Back to Africa: The New World Afro-Diaspora Roots of Modern African Music

[Yehuda]

Kuduro

Kuduro, which translates as "hard ass", began in Luanda, Angola in the late 80s. Initially, producers sampled traditional carnival music like zouk and soca from the Caribbean and semba from Angola and laid this around a fast 4/4 beat. Soon after its commencement, the genre was imported to the suburbs of Lisbon via African immigrants. The scene in Lisbon is probably now more thriving than in kuduro's birthplace.

Scene and heard: Kuduro

[...] Kuduro began in Luanda, Angola’s capital city, as far back as the late ’80s, when African producers trying to make techno and house invented something entirely new. They sampled traditional carnival music like zouk from the Caribbean, as well as semba and kilapanga from Angola, arranging the sounds around a basic 4/4 kick drum. Soon MCs were rapping over the beats and its popularity spread. Kuduro arrived almost immediately in Portugal via Angolan immigrants [...]

Video/Gen F: Buraka Som Sistema, “Sound of Kuduro”

 

[IllmaticDelta]

Can't see but is Tilahun (?) Gessese mentioned there?

not in those articles he wasn't

 

[315]

Good stuff fellas. Around '05 I became obsessed with afrobeat listening
to cats like Fela and Onyeabor, finding a bunch of their stuff on vinyl.
I won't say how much I spent on some of those

I think I have all but Mulatu's latest album on vinyl too. Huge fan

 

[IllmaticDelta]

Also around that time came President Kennedy’s landmark inauguration of a program that would forever change the cultural course of Ethiopians. His Peace Corps initiative led a large influx of American college students into the region of Addis Ababa. By virtue of the distinctly modern character it acquired through such intermingling, the neighborhood assumed the new identity of “Swinging Addis”, a hip and progressive community where music reigned supreme. The youth touted the latest fashion, decked out in bell-bottoms and miniskirts and sporting huge ‘fros and beehives. Motown records were the hottest commodity, and the Addis youth quickly befriended Americans who helped import their musical fix. Soon after, Ethiopian youths inspired by such Stax legends as Marvyn Gaye and James Brown concocted their own special brew of Ethiopian pop and soul.

Swinging Addis' -- a film about the rise and fall and redemption of a group of spectacular Ethiopian Jazz musicians who in the swinging 60′s ignited an explosive cultural revolution in Addis Ababa. Their music was sublime but this golden era was brought to an end by the military regime that took over the country and forced the musicians into exile and jail. Now, after many years, they are back
on a world stage, making up for lost time and still swinging. Swinging Addis is the Ethiopian 'Buena Vista Social Club'...but with a dose of sex, tedj and rock and roll.

The project is to be directed by veteran filmmaker Henrique Goldman and co-produced by Superplex Pictures and Mango Films. We are working with Francis Falceto, producer of the Ethiopiques series as a consultant, as well as Ethiopian stars Mulatu Astatke, Alemayahu Eshete, Mahmoud Ahmed, Getatchew Mekurya, Tsegue Maryam Guebro, The Ethiopian Television Archives, Ethiopian Film Initiative, Gem TV, The Yared Music School Addis and top cinematographer Luca Bigazzi. We are in the advanced stages of development and are currently seeking finance for the film. Please get in touch for more details.

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

(Ethio-Jazz ?)

 

[NYC Rebel]

British Nigerians are so corny. I can't believe the levels they grew up being ashamed of their heritage in the UK

Not to say that it was easy here if United States, but it was always a lot more accepted here than over there

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

Assouf (An emerging genre of Guitar-Driven Tuareg Music)

Its lyrics evoke much the same problems and feelings that Tinariwen sang about more than 30 years ago when they invented the style often referred to as “guitar” or “assouf” by the Tuareg themselves, and “desert blues” or “Tuareg guitar” by the rest of the world. The predominant emotion is assouf, meaning loss, longing, homesickness, or “the pain that is not physical”. It’s a word that encapsulates all that the Tuareg once had, but since have lost. No word is more prevalent in modern Tuareg music and poetry.

 

[BigMan]

British Nigerians are so corny. I can't believe the levels they grew up being ashamed of their heritage in the UK

Not to say that it was easy here if United States, but it was always a lot more accepted here than over there

From what I've observed from twitter, a lot of Nigerian kids would "act jamaican" to be accepted

 

[BigMan]

Assouf (An emerging genre of Guitar-Driven Tuareg Music)

Is this diasporic influence?

 

[NYC Rebel]

From what I've observed from twitter, a lot of Nigerian kids would "act jamaican" to be accepted

I watched some independent film showing that. I also read an article where some Nigerians there said that because of Afro beat it's the first time they are proud of their heritage. I'm sorry, but Nigerian Brits have always been corny to me. Even my uncles back home clown them. One of them said "I'm glad your father raised you in the US. You're not like the one to come back from The UK. Wearing shirts and ties, don't know how to do anything."

 

[BigMan]

I watched some independent film showing that. I also read an article where some Nigerians there said that because of Afro beat it's the first time they are proud of their heritage. I'm sorry, but Nigerian Brits have always been corny to me. Even my uncles back home clown them. One of them said "I'm glad your father raised you in the US. You're not like the one to come back from The UK. Wearing shirts and ties, don't know how to do anything."

Idk but based off Twitter there seems to be some Caribbean vs African resentment in the UK

 

[IllmaticDelta]

(Ethio-Jazz ?)

yeah, you could place him within that style

 

[Afrodroid]

Kuduro



Scene and heard: Kuduro



Video/Gen F: Buraka Som Sistema, “Sound of Kuduro”

Some years ago here in Brazil they made a novel with this kuduro dance.

The theme quickly reached the top spots on local hit charts

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

(Afrobeats)


(Afrobeats)


(Afrobeats)


(Afrobeats)

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

Is this diasporic influence?

Definitely. Although the Blues were influenced by Sahel musical stylings, modern Assoufa music has received influences from blues/blues-inspired guitar music chiefly from America and Britain. Tinariwen (the forerunners of this genre) names Santana, Led Zeppelin and Hendrix among others as influences. Zeppelin basically stole their music from old Afro-blues artists. Santana is heavily influenced by Afro-American music. Hendrix, is well, Hendrix. Although Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Howling Wolf were inspirations for him.