Toffo-Houssou Miguelito – Yemakpego Dragons

( Benin , 1984 , Albarika Store )

posted on 18 / 01 / 2026

For today, I wanted to share with you “Yemakpego Dragons”, an outstanding 15min Afro Latin Salsa Pachanga Soul track from Benin, taken from the sole LP recorded in 1984 by the Beninese composer & musician Toffo Houssou “Miguelito” Gilles and released on the mythical local label “Albarika Store” founded in 1964 by Adissa Seidou.

On this album, Toffo-Houssou Miguelito is backed by the famous band “Les Volcans de la capitale” founded in 1962 under the name “Orchestre de la Gendarmerie Nationale du Benin” & composed with members of the national police orchestra.

Huge dancefloor burner in the genre, always a sure shot when I play it in my DJ sets – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Toffo-Houssou Miguelito – Yemakpego Dragons (Benin, 1984, Albarika Store)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/q_BhtY_JTN4

Check also my Soundcloud for exclusive mixes & selections : https://soundcloud.com/armand_de_preseau

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical rediscovery !

Armand de Preseau

Aziza Joymakers de Porto-Novo – Africa Vi

( Benin , 1970s , Oloruntola )

posted on 14 / 08 / 2024

For today, I wanted to share with you “Africa Vi“, an outstanding deep psychedelic Afro Soul Funk track with splendid breezing guitar solos, taken from the sole album of the obscure Beninese band “Aziza Joymakers de Porto-Novo” leaded by the Beninese composer & musician Bonheur Gangbo.

Recorded in the 70s at the legendary recording studio “Satel” located in Cotonou and out on the label “Oloruntola” (maybe the only release of the label ?) it was composed by the following musicians :

Leader, Vocals : Bonheur Gangbo ;

Acoustic Guitar, Vocals : Cossy Vignikin ;

Bass Guitar : Bokelo J. Apithy ;

Drums : Epiphane Zinsou, Latifou Agboton ;

Lead Guitar : Guy Léoncio Zannou ;

Organ : Camille Zannou ;

Percussion : Anafi Boke, Olivier Boke ;

Vocals – Isaac Dossou ;

To notice : most of the members of that band were actually the same than the band “Les Sympathics de Porto-Novo” presented in that previous article here .

Mesmerizing tune, one of my favorite of the genre – hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Aziza Joymakers de Porto-Novo – Africa Vi (Benin, 1970s, Oloruntola)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/i9JgZ3hfho0

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Wednesday, see you on next Sunday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

Les Ambassadeurs Du Motel De Bamako – Mali Denou

( Mali , 1977 , Sonafric )

posted on 06 / 03 / 2024

Following this former article, I wanted to share with you for today “Mali Denou”, an mesmerizing 70s Afro Synth Soul Funk track with awesome organ parts, taken from an album recorded in 1977 by the mythical Malian band “Les Ambassadeurs Du Motel De Bamako” that included the finest Malian musicians such as Salif KeitaAmadou BagayokoOusmane KouyatéMoussa Doumbia & Idrissa Soumaoro and out on the legendary french label Sonafric.

This band was one of the two main malian orchestras with “L’Orchestre Rail Band Du Buffet Hotel De La Gare De Bamako” in which Salif Keita (who wrote the song presented here) used to sing before joining “Les Ambassadeurs” – Enjoy !

Les Ambassadeurs Du Motel De Bamako – Mali Denou (Mali, 1977, Sonafric)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/99yuuConXNg

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you on next Wednesday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

African Grooves

A Time & Space Journey in the African & West Indies Countries