Music And Arts Scene
African Records Review
African Records Review
By Kwabena Asamoah
HI-LIFE INTERNATIONAL: 'Na Wa For You' (STERNS 1006) 'Na Wa For You' 'Comme çi Comme ça' 'Obrempong Ahyease' 'Harmattan Joy'/'Awo De me' 'Rice-Water'
'Seventeen' 'Come To Africa' After the much-talked about debut 'Music To Wake The Dead' album which has also been released on the American Rounder label, the London- based Hi-Life International closed last year with their debut single whose impact could only be gentle. As if to wake the world up again, they attack the new year with this magnificent new album.Not only is the material stronger but also the music is tighter. The compositions here are almost fairly distributed among the majority of musicians unlike the debut album whose songs were all penned by guitarist Kwabena Oduro-Kwarteng.
To get the feel of it all, it would be a general description to put 'Comme çi Comm ça' into the Zairean soukous mould, 'Na Wa For You', 'Awo De Me', 'Rice Water' and 'Come To Africa' in the hot hi-life slot, 'Obrempong Ahyease' in the slow and gentle hi-life beat and 'Harmattan Joy' in the agbadza vein. But 'Seventeen' penned by trumpeter Stu Hammer (the only non-African in the group) is a neat Western ballad fitted with beautiful orchestration.
Almost all the tracks are meant for the dance floor especially 'Comme çi Comme ça' in which Somo Somo's Fan Fan fits his wicked Zairean guitar solos. 'Obrempong Ahyease' is so gentle that you don't let loose your partner on the floor; you are bound to cling together. 'Harmattan Joy' might coast the tired Osibisa style but guest guitarist Alfred Bannerman's fantastic rock guitar solo makes the track more urgent. You'll, however, find Bannerman's touch of class in 'Obrempong Ahyease'.
'Na Wa For You' is more likely to stand out as 'the track' for its punch and orientation. The horns, drums and the bass guitar stamp colour on to this tune. Don't forget though that 'Rice Water' and 'Come To Africa' can make your party. Check out the album.
KING SUNNY ADE & JOS AFRICAN BEATS: 'Togetherness (Ka Jo Se)' (SALPS 42) 'Ebe La Nbe Eledumare' 'Ida' 'Lu Nise' 'Idunnu Wa Ni' 'Eje Kajo Se'/'Mo Dupre Ore Temi' 'Ojojumo L'Aje Npawo' 'Ere Oge' 'Ariya La Nse'
Even after the end of the contract with Island Records, Sunny Ade and his group continue to supply the industry with strings of records. 'Togetherness (Ka Jo Se)' is one of such strings for the beginning of this year. Both sides of the album comprise of non-stop medleys which make it difficult for the non-Yoruba listener to distinguish between the songs.The A-side begins and ends with a touch of funk and a fusion of juju and other music forms graced by the never- missing Hawaiian guitar. At strategic points there are breaks of guitars, drums and keyboards to fit the style of play.
Side B is not too different from the A-side but is less vibrant. Behind Sunny Ade's voice lies a ray of light vibes which introduce some mellowness into the atmosphere. In spite of the multiplicity of guitars the listener occasionally discerns the individual differences.
On balance the A-side sounds more of a pop sound meticulously designed to entertain while side B is probably meant to be listened to especially if you understand the Yoruba language. I am more inclined towards the A-side.
African Foundation Acts on Ethiopia
Last year was certainly a boom year for live African shows in the U.K., but when the Venue in SW London closed its doors (its lease had expired) later gloom settled on the African music scene. There have been various acts in London and elsewhere but not under one umbrella and at one venue. The happy news now is that the Foundation For African Arts are determined to take up from where the Venue left off last year with a long list of live shows by top African groups invited from abroad.In aid of the Ethiopian famine relief, Afro-Caribbean music, dance and poetry will take place at the Dominion Theatre, Tottenham Court Road, London W1, on Saturday and Sunday April 6 and 7. Doors open at 4pm and close at 11pm. Tickets are £6.50 and £7.50. Advance block booking £11.50 or £12.50 for the two days. All proceeds will go to the purchase of mobile water drilling equipment for the famine-striken Ethiopia. Groups appearing on Saturday are Benjamin Zephaniah, Black Briton, Chucwanze, Dance Company 7, District 6, Ekomé, Instigators, Jah Warriors, Kabbala, Maxi Priest, Misty In Roots, Paula, Uthingo, Beshara, Uprock, Beverly Bell, and Zodiac (body popper champions). Sunday will see Abdul Teejay's African Culture, Abucrush, Aswad (PA), Bionic Rhona, Dade Krama, Blackstones + Instigators, Dace Company 7, Farenji Warriors, Merger, Ösisi Ukwu, Outpatient, Mwana Musa (PA), Prediction, Sandra Reid and Zodiac.
The African show proper kicks off with Kanda Bongo Man (Zaire) + Ekomé, April 11; les Quatre Etoiles (Zaire) + Kabbala + Osisi Okwu, April 18; Mory Kante (Ivory Coast) + District 6, April 25; Ali Baba (Cameroon) + Abdul Teejay's African Culture + Poetry, May 2; Salif Keita and les Ambassadeurs Internationaux (Mali) + Dade Krama + Uthingo, May 9; Souzy Kasseya (Zaire)+ Dudu Pukwana's Zila, May 16.
From the Caribbean angle will appear Kassav (Martinique/Guadaloupe) on May 23 All acts have been confirmed to take place at the Electric Ballroom in Camden Town except Kassav which is yet to be confirmed.
Arrangements are also going on for Diane Solo+ Orchestre de la R.T.I. (Ivory Coast), Redcap James (Ghana) and Ramiro Naka (Guinea Bissau) to appear in June/July. for further information contact the Foundation
