The Third Case of the African Funk Farm

2016 has been an incredible year for reissues and compilations of African music from the 1970s. This year's crop is true to form in that there is a focus on funky sounds that are more easily approachable for gringo ears. Today I am headed back to that well for a third heapin' helpin' of African Funk. 

I start today's set on an international note, showing some love to The Congo, Benin, and Cabo Verde. But we soon get to the heart of the matter:  music from Nigeria and Ghana, the true powerhouses of African funk in the 70s. We'll hear material today from many of the labels doing so much good work to bring this music to new audiences:  Analog Africa, Strut, Soundway, Comb & Razor, and Soul Jazz Records.

I close out the set today with two tracks from my first love in African music:  of course I'm talking about Fela Kuti, the creator of the Afrobeat sound. Because he draws so heavily on Western funk (and because he sings almost exclusively in English), he is the most common entry point for gringo ears into the world of African music.