light because I couldn't pay my bill."

Charles lived on a very nice parcel of land, on it, two beautiful old houses. He showed us around. We entered one large room painted in a light green, on the ground, carefully laid against the wall, picture frames. Photos of the deceased relatives of the Rodriguez family. In front of the central picture, old brandy bottles, fruits, candles and some other bizarre stuff. I suddenly realize I was in a shrine.



"This is the picture of my grand grand father, Joachin Jacintho Rodriguez, he is buried here. He was a Portuguese trader, he used to ship slaves to Portugal and other european regions. He also had huge lands in Porto Novo, that area is today the center of the town and still carries his name, Jasin. My father was a renown doctor in this region, Fernando Candido Fernandez. We used to be a highly influential family around here so I´m sure you can imagine the reaction when they found out I wanted to be a singer. You will become a dagga smoker, you will be a beggar etc, It was very discouraging. I still believe my family betrayed me. I´m sure that I would have reached something with music.

I started my musical career in ´58 or ´59. At that time Nel Oliver, a friend, was playing with the Daho Jazz Orchestra at the Cheklebo Bar In Cotonou, so I joined him as a vocalist. Few month later I joined a Zairian band, Los Cubano Fiesta which was a Rumba band. We traveled to Lomé in the early 60´s and from there further to Abidjan in the Ivory Coast, I later moved to Accra where I formed a band called Ufredas, I was the bass player. At that time Ignace de Souza and his legendary Black Santiagos were the resident band of the Ring-way Hotel in Accra, I teamed up with them and we moved to Abidjan. I stayed with Ignace till late into the 60s and then decided to come back home. All I found was angry family members telling me "you are the son of the Rodriguez, an Agouda (portuguese ancestry), no no no its not possible, you are spoiling our family's name", this and that."



"I had time to do few more recordings with El Rego before I eventually gave up under the parental pressure. El rego had a club, Le playboy. (when I tell him that he still has it but its now a horehouse - "Un Bordel" - and that El Rego goes there every Tuesday to collect his money, He burst into laughter) Oh really he still has it? I didn't know that. Anyway I did some "chansons Francaises" and he backed me with his band Les Commandos. I was performing with them at the club when I was approached by the owner of the Alofty label based in Lagos. He loved my voice and asked me if I would like to record something for him. I agreed. so we formed a band which were composed of some artist from here and some members of the EKs, a Nigerian band. We practiced for a month and in August ´73 we recorded four Afrobeat tracks which were recorded in a house with a reel to reel recorder. I sang and played the Organ on all four. The music was distributed by Decca"

"In the track "L´amour ne s´achete pas" I´m telling prostitutes to stop drinking and sleeping with men for 2000 or 3000-CFA per day, thats they are wasting their lives. Oh Man, when that song was released I got in all kinds of trouble with the hores of Cotonou, they gave me hard times, but i didn't care..........thats it, that was my last recording." (S)
Charles Rodriguez, Ouidah July 12th, 2006



1.L´AMOUR NE S´ACHETE PAS LISTEN HERE

Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Unreleased Distortion

August 29th, 2005
Its 9-am, I´m in front of the Studio Satel Buildings in Cotonou waiting for Wassi and Rafiou Adisa, sons of Seidou Adisa, founder of the Legendary Albarika Store music Label. I've just paid 120.000CFA, which is the fee for renting the studio for a whole day. I didn't really know what to expect but the guys told me not to worry...."you will be satisfied !!"

They finally arrived with an hour delay, each one carrying a huge bag (the ones that are used to transport rice) full of master tapes. We had few "Fizzy Pamplemouse" and then started transferring the reels onto DAT, with a backing on CD as well. We listened to about 100 to 120 Tracks on that day. Some songs were of no interest, so we quickly skipped those, others were amazing and were directly recorded - I ended up with about 20 songs, half of which will be released in the near future. Most of the tunes were by one of my favorite band, Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou. One song in particular, Se Ba Do, composed by Amoussou William (a traditional singer) and performed by Poly-Rythmo, did get everyone in the Studio Grooving. That track is pure Sato, a traditional rhythm from Benin and probably one of the heaviest beats in Africa.

One 1/4 inch reel tape from 1973 contained 4 tracks that were completely distorted and were eventually re-recorded few month later in Lagos by Albarika and released on 45´s as ASB 97 & ASB 98 - AS stands for Albarika Store, the B (second) was added as there was already a label named African Songs (Lagos) which had the prefix AS.

I´ve had those Songs for a while now and didn´t really know what to do with them, too badly recorded to be released and too good to be forgotten, so I am glad my friends "forced" me to start this blog.

Enjoy unreleased material and...........the Distortion. (S)

1. AHOULI VOU YELLI LISTEN HERE
2. GNON A GNON WA LISTEN HERE