Archimedes Badkar and Afro 70 - Kila Mtu (1978)

(MNW 91P).

This swedish band led by Patrick Pama Balisidya (guitar, vocals) and Bengt Berger (drums) plays ethnic jazz and delivers some serious afrofunk on Kila Mtu (which means "everybody"). Great example of high level production realised in Sweden at that time.

Archimedes Badkar - Kila Mtu:

More obscure afro grooves here.

Cora Funk (1978)

(Eboni ER-00005).

The introduction of cora and djembe in an american disco-funk production is not always easy to achieve coherently, but here the blend of influences works pretty well, with strong african influence, thanks to top class musicians involved:

Lamine Konte (Senegal): voice, composition, cora
Fode Drame (Senegal): cora
Aisha Kone (Ivory Coast): bckg vocals
Amadou Doucoure: guitar
Fred Wesley: trombone
Gregg Middleton: bass
Wes Blackman: guitar
Hiroshi Upshir: keyboards
Ernie Fieds Jr: sax
Nolan Smith: trumpet
Nii Aye Yaw Aseidu: Djembe

Cora Funk - Sabuma :

album

Like several Eboni LPs, cover design is realized by M. Greenfield.

African Soul Band - Nande (70s obscure afrogroove)

(MD 001).

Rare private production realised in France. It cannot be considered as african music while listening to the  "occidental-sounding" arrangements including violins... but the singer may be from Senegal (he's singing a melody probably inspired by "lale kouma", a senegalese traditional song). Anyway, a really nice funky fusion tune by African Soul Band, which is the same band playing with malian singer  Niama Makalou on another obscure afrodisco 7 inch.

African Soul Band - Nande :

Afrodisco fan? Check this one here.

Abel Lima e Les Sofas cantam Nos Bida (1977)

Abel Lima is a singer from Cabo Verde islands, forced to clandestine imigration by boat at age of 13 to escape the totalitarian regime.

He came back 16 years later, when Cabo Verde became independant in 1975, as politically engaged with PAIGC (Amilcar Cabral's African Party for Independance of Guinea an Cabo Verde).

In the liner notes, Abel Lima explains the evolution of his home village Povoaçao: he quit a small peaceful village and when he came back he discovered only desolation as more sophisticated foreign fishing boats were fishing extensively, letting local people without any resources. In parallel, he also explains through his own experience how hard being an imigrant is, due to mistreatment and exploitation.

A very engaged artist, which seems to be compatible with raw funky tune...

Abel Lima e Les Sofas - Corre riba corre baixo:

Bernard Brito (Joaozinho): bass
Serge Neves: drums
Abel Lima: voice
Afonso Evora (Martinho): guit
Nouhoun Coulibaly: voice, tumba
Admir Evora (Mimis): guit, recoreque

JM Tim and Foty - Douala by Night (1977)

Disques Esperance ESP 155029

Duo from Cameroon (playing together from 1977 to 1982) gives here an idea on how funky the nights are in Douala... A disco flavored classic. 

J.M. Tim and Foty -  Douala By Night:

Ondeno - Mayolye (1980)

Disques Ledoux ASL 7017

Ondeno Rebieno is from Gabon, recorded probably in Paris this LP, produced by Abou Sylla and supervised by Alphonse Marie Toukas a RFI journalist from Congo and musician (who created his 1st band "Sympathique Jazz"  in 1959 in Brazzaville).

A muzzicaltrips favorite for clubby afrodisco atmospheres:

Odeno - Mayolye: