Africa Needs Africa

Today's Sahel Sounds selection would not exist but for three things:

 

1) the Covid pandemic and subsequent lockdown in 2020;

2) the introduction of Bandcamp Friday; and

3) the rather wonderful 27 Leggies music blog.

Actually, there's a fourth: Sahel Sounds itself would not exist had Christopher Kirkley not been inspired to start a blog in 2009, then a record label before evolving and expanding further to encompass an artist collective, film production house and arts organisation.

 

But, for me, it all kicked off in 2020 with being at home, trying to work (a story in itself) and not annoy Clan K (another story in itself), whilst attempting to preserve my sanity. The blogosphere was incredibly important to the latter. I began to expand my reading and start to engage a bit more with comments and contributions before going full on with this blog by the end of the year.

Along the way, I was - and continue to be - introduced to music from all over the world that I would never have discovered otherwise. Case in point, the Sahel Sounds label, based in Portland, Oregon and promoting music and artists from (deep breath for Wikipedia quote) "northern Senegal, southern Mauritania, central Mali, northern Burkina Faso, the extreme south of Algeria, Niger, the extreme north of Nigeria, Cameroon and Central African Republic, central Chad, central and southern Sudan, the extreme north of South Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia".

 

Of course Ernie, the creator of 27 Leggies, was onto Sahel Sounds several years before, but this Johnny Come Lately picked up on it in the early weeks of the UK lockdown in March 2020 when Ernie highlighted the Bandcamp Friday promotion. 

Since then, I've been getting one of the Sahel Sounds 'name your price' compilations pretty much every other Bandcamp Friday. After taking a break earlier year, the promotion started again last Friday (2nd Sep) and I bought Music From Saharan WhatsApp, released in June. I've a few more to get - Field Recordings From The Sahel and Gao Rap: Hip Hop From Northern Mali, to name two - but with nearly a hundred songs amassed so far, I figured a Dubhed selection was (over)due. 

 

Before I started following Ernie's recommendations on 27 Leggies and then buying the compilations, I'd only heard of one artist on the Sahel Sounds roster, Mdou Moctar. I'm very glad that I've had the opportunity to delve more into his catalogue and also open my mind and ears to the diverse and exciting sounds coming from the Sahel. 

 

Bandcamp Friday will continue for at least the rest of 2022 and I'll be moving onto buying individual artist albums. My bank balance will hate me, my musical brain will love me. Love always wins.

 

Today's title is the name of a 2017 song by King Ayisoba featuring Wanlov The Kubolor & Big Gad. It's not featured on the Sahel Sounds compilations I own, but I've included the video for your viewing and listening pleasure.

 

This one's for Ernie, with heartfelt thanks for the continuing education and entertainment at 27 Leggies.

 

1) Bahouche: Amaria Hamadalher

2) N'Dianguene Demngal Men: Tidiane Thiam

3) Elyn: Jeich Ould Badu

4) Inigradan: Les Filles De Illighadad

5) Waihidjo: Pheno S.

6) Akokass: Abdallah Ag Oumbadougou

7) Girma Girma: Fati Niger

8) Inizgam: Mdou Moctar

9) Taliat: Intriya Ag Babo

10) Iban Mano D'Ikhya: Etran De L'Aïr

11) Africa: King Ayisoba

12) Abandé: Yeli Fuzzo

2010: Ishilan n-Tenere: 9 

2011: Music From Saharan Cellphones: 12

2013: Music From Saharan Cellphones: Volume II: 5 

2016: This is Kologo Power!: 11

2017: Agrim Agadez: 1, 10

2019: Sahel Sounds Label Sampler: 4, 8

2020: Sahel Sounds Label Sampler II: 7

2021: Sahel Sounds Label Sampler III: 2, 6

2022: Music From Saharan WhatsApp: 3

 

Africa Needs Africa (46:08) (Box) (Mega)