The First Case of the Benin 45s

12:00pm, 9-24-2017

Some of you music lovers may be saying to yourselves about now, "hey Encyclopedia Sound, it's been a while since you've blown our minds with some forgotten dusty grooves from Africa."

Well, prepare to check that box.

Today I am sharing the spoils of a summer splurge on vintage singles from Benin. Music from Benin has been well compiled over the past decade, particularly by the Analog Africa label. Many listeners will be familiar with "greatest hits" by the famous Orchestre Poly Ryhtmo. But, like every place I've investigated in Africa: the deeper you dig, the more you find.

The territory of Benin is in the region of the Dahomey Empire, historically famous for a fierce, well organized military and for the elaborate Vodun religion, the foundation for many voodoo practices brought to the Americas with the slave trade. Both of these elements of Beninese culture are reflected in their modern music: martial drumming and call-and-response, along with long and trance-like passages influenced by religious rites.

Today's tracks span from the late 60s to the mid 80s. They show a development from the early music scene in Benin to the mature 80s scene. In the early days one could hear occasional traditional folk styles from Benin, such as sato, but mostly bands seemed to be offering up styles popularized in surrounding countries, such as Afro-Latin, jerk, and highlife.

By the early 70s, however, the Benin music scene was bubbling with modernized versions of traditional folk rhythms, bringing in Western influences such as psychedelic rock and reggae. The mature scene was dominated by Poly Rythmo, known for their awesome versatility, but also as the "Led Zeppelin" of the West African scene for big fuzzy guitar solos and for thunderous work on trap kit drums (still somewhat of a rarity in West Africa at that time).

Almost all these singles are on tiny regional labels, with press copies presumably quite small. I dust them off for you today on a rarity rich installment of the Adventures.

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The Adventures of Encyclopedia Sound - September 24, 2017

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12:03pm Docteur Bluecky by D'Almeida Bluecky on single (Ets Aux Ecoutes)
12:06pm Dahomeens! Un Point, c'est Tout by Super Star de Oiudah on single (Discafric)
12:09pm Boto by unknown artist/Radiodiffusion du Dahomey on single (Sonda)
12:12pm Avi N'de Gninan by L'Orchestre National Jazz du Dahomey on single (Impressions Sonores du Benin)
12:15pm Na Kou Na Kou by El Rego et ses Commandos on single (African Songs Ltd)
12:18pm Wloui Bonu Hoide by Avolonto Honore & Poly Rythmo on single (Aux Ecoutes)
12:22pm Codo Tche by Achille Johnny on single (Impressions Sonores du Benin)
12:25pm Djomido Mahi by Super Star de Oidah on single (Discafric)
12:28pm Me We Adan Ma Gbo Kpon by Super Star de Oidah on single (Discafric)
12:30pm Mission Speciale by Elias Akadiri on single (Impressions Sonores du Benin)
12:34pm Che We Le by Super Star de Oidah on single (Discafric)
12:37pm Jerk Houelie by L'Orchestre National Jazz du Dahomey on single (Impressions Sonores du Benin)
12:41pm Akoba by J.S. Boya et ses Nympheas with Poly Rythmo on single (Philips)
12:46pm Nounignon Ma Kpon Midji by Antoine Dougbe with Poly Rythmo on single (Disques Tropiques)
12:51pm Ako Sea Guera-Behanzin by Antoine Dougbe with Poly Rhythmo on single (Disques Tropiques)
12:56pm Houe Towe Houn by Orchestre Poly Rythmo on single (Albarika Store)
1:02pm Memounatou by J.S. Boya et ses Nympheas with Poly Rythmo on single (Philips)
1:07pm Asu We Honton by Jo Vicky with Poly Rythmo on single (Aux Ecoutes)
1:12pm Etoile Sportive de Porto Novo by L'Orchestre National Jazz du Dahomey on single (Impressions Sonores du Benin)
1:16pm Amon Mi Keledje by Black Dragons de Porto-Novo Dahomey on single (Albarika Store)
1:21pm Hommages Aux Martyrs du 16 Janvier 1977 by Orchestre Poly Rythmo on single (Editions Borgson)
1:29pm Akue We Non Houme by Avolonto Honore with Poly Rythmo on single (Aux Ecoutes)
1:35pm Mi Hlin Migan by Ahouangnimon Sebastien Pynasco on single (Voix Africaine)
1:40pm Adja Eba Houe Kpo by Achille Johnny on singel (Impressions Sonores du Benin)
1:45pm Kou Nawa by Orchestre Poly Rythmo on single (Albarika Store)
1:50pm Medida by Orchestre Poly Rythmo on single (Albarika Store)
1:54pm Gbada Kinwe by Professeur Bylledey with Poly Rythmo on Professeur Bylledey (Editions Borgson)

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