The Fifth Case of the Night at Club Safari

I am devoting the next 3 shows to all-Africa themes.

Today we go back to the Afro-Latin vibe that is so well represented in Western Africa. Music today from The Congo, Ghana, Senegal, Guinea, Benin, and Angola.

Today's set starts with a theme I've been doing in my Brazil and Latin sets... we're going to hear some old-timey Afro-Latin recorded in The Congo in the 1950s, some of the earliest recorded popular music from West Africa. We'll hear the music shift from calypso-style guitar pieces to more sophisticated group and orchestra arrangements as the set progresses, with a focus on the shimmering guitars of Franco and Dr Nico of the Congo during the 60s.

The middle of today's set is a spotlight on Angola, which had a sound all its own. Angola was among the few African countries that did not gain independence in the 50s and 60s, with Portugal determined to hold on to its last pieces of colonial empire. Along with Cape Verde and Guinea-Bisau, Angola waited until the mid-70s before political pressure and local independence movements finally prevailed upon Portugal. Music from these countries in the 60s and early 70s reflects some anguish with the political situation, but also reflects some sadness due to the influence of "saudade" music from Brazil, which was uniquely popular in the Portugese-speaking countries of West Africa.

We end the set today with some storming African salsa from the 70s and 80s by heavyweight bands including Orchestre Baobab, Bembeya Jazz, and Orchestre Poly-Rythmo.