Lemed Janvier et l'Orchestre African Allstar (Soukous from Benin, 1981-82)

(Oueme LJ001).

Lemed Janvier took part of recordings with Orchestre Poly Rythmo, Les Volcans du Benin and Tabu Ley from Congo.

Kossou Houechehoun et son Groupe Folklorique Guê (Benin)

(PALP 002).

This folkloric music comes from Mina people (South of Benin and Togo) which have a very rich musical heritage.

Johnny Copeland - Ngote (Poly Rythmo cover, 1985)

(FIEND47).

If you follow muzzicaltrips you probably know already the Poly Rythmo funky bomb "Ne te Fache Pas". But could you imagine to find it covered by a jazz-blues american musician? I could not, so it was a real surprise when I discovered this cover version.

Gansou Nestor et son groupe folklorique de Tchingounme (70s)

(Ets PHILI D'OR AZP003).

Initially a sacred rhythm played to put the curse aside after a death, "Tchinkoumé" became a popular celebratory music from Savalou region (in Benin, just north from the coastal areas when the hills begin).

Avohou Pierre & Orchestre Picoby Band (sato music)

(ESD 029)

Sato is a traditional vodun rhythm from Benin, and has been one inspiration to modernize beninese urban music from the 70s. Here's an early (and scratchy) example with Orchestre Picoby Band, produced between 1972 and 1975, and pressed at Satel local plant.

(GMR is the Revolutionary Military Governement created in 72 by M. Kerekou during transition to marxist-leninist regime imposed in 74).

Avohou Pierre and Orchestre Picoby Band - Mi Do Kou Nou GMR:

Glele Edmond & Aballo Antoine - Jeanne Yi

(DN N°3)

A nice tune from Benin with Orchestre Poly Ritmo as backing band.

Glele Edmond, Aballo Antoine, Orch. Poly Ritmo - Jeanne Yi:

Charlie Sekato & Orchestre Les As du Benin (1981)

(BAM LP-1002/81)

This album has been recorded in Togo, includes the Orchestre les As du Benin, but is produced by Abidjan label Bam Records. I don't know where Charlie Sekato comes from, but he gives here a Ziglibity track, typical rhythm from Ivory Coast popularized by Ernesto Djedje.

Charlie Sekato - N'Kame Ourou-sebane:

Bluecky d'Almeida - Unité Africaine

(Aux Ecoutes DB004)

"African Unity" has been a recurrent subject in post independance lyrics: many songs are direct reflect from Nkwame Nkrumah's political commitment for pan-africanism. Here's an example from Benin by Bluecky d'Almeida, with El Rego et ses Astronautes de Cotonou as backing band. The 7" is an early release of Mr. Lawani's label Aux Ecoutes.

Basically what he says in the part sung in french is that the remedy from colonialism, secessionism, racial discrimination is african unity (and also that praying is not sufficient...).

Bluecky d'Almeida - Unité Africaine:

T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Debrouiller n'est pas voler

Albarika Store ALS 058

A very nice album from Orchestre Poly Rythmo, typical african dancefloor hit... Nice words full of humor and common sense: "trop parler c'est maladie / to speak to much is a sickness", "debrouiller n'est pas voler / to arrange does not mean to steal"...

T.P. Poly Rythmo - Debrouiller n'est pas voler:

Poly Rythmo members on this album:

Orchestre Black Santiago - Wo n'titi (highlife from Benin)

Disques BSA 01

Ignace da Souza and his group Black Santiago play here a beninese style highlife. Pressed around 1974 at  Satel, Benin.

Orchestre Black Santiago - Wo n'titi:

MIX /// Tropical Round Trip #3 by Muzzicaltrips

A sound travel around Cuba, Colombia, Peru, Guadeloupe, Benin, Ivory Coast, Angola, Nigeria...

Tropical Round Trip #3 (77min):

Tohon Stanislas dans son nouveau style Tchink System (197x)

(SACODIS LS 39).

I previously posted some Tchinkoumé music (here), northern Benin rhythm based on water drums.

Here is a renewal of this traditional music made by Stanislas Tohon: he created the Tchink System style, a actual  (late 70s) version of Tchinkoumé, based on same water drums patern rythms, but played by modern instruments.

This album has been produced by Aboudou Lassissi, recorded in studio Otodi (Lome), mixed in the USA. I guess the release date is around 1978-79.

Tohon Stanislas - Mi Tchinker:



Guitar: Dizi Mageco, Amegee Kodjovi
Trumpet: Johny Johny
Bass: Hega Penda Hilaire
Sax: Fadina Atiley, Bentho Daniel
Drums: Lawson King
Keyboard: Socku King
Vocals: Tohon Stan

MIX /// Muzzicaltrips back from Benin (45rpm selection)

Just to share some freshly found 45s from Benin.

...El Rego, L.A. Aux Ecoutes, Polydisco, Mélomé Clément, Poly-Rythmo, African Songs, Picoby Band, nagra sessions, african scream contest, afro beat, jerk fon...

Enjoy!

Muzzicaltrips back from Benin 45s selection:


I recommend to listen to this (re)reading the great liner notes from Analog Africa compilations (big up Samy) to perceive the context of these productions and this musical era.

Orchestre Les Blacks Fingers de Cotonou (70s rarity)

Obscure production, blooming music...

I found no information about the singer Kpochan Pierrot, I guess he produced the record as the reference is K.P. 001. A small production seeing how cheap the cover is (i saw the same in different colors). Music has been arranged by Pierre Egnile (i.e. Pepita Egnile who worked with l'Orchestre International de la Capitale, from Niamey, Niger). It is made in Benin, so pressed at SATEL vinyl factory.

Dont be afraid about the keyboard sound, this is genuine dope... (and you should see how well this works on a beninese dancefloor!)

Kpochan Pierrot et l'Orchestre Les Black Fingers de Cotonou - Gnonnou:

Orchestre Los Commandos - Errante (y Bohemio)

 (Albarika Store AS 5010).

Here's an african version of a latin track i love (Arsenio Rodriguez - "Errante y Bohemio").

Orchestre Los Commandos is from Cotonou, and played with El Rego up to 1966 (using different band names).

From what I 've been told, it seems that almost all the musicians present on the cover picture left our world, except the red shirt guy, called "13" (the surname "13" would come from his habit to write the number 13 on his shoes to attract good luck... it seems it did worked).

Orchestre Los Commandos - Errante:

Gnonnas Pedro & his Dadjes Band - vol. 1 (1975)

 African Songs Ltd, Lagos - AS 42-L [1975]

Here comes the real Africa Latina!

Gnonnas Pedro deliverers a unique latin sound from Benin. Famous african salsero, he changed his french name "Pierre" for "Pedro", and played all along the 70s initially with his band called Los Panchos de Cotonou, and then the Dadje Band.

He finished his carreer integrating Africando in 1995 and died in 2004.

Gnonnas Pedro and his Dadjes Band - Ati Mawuin Dagamasi:

Following LP is a 79 "disguised" reissue: tracks are not in the same order and spelling is different. Encoded mp3 are from this copy as have it in better shape than the original.

 Disco Stock, Abidjan - LPDS 7902 [1979]

It is said in the liner notes that when Orquesta Aragon came touring in Benin in 1977, musicians were singing in the bus to Lokossa: "Assiko, Assiko, Assiko... Feso Jaye..." And the following day, Richard Egues and Gnonnas Pedro worked together on some Gnonnas songs...