Music

Music that is Making my Life Better

by phil August 9, 2011 Cote D'Ivoire
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On the coast of Cote d’Ivoire, in Abidjan, you can go to a nightclub and dance to coupé-décalé till morning. It is possibly the most frenetic dance music on earth. Get in sync with it and your definition of human movement will change forever (see Dj Arafat’s “kpangor pour bouger” or this dance video of [...]

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The Live Music Capital of West Africa

by phil June 20, 2011 Mali

Where I’m from, tomorrow is the longest day of the year. The sun will crawl to the horizon and some people will enjoy a light-filled evening of pleasant temperatures, cocktails, crickets, frogs. Others will hide from tornadoes and many may actually try to put their heads inside of an air conditioner. Here, the sun falls [...]

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Music in West Africa: Senegal Part II

by phil April 27, 2011 Music
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Previously, Mali: Part I, Part II, Part III, and Part IV. Senegal: Part I More jams from Senegal. Some really good ones in fact. Nothing groundbreaking in rhythm, instrumentation or arrangement, but vocal abilities bordering on inhuman. Before I get into it, a quick stop in Ghana for Okyeame Kwame’s latest hiplife tune: “faithful” The [...]

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Music in West Africa: Senegal Part I

by phil March 16, 2011 Music
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Previously, I covered Malian music: Part I, Part II, Part III, and Part IV. In April, I will visit Senegal for the first time. While it will be my first trip there, I have long been familiar, and occasionally obsessed with, Senegalese music. The dominant genre in Senegal is Mbalax, a blend of traditional polyrhythms [...]

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Music in West Africa: Mali Part IV

by phil February 14, 2011 Mali

Last one on Mali. If you need to get caught up: Part I, Part II, and Part III. The previous post took us to the far north of Mali. This post is not regionally based. Here you will find a few artists that I didn’t fit in earlier. Boubacar Traore Boubacar “Kar Kar” Traore was [...]

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Music in West Africa: Mali Part III

by phil February 8, 2011 Mali
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See Parts I and II for more great music from Mali. This is the last post of the series featuring music from Mali. A few more gems from Northern Mali and then it will be on to Senegal. I think. Maybe. I realize that I have not mentioned Boubacar Traore, Salif Keita, or Baba Salah. [...]

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