Afrobeat, rich in its influences from jazz, funk, and rock, has found a home among many performers, offering a unique blend of sounds that captivate and inspire. The challenge of mastering the intricate polyrhythms and the groove that Afrobeat demands is a testament to its appeal, a challenge that seasoned musicians relish. This Christmas, immerse yourself in a global mix of Afrobeat, uncovering new beats that resonate with the soul and stir the spirit.
The Trip
Kuna Matata – The New Mastersounds feat. Troy Howe
A British four-piece band from Leeds, England consisting of Simon Allen, Eddie Roberts, Pete Shand and Joe Tatton. Over the last 16 years, they have issued ten studio albums, two live dates
Ashadwa (Part2) – The Ethiopian Brothers
Afro-beat Vírus – Ifá
Created in Salvador, IFÁ, whose name represents the African oracle is the acronym for the inventive junction between ijexá, funk and afrobeat, is part of a movement that has been giving new meaning to the Bahian instrumental music scene.
Lies – The Afromotive
Based in Asheville, NC, Afromotive is helping to start a new wave of uptempo afrobeat music- fusing West African rhythms, song forms, and instrumentation with funk, improvisation, and straight-ahead dance beats.
Eltsuhg Ibal Lasiti – The Daktaris
The Daktaris were an Afro-beat group on the New York-based funk revival label Desco, recording compact grooves that sounded as though they’d come straight out of 1970s Nigeria. At first, Desco did nothing to discourage that perception, packaging their 1998 album “Soul Explosion” to look like an authentically African collector’s dream, and even giving some of the band members Nigerian aliases. But in reality, the Daktaris were Brooklyn-based studio musicians.
Holder Rytme – Flammer Dance Band
Energized by the funky sounds of 1970´s West Africa Flammer Dance Band go all in on their debut LP. Packed with hip shaking grooves, uplifting vibes, vibrating synths, screaming saxophones and crispy drumbreaks all recorded in a warm and stuffy shack in Oslo, Norway.
Bibinay – The Souljazz Orchestra
From the Souljazz Orchestra album “Solidarity”, featuring Senegalese-Canadian singer, percussionist and songwriter Élage Mbaye.
Golden Dunes – The Budos Band
Two decades of playing together since their early days in Staten Island have resulted in five studio albums, a raucous live show that has taken them across four continents and an unbreakable musical kinship among its nine members. Their sound has evolved since their Afro-soul beginnings, but no matter how many new influences get mixed in over the years, they remain in sync.
Check It Out – Wild Fire
Formed by Oliver “Stompy” Chapman back in 1962 the group was originally named the Sparks. By the disco era Wild Fire were the house band at night clubs like Disco Tracks and the Upper Level. Hot Chocolate’s chief songwriter, Tony Wilson was originally a Trinidadian native and also great friends with Oliver Chapman.
Anbessa – Akalé Wubé
In their 10 years of existence, Akalé Wubé have never stopped widening the canvas onto which they lay their music, which keeps becoming richer and deeper just like their primary source of inspiration: the popular Ethiopian repertoire of the 60s and 70s.
Zorromi – Vaudou Game
Among the fruits of the convergence between African and Afro-American musicians, there is one lesser-known genre that hails from the cradle of vaudou culture in Togo, Benin, and whose key figures, Poly-Rythmo of Cotonou, Dama Damawuzan, or El Rego, have, since the 1970’s, had their popularity confined to afro-groove fans. The idea of integrating these haunting lines, sung in honor of the Divinities, to an energetic 70’s Afro-funk was an obvious extension in Peter Solo’s mind of the analogy he found between this vaudou tradition and trance inducers such as Blues, Funk. The frontman Peter Solo heard this new sound coming through him and named it Vaudou Game.
Leverer Litt Sjel – Flammer Dance Band
Sounds like they are having a lot of fun. Simple, repetitive riffs keep the whole thing grounded and immediate. Landing the space discoship back on earth in the context of a traditional band format, “Flammer” pulses with an organic sound, like a band on stage from jaegeroslo album review.
For us already cult status…
In Circles – Ikebe Shakedown
Seven-piece Afro-soul band Ikebe Shakedown craft their own take on updating the sounds of classic Afro-beat and psychedelic soul, additionally taking influence from Western composers like Ennio Morricone. Funky instrumentals with raw, vintage-sounding production values.
Bulletproof – Orgone, Ikebe Shakedown
Arabesque Breakin’ Suite (Live) – The Mighty Mocambos
German funk band The Mighty Mocambos unleash another sample of their explosive live energy, a 7″ of two brand new tunes recorded straight to 8-track tapeduring JAM PDM! Breakdance Battle at Fabrik Potsdam on February 1st 2020. “Arabesque Breakin’ Suite” on side A is an original instrumental medley written for the occasion and delivers the raw, heavyweight sound that has made The Mighty Mocambos a staple of b-boy battles the world over.
Crisis Point – The Liberators
The Liberators have mixed the ideas from the new generation of African, Latino, European and Ashuri Australians and turned out some seriously heavy and unique grooves and melodies. This 10 piece powerhouse of groove was put together by Dojo Cuts guitarist and producer Nate Goldentone aka Nathan Aust in downtime between gigs and recording. The Liberators are Sydney based.
The Playlist
- Kuna Matata – The New Mastersounds
- Ashadwa (Part2) – The Ethiopian Brothers
- Afro-beat Vírus – Ifá
- Lies – The Afromotive
- Eltsuhg Ibal Lasiti – The Daktaris
- Holder Rytme – Flammer Dance Band
- Bibinay – The Souljazz Orchestra
- Golden Dunes – The Budos Band
- Check It Out – Wild Fire
- Anbessa – Akalé Wubé
- Zorromi – Vaudou Game
- Leverer Litt Sjel – Flammer Dance Band
- In Circles – Ikebe Shakedown
- Bulletproof – Orgone, Ikebe Shakedown
- Arabesque Breakin’ Suite (Live) – The Mighty Mocambos
- Crisis Point – The Liberators
Young bands celebrating Afrobeat. by Funkologie on Mixcloud
We recommend Radio Mukambo is the asylum for those who want to escape the pop/rock/electro dictatorship, a place where you’ll find Afro-grooves from around the world.
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