New African Music

Album Releases 2020

Month – December 2020
Artist –  Hallelujah Chicken Run Band (Zimbabwe)
Title – Take One (Vinyl only)
Label – Analogue Africa
Genre – Chimurenga/Shona/Funk/afrobeat

Month – November 2020
Artist –  Kandiafa (Mali)
Title – Planting Trees
Label – Sans Commentaire
Genre – Blues/Folk/traditional/Ngoni

Month – November 2020
Artist – Les Mamans du Congo & Rrobin (Congo/France)
Title – Les Mamans du Congo & Rrobin
Label – Jarring Effects
Genre – Electronic/hip-hop

Month – November 2020
Artist – The Omniversal Earkestra  (Germany/Mali)
Title – Le mali 70
Label – Trikont
Genre – Jazz

**ALBUM OF THE MONTH**
Month – November 2020
Artist – Star Feminine Band (Benin)
Title – Star Feminine Band
Label – Born Bad Records
Genre – Beninese sato/ highlife/garage rock/Congolese rumba

Month – November 2020
Artist – Bombino (Niger)
Title – Live in Amsterdam
Label – Partisan Records
Genre – Desert Rock/Blues/Tuareg

Month – November 2020
Artist – Farees
Title – Border Patrol
Label – Rezarts Prod
Genre – Tuareg Rock/Blues

Month – November 2020
Artist – Faratuben (Mali/Denmark)
Title – Sira Kura
Label – Sounds of Subterrania
Genre – Fusion/Bobo/Rock/Soul

Month – October 2020
Artist –  Lucas Nwananga and His Band (South Africa/UK)
Title – Back to Soweto
Label – Umsakazo Records
Genre – Jive/ Mbaqanga/Soweto 

Month – November 2020
Artist – Ausecuma Beats (Senegal/Mali/Australia)
Title – Ausecuma Beats 
Label – Music in Exile
Genre – Afrofusion/Afrobeat/Jazz

Month – October 2020
Artist – Songhoy Blues (Mali)
Title – Optimisme
Label – Transgressive
Genre – Desert Blues/Songhoy/Rock

Month – October 2020
Artist – Glasgow African Balafon Orchestra
Title – Jungle Fever
Label – Glasgow African Balafon Orchestra
Genre – Afrojazz

Month – October 2020
Artist – Maalem Mahmoud Gania (Morocco)
Title – Aicha
Label – Hive Mind
Genre – Gnawa

Month – October 2020
Artist – Kaito Winse (Burkina Faso)
Title – Kaladounia
Label – Rebel Up! Records
Genre – Traditional/Spiritual/

Month – September 2020
Artist – Bantu (Nigeria)

Title – Everybody Get Agenda
Label – Soledad Productions (Broken Silence)
Genre – Afrobeat/Funk/Jazz

Month – September 2020
Artist – Dandana (Netherlands/Senegal/The Gambia)
Title – Free the system
Label – Rebel Up! Records
Genre – Afrofuturist

**ALBUM OF THE MONTH**
Month – September 2020 Artist – Sidi Touré (Mali) Title – Afrik Toun Mé Label – Thrill Jockey Records Genre – Desert Blues/Folk /Rock

Month – September 2020
Artist -Flem, feat. Vieux Farka  Touré & Amy D (Mali)
Title – Nomades
Label – Enzo Productions
Genre – Rap/Desert Blues/Rock

Month – September 2020
Artist – Supergombo (France)
Title – Sigi Tolo
Label – Z production
Genre – Afrofunk/jazz/Afrobeat

Month – September 2020
Artist – Ali Farka Touré (Mali)
Title – The Red Album ( Red vinyl resissue)
Label – World Circuit/BMG
Genre – Desert Blues

Month – September 2020
Artist – Afel Bocoum (Mali)
Title – Lindé
Label – World Circuit Records
Genre – Desert Blues/Traditional

Month – September 2020
Artist – Orchestra Baobab (Senegal)
Title – Specialists in all Styles – (Reissue 50th Anniversary LP)
Label – World Circuit Records
Genre – Afro/Latin

Month – September 2020
Artist – Various (Mali)
Title – Rough Guide To Urban Mali
Label – World Music Network
Genre – Rap/HipHop/RnB/Electronic 

Month – September 2020
Artist – Zonke Family (Zimbabwe)
Title – At the Studio
Label – Lokalophon
Genre – Matepe/Mbira/Traditional

Month – August 2020
Artist – Mystic Mbira Music duo – Chartwell Dutiro & Jori Buchel (Zimbabwe/Netherlands)
Title – Musumo
Label – 
Genre – Traditional/Mbira

Month – August 2020
Artist – Baba Sissoko (Mali)
Title – Mali Music Has No Borders (feat. Mediterranean Blues)
Label – Caligola Records
Genre – Blues/Reggae/Traditional

Month – August 2020
Artist – Modou Touré (Senegal)
Title – Touki
Label – ARC
Genre – Afrobeat,/pop/rock/funk

Month – August 2020
Artist – The Cavemen (Nigeria)
Title – Roots
Label – 
Genre – High Life

Month – July 2020
Artist – Invisible System (Mali/UK)
Title – Ambiences in Mali
Label – Harper Diabate Records
Genre – Ambient/Chill/ Field recordings

Month – July 2020
Artist – Invisible System (Mali/UK)
Title – Bamako Moon
Label – Harper Diabate Records
Genre – Traditional/Blues/
Electronic/Fusion

Month – July 2020
Artist – Lingo Seini et son groupe (Niger)
Title – Musique Hauka
Label – Sahel Sounds
Genre – Traditional/Ritual

Month – July 2020
Artist –  Kutiman (Israel)
Title – Wachaga
Label – Siyal Music
Genre – Funk/Afrobeat/Afro-futurism/Jazz

Month – July 2020
Artist – Alhousseini Anivolla and Girum Mezmur (Niger/Ethiopia)
Title – Afropentatonism
Label – Piranha
Genre – Ethio Jazz/Desert Blues/Fusion

Month – July 2020
Artist –  Keleketla! (Global Collaboration)
Title – Keleketla!
Label – Ahead of Our Time
Genre – Afrobeat/Electronic

Month – June 2020
Artist – Humphries Kantazi
(Malawi/UK )
Title –  Malawi
Label –  
Genre –  Folk/Soukous

Month – June 2020
Artist – Batch Gueye
(Senegal )
Title – In This New Land
Label –  
Genre –  Folk/Blues

Month – June 2020
Artist – Sanatana Mongoley
(DR Congo )
Title –  Legendary
Label –  
Genre –  Rumba/Soukous

Month – June 2020
Artist – Bantou Mentale
(DR Congo )
Title –  Congo Animal
Label –  Glitterbeat Records
Genre –  Afro Futurist/Electronic

Month – June 2020
Artist – Vusa Mkhaya
(Zimbabwe)
Title –  UMANYANYATHA – Songs from the Soul of Zimbabwe
Label –  ARC Music
Genre –  Pop/Blues/Folk

Month – June 2020
Artist – Milégé
(Uganda)
Title – Afwoyo
Label –  Naxos World Music
Genre –  Jazz/Funk

Month – June 2020
Artist – Oumou Sangaré
(Mali)
Title – Acoustic 
Label –  Nø Førmat
Genre –  Wassoulou/Folk

Month – June 2020
Artist –  Ssewa Ssewa
(Uganda)
Title –  NVA K’LA
Label –  ARC Music
Genre –  Pop/Blues/Folk

Month – June 2020
Artist – Afriquoi
(UK/Africa)
Title – Time is A Gift Which We Share All The Time
Label – Mawimbi Records
Genre – Dance/Electronic/Afro Fusion

Month – June 2020
Artist – Bab L’ Bluz
(Morocco/France)
Title – Nayda!
Label – Real World Records
Genre – Gnawa/Blues/Rock/

Month – June 2020
Artist – Groupe RTD
(Djibouti)
Title – The Dancing Devils of Djibouti
Label – Ostinato Records
Genre – jazz/funk/reggae

Month – June 2020
Artist – Bandé-Gamboa
(Guiné-Bissau /Cabo Verde)
Title – Horizonte – Revamping Rare Gems from Cabo Verde and Guiné​-​Bissau
Label – Heavenly Sweetness
Genre – 

Month – June 2020
Artist – Michael Olatuja
(Nigeria/UK)
Title – Lagos Pepper Soup
Label – Whirlwind Recordings
Genre – Jazz/Afropop/Funk

Month – June 2020
Artist – Siti Muharam
(Zanzibar)
Title – Siti of Unguja (Romance Revolution On Zanzibar)
Label – On the Corner 
Genre – Taarab

Month – June 2020
Artist – Etuk Ubong
(Nigeria) 
Title – Africa Today – Night Dreamer Direct​-​To​-​Disc Sessions
Label – Night Dreamer
Genre – Afrobeat/Highlife /Jazz

Month – May 2020
Artist – Les Frères Smith
(France) 
Title – Mutation
Label – Amour and Son ‎
Genre – Afrobeat/Ethio Jazz/Funk

Month – May 2020
Artist – Y-Bayani & Baby Naa And The Band of Enlightenment, Reason & Love
(Ghana) 
Title – Nsie Nsie
Label – Philophon
Genre – Reggae

Month – May 2020
Artist -Aroudaini
(Niger) 
Title – Amidinin
Label – N/A
Genre – Tuareg/Desert Blues

Month – May 2020
Artist – Fadhilee Itulya
(Kenya) 
Title – Kwetu
Label – Naxos records
Genre – Pop/Traditional

Month – May 2020
Artist – Babani Koné
(Mali)
Title – Babani Koné
Label – Discograph
Genre – Griot/Traditional

Month – May 2020
Artist – Edikanfo
(Ghana)
Title – The Pace Setters
Label – Glitterbeat
Genre – Highlife/Funk

Month – May 2020
Artist – Touki
(Senegal/USA)
Title – Right of Passage
Label – 
Genre – Folk/Blues/Kora

Month – May 2020
Artist – Mama Sissoko
(Mali)
Title – Soul Mama
Label – Sans Commentaire
Genre – Folk/Soul/Blues/Traditional

Month – May 2020
Artist – Various
(Africa)
Title – Africa Airways Six (Mile High Funk 1974 – 1981)
Label – Africa Seven
Genre – Funk/Disco

Month – May 2020
Artist – Tidiane Thiam
(Senegal)
Title – Siftorde
Label – Sahel Sounds
Genre – Acoustic/Folk/

Month – April 2020
Artist – Al Bilali Soudan
(Mali)
Title – Tombouctou
Label – Clermont Music
Genre – Takamba/Tehardent/Traditional

Month – April 2020
Artist – Damily
(Madagascar)
Title – Early Years: Madagascar Cassette Archives
Label – Bongo Joe
Genre – Taspiky Toliara

Month – April 2020
Artist – Gnawa Youmala
(Morocco/France)
Title – Douyna
Label – Global Sonics
Genre – Gnawa/Fusion

Month – April 2020
Artist – Fra Fra
(Ghana)
Title – Funeral Songs
Label – Glitterbeat
Genre – Traditional/Folk

Month – April 2020
Artist – Batch Gueye
(Senegal/UK)
Title – Do you hear me?
Label – Batch Gueye
Genre – Folk/Acoustic/Dance

Month – April 2020
Artist – Kadialy Kouyate
(Senegal/UK)
Title – Nemo
Label – KKSoundarchive
Genre – Folk/Blues/Kora

Month – April 2020
Artist – Santrofi
(Ghana)
Title – Alewa
Label – Outhere Records
Genre – Hi- Life/Hiplife/Afrobeat

Month – March 2020
Artist – Jabel Kanuteh & Marco Zanotti
(Gambia/Italy)
Title – Freedom of Movement
Label –
Genre – Jazz/Kora/Mande

Review

Month – March 2020
Artist – Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno
(Kenya/UK)
Title – Tipona
Label – Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno
Genre – Traditional/Benga/Nyatiti

Month – March 2020
Artist – Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela
(Nigeria/South Africa)
Title – Rejoice (LP)
Label – World Circuit Records
Genre – Afrobeat/jazz

Month – March 2020
Artist – Awale Jant Band
(Senegal/UK)
Title – Yewoulen (Wake Up)
Label – ARC Music
Genre – Afrobeat/Soul/Jazz/Funk

Month – March 2020
Artist – Tamikrest
(Algeria/Mali/Niger/France)
Title – Tamotait
Label – Glitterbeat
Genre – Desert blues /Tuareg 

Month – March 2020
Artist – Agbeko
(U.K)
Title – DOD
Label – N/A
Genre – Afrobeat/Ethiojazz 

Month – March 2020
Artist – Bela Fleck & Toumani Diabate (USA/Mali)
Title – The Ripple Effect
Label – Craft Recordings
Genre – Fusion/Banjo/Kora

Month – March 2020
Artist – Bela Fleck & Toumani Diabate (USA/Mali)
Title – Throw Down Your Heart
Label – Craft Recordings
Genre – Fusion/Banjo/Kora

Month – March 2020
Artist – Hailu Mergia
(Ethiopia/USA)
Title – Yene Mircha
Label – Awesome Tapes from Africa
Genre – Ethio-jazz/Soul

Month – March 2020
Artist – Onipa (Ghana/UK)
Title – We No Be Machine
Label – Strut
Genre – Dance/Jazz/Roots

Month – March 2020
Artist –  Jola (Morroco/Belgium)
Title – Jola
Label – Muziekpublique
Genre – Gnawa

Month – February 2020
Artist –  Danyèl Waro (La Réunion)
Title – Tinn Tout
Label – Cobalt/Buda Musique
Genre – Maloya

Month – February 2020
Artist – Tabansi Studio Band (Nigeria)
Title – Wakar Alhazai Kano / Mus’en Sofoa
Label – BBE
Genre – Afrobeat/ Igbo/Hausa

Month – February 2020
Artist – Various (Burkina Faso)
Title – Kparr Dirè – Balafon Music from Lobi Country 
Label – Mirror World Music
Genre – Traditional

Month – February 2020
Artist – Ali al-Abady and Otaak Band  (Egypt)
Title – Dunya al​-​Ushaq
Label – Mirror World Music
Genre – Acoustic Folk/ Traditional

Month – February 2020
Artist – Antibalas
(USA)
Title – FU Chronicles
Label – Daptone Records
Genre – Afrobeat

Month – February 2020
Artist – Various
(Nigeria)
Title – Apala Groups in Nigeria 1967-70
Label – Soul Jazz Records
Genre – Apala

Month – February 2020
Artist – Sibusile Xaba
(South Africa)
Title – Niwu Shwabada
Label – Komos Jazz
Genre – Maskandi/Folk/Jazz

Month – February 2020
Artist – Majid Bekkas
(Morroco)
Title – Magic Spirit Quartet
Label – ACT
Genre – Fusion/Jazz/Gnawa

Month – January 2020
Artist – Various Artists
Title – LÉVE LÉVE Sao Tomé & Principe sounds 70s​-​80s
Label – Bongo Joe
Genre  – Puxa/Semba
/Merengue/Kompas, Soukous

Month – January 2020
Artist – Katawa Singers
Title – Ufulu 1991​-​1997
Label – 1000HZ
Genre  – Gospel

Month – January 2020
Artist -Les Amazones D’Afrique
(Pan African Collaboration)
Title – Amazones Power 
Label – Real World Records
Genre – AfroPop/Funk/Blues

Month – January 2020
Artist – Arat Kilo
(France/Ethiopia)
Title – Afrobeat (Parigo N30)
Label – Parigo
Genre – EthioJazz/Afrobeat
/Jazz/Dub