AZIZ SAHMAOUI: MAZAL (MOROCCO)
Morocco’s Aziz Sahmaoui and his West African University of Gnawa bring together sounds of the Sahara with sounds of the Western Coast of Africa on the latest release, Mazal. Born in Marrakech, he is a master on the “N’goni” but plays the mandole and offers Arabic vocals. At the tender age of 14, he formed his first group and intensified his learning of string instruments. Gradually, he became familiar with instruments like the bass, flamenco guitar, sax, flute, tar, violin, daw daw, rhodes, kora, and percussion.
In 2010, he recorded his first solo album with his new band ‘University of Gnawa’ directed by producer, Martin Meissonier. The band consists of five members including Aziz. The other members are Alune Wade (bass), Cheik Diallo (kora, keyboards), Herve Samb, William Pihet (percussion) and Amar Chaoui (percussion).
“Mazal” is a song that contains smooth rhythms of an Arabic and almost Middle Eastern nature that still retains a North or West African presence. The melodies are very intricate, ear-friendly, and captivating in a very good way.
GANGBE BRASS BAND: YORUBA (BENIN)
Drawing its inspiration from the musical heritage of Benin, Gangbe Brass Band explores the rich religious culture and ancient songs of their country and combines them with jazz melodies to produce an innovative contemporary genre.
The band’s songs, which deal with everyday life in Benin, are primarily sung in indigenous languages as well as in French. Formed in 1994, the 10-member Beninese musical has four albums to their credit, thereby promoting the originality of African music around the world, as demonstrated by their acclaimed performances in England, Italy, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, La Reunion, and the US.
The word “Gbangbe” means “sound of metal” in the Fon language, and the band promotes the originality of the music of Benin combining an original mixture of jazz and Benin traditional music: voodoo rhythms (Sato, Zinti, Ogbon) and songs in local languages (Yoruba, Fon Goun).
They sing in vernacular about life in general, political injustices and the tribulations of women. All these are reflected in their song, ‘Yoruba.’
IRENE NAMATOVU: OKUZAALA KUJAGAANA (UGANDA)
Ugandan artiste and wife to singer, Geoffrey Lutaaya, Irene Namatovu, is known by her fans in her country home as a counselor. This is due to the kind of music she makes and the message contained in them. Her love for music grew when she started singing and performing traditional songs at the age of 13 while still in school. She saw the need to make “Eggono” (traditional rhyming and melodious songs) and decided to give it a try.
With 10 albums to her credit, her other songs include Oli Miss, Nassanga, Mukama Webale, Bed Cover, Aliba Ani (with Lutaaya), Obugumiikiriza, among others. They formed the New Eagles Production.
The song, ‘Okuzaala Kujagaana’ which was sung in her native language, is a beautiful track that celebrates womanhood and the pride of bearing children with rich traditional costume and Kiganda dance steps. The song depicts the way young ladies are prepared for marriage in Buganda. It became a hit-banger in 2014 and gained massive airplay, as well as became a wedding hit song staying on the charts for a long time.
Irene is known for her enthralling performances; taking her fans back to their roots with what ought to be Uganda’s authentic sound, brought to life with instrument’s like the lyre (endongo), bow harp (adungu), wooden zither (enanga), one string fiddle (endingidi), flute (endere), xylophone (amadinda), the long drum (engalabi), shakers (ensaasi) and the set of traditional big drums (engoma).
SAAVA KARIM: AKALULU (UGANDA)
Saava Karim Nsubuga is a prince from Uganda and a professional musician who is an activist with the Uganda Musicians Union. His name “Saava” means prince in Swahili. In his work as Membership Mobilization Secretary of the Uganda Musicians Union, he also paid a visit to United States to learn more about unionism and how he can help improve the quality of life of working musicians in Uganda.
He is passionate about the idea that music can bring about social change, and this is reflected in his songs like ‘Say No to Terrorism,’ which was inspired by the tragedy of losing his brother in a terrorist bomb attack during the 2010 World Cup finals in Uganda’s capital, Kampala. The song aims to inspire peace and love among all mankind.
His song, ‘Akalulu’ was sung in his native language and released in 2015. The video was shot in his country home, depicting the rich culture and tradition of Uganda’s heritage fused with local instruments like calabash, drums and flutes to produce a rhythmic tone that can be danced to. It is followed by a unique dance step making it interesting to watch.
SEKOU KOUYATE: DELA (GUINEA)
Sekou is the son of Guinean Kora virtuoso, M´Bady Kouyate from Guinea, who toured the world with “Ballet Africain” since the early 60s. He followed his father’s musical talent; toured and recorded with him, and was noted for his innovative style of playing at an early age. He also gained international reputation as one of “the world’s best electric Kora players.”
He is rooted in his West African traditions and influenced by contemporary Blues, Soul, Funk and Jazz, and these are some of his early inspirations. He also has a particular style of his own; open to inspiration from the contemporary music scene.
Sekou is popularly known as the “Jimi Hendrix of the Kora” in France, due to his fast riffs and amazing sound. He toured internationally with his parents, and with his cousin, Ba Cissoko, thereby gaining worldwide recognition. He has done cross cultural collaborations with artistes like the Zouk band, Kassav from Martinique; Cuban master pianist, Roberto Fonseca, and Cameroonian singer, Blick Bassy.
“Dela” is a song from his latest album ‘SABARU,’ meaning patience, which sums up Sekou´s musical history. It was performed in his native language, and his extra-ordinary voice was fused with African beats, beautifying the subtle melodies and funky rhythms with a spiritual feeling. He indeed took his fans on a musical fantasy.
SIMO LAGNAWI: BOLAMI (MOROCCO)
Simo Lagnawi is a Moroccan Gnawa Maalem (master musician) who studied with Gnawa masters in Morocco for over 20 years before moving to London in 2008. Today, he is considered the UK’s leading Guembri (camel-skinned bass instrument) player. Gnawa music is a traditional form of Moroccan music; the roots of which can be traced to sub-Saharan Africa. Simo’s music enthralls his audiences with his high-energy acrobatic dancing combined with his strident vocals, krakebs (metal percussion instruments) and guembri playing.
The Moroccan singer plays the traditional forms of Gnawa but is also pushing the envelope by performing and recording fusions with jazz, reggae, trip-hop, folk and funk.
Inspired by the great Gnawa masters like Maalem Sam, Maalem Hamida Boussou, Maalem Bakbou Aziz, Maalem Abdel Latif El Marzoumi, Maalem Ahmed Bakbou, Maalem Mahmoud Guinia, Maalem Mustapha Bakbou, Maalem Abdel Kadar Amlil, Maalem Omar El Hayat, Maalem Azuz Sudani, as part of his quest to bring Moroccan culture to the UK, Simo has also kick-started his own ‘School of Gnawa.’ His songs like ‘Malo’ narrate his own life journey, from a musical wanderer to London’s very own gnawa maâlem [master] supreme.
The song ‘Bolami’ is rendered in his native dialect, and it seamlessly infuses his Berber origins with deep gnawa grooves. The trance-inducing music is an unstoppable expression of freedom and liberation.