For today, I wanted to share with you “Mawu Lolo“, an instant catchy 70s Afro Soul Funk from Togo, take from the sole single recorded by the mysterious composer & singer Telema Sandihoma in 1977 (any more informations welcome !) on the mythical French record label “Sonafric“.
This song is backed by the legendary Ghanaian orchestra “Vis-A-Vis“, in a groovy vein that reminds me the bests songs from the Ghanaian musician De Frank Kakrah & his “Professionals” – hope you like it, enjoy !
For today, I wanted to share with you “Kpalanuma“, a mind-blowing 70s Highlife Soul track from Nigeria with Afrobeat influences & instant catchy horn & synth parts, taken from one of the several albums composed by the very prolific Nigerian composer & musician St. Augustine Anwunzia backed by his “Rovers International“, recorded in 1978 on the Nigerian branch of the mythical label “Polydor”.
St Augustine’s albums are known to be upper-class Highlife, but that one remains my favorite, blending many genres as it contains outstanding Afrobeat, Highlife but also Reggae tracks.
More, it features some of the greatest Nigerian & Cameroonian composers of that era, as :
St. Augustine Anwunzia : Lead Vocals, Composition, Arrangements ;
Tony Bonny Wailer, Johnny Woode : Drums ;
Frankie Ntoh Song : Guitar Synthesizer ;
Fred Fisher Atalobhor : Trombone ;
Willie Nfor : Bass Guitar ;
Joe Chiejina : Maracas ;
Andrew Kisito : Vocals ;
Abi John : Lead Guitar ;
Jossy Egele : Congas ;
Sharp Mike : Trumpet ;
Killer album from start to finish, hope you’ll like it – enjoy !
St. Augustine & The Rovers International – Kpalanuma (Nigeria, 1978, Polydor Nigeria)
Following to this former post, I wanted to share with you for today “Yumbeye“, a deep bouncy 70s West African Psychedelic Mbalax Fusion Jazz Funk track from Senegal with crazy organ parts, taken from the first album of the Senegalese band “𝐋𝐞 𝐗𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐦” founded in 1965 by the songwriter & guitarist Sakhir Thiam.
By the time, the members of the group have changed several times, including legendary artists as Idrissa Diop, Cheikh Tidiane Tall and Thierno Koité.
This LP includes the following musicians :
Georges Dieng (solo Guitar) ;
Sanoussi Sidibe (Rhythm Guitar) ;
Serge Alvez (Bass) ;
Henry Guillabert (Organ) ;
Moussa Diongue (Vocals) ;
Ibrahima Conudoul (Vocals) ;
Xalifa Cisse (Congas, Vocals) ;
Abdou Mboup (Percussion);
Prosper Niang (Drums) ;
Tonia Lo (Saxophone, Vocals) ;
Cheikh Diop (Trumpet) ;
Jean-Pierre Gandour (Guitar, Vocals) ;
Recorded live in June 1975 at “Le Sangomar” night club in the city of Thies, you can really feel you can really feel a special energy emanating from this beautiful album.
And we didn’t mention this gorgeous cover !
Highly recommended album from start to finish, hope you’ll like it, enjoy !
Following this former article, I wanted to share with you “Djamban“, an incredible mesmerizing 70s Afro Mandingo Jazz Soul track from Mali with gorgeous horn & guitar parts, taken from one of the first albums recorded in 1975 by the mythical Malian band “Rail Band” (also known as “Orchestre Rail Band” or “Orchestre du Buffet Hotel de la Gare de Bamako” because the band played there twice a week) leaded by the legendary Malian composer & saxophonist Tidiani Kone (who also played for with Beninese kings from the “Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou”).
Pressed in Nigeria, this album is part of the very well known “Rail Band Series” (this one is the 4th volume), and features some of the bests Malian & West African musicians (Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, …) from that era as :
Tidiani Kone : Leader, Saxophone ;
Djelimady Sissoko : Vocals ;
Djelimady Tounkara : Lead Guitar ;
Cheick Traoré : Bass Guitar ;
Moussa Koné : Bongos, Trumpet ;
Abdouramane Koumané : Congas ;
Mamadou “Pacheco” Bagayoko : Drums ;
Dielly Moussa Kouyaté : Guitar ;
Mory Kanté : Lead Vocals ;
Alfred Coulibaly : Organ ;
Maitre Lédy Youla : Sopranino Saxophone ;
Really hard to find album nowadays, that I found a few years ago during a record digging trip in Nouakchott (Mauritania). I had the great honor to got it from Mr Mohamed Vall, one of the very few record collectors from the country, who used to run “Le Saphir D’Or”, the only record store in Mauritania opened in the 1979 until the early 2000s (for more informations, I interviewed him here).
And cherry on the cake : this sublime artwork – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !
Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical rediscovery !
Armand de Preseau
Noel Et Mathilde – Mi Amor De Todos Dias
( Benin , 1980s )
posted on 28 / 09 / 2025
For today, I wanted to share with you “Mi Amor De Todos Dias“, an awesome Afro Cuban Salsa Latin Soul gem from Benin with killer horns part, taken from the only release of the beninese duet Noel Houmbiye & Mathilde Yanclo recorded in Cotonou in the late 70s, composed by the legendary beninese musician Ignace De Souza and backed by the mythical “Black Santiagos” Orchestra.
That recording is almost impossible to find nowadays unfortunately, this is why I wanted to share it with you today.
One of the best track of the genre from the African Continent from that era, always a huge dance floor stormer when I play it in clubs, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !
Noel Et Mathilde – Mi Amor De Todos Dias (Benin, 1980s, Editions Big Junior)
For today, I wanted to share with you “Maze (Part 2)“, an instant feel-good Afro Soul Funky Soukous Masterpiece from Democratic Republic of The Congo (former Zaïre) with frantic guitar, taken from a compilation of previously released singles out in the early 80s (in Kenya & Nigeria) and recorded by the mythical Congolese composer & musician Pascal-Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu, better known as “Tabu Ley Rochereau“.
He started his career in the 60s, playing alongside with legends as “Dr Nico” (Nicolas Kasanda Wa Mikalayi) in famous band such as l’African Jazz, l’Afrisa International & l’Orchestre African Fiesta.
Tabu Ley is famous for having pioneered Soukous music, and to have internationalized Congolese music by mixing elements of Congolese folk music with Cuban, Caribbean, and Latin American rumba. He’s considered by one of the giants of Congolese & more widely, African music.
For today, I wanted to share with you “Keep On Dancing“, an instant killer Afro Disco Boogie track from Ghana, recorded in 1979 by the composer & musician Kofi “Kiki’ Kwarko Gyan, keyboardist of the legendary band Osibisa that was popular in the 1970’s.
Multi-instrumentist Kiki Gyan recorded three albums and a couple of singles between 1979 & 1983, and was considered by many as Africa’s answer to Stevie Wonder.
For today, I’m glad to share with you this instant feel-good song, that will set any dance floor on fire. Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !
Kiki Gyan – Keep On Dancing (Ghana, 1979, Boom Records)
Following this previous post, I wanted to share with you for today “Migoussia“, an outstanding Afro Mandingo Blues SoulLatin track from Burkina-Faso sung in Spanish with killer syncopated horns & deep lyrics, taken from the 2nd album of the legendary Burkinabe composer & musician Amadou “Balaké” Traoré, former member of the legendary African Latin band “Africando“, who included some of the mythical African singers such as Gnonnas Pedro, Boncana Maïga, Pape Seck, Thione Seck, Sekouba Bambino or Koffi Olomide.
Recorded in Ibadan (Nigeria) and out on the mythical West African record label “Sacodis” based in Ivory Coast, this magical would blow your mind far away – Enjoy !
For today, I wanted to share with you “M’Ackô“, a deep downtempo melancholic Afro Electro Synth Soul Boogie track from Ivory Coast, taken from the 2nd album of the Ivorian Diva Antoinette Konan & Self-released in 1986.
Alongside to Antoinette for the composition & production of the tracks, this LP includes some great musicians as Bamba Moussa Yang (arrangements) & the mythical Congolese composer & musician Sammy Massamba.
Following to this former article, I wanted to share with you for today “Homin Si Tche“, an uplifting 70s funky 11min long Afro SoulSoukous from Benin with catchy horns, furious guitar rhythm & Soukous flavors, taken from one of my favorite albums of the mythical “Tout Puissant Orchestre Poly Rythmo De Cotonou“, recorded in 1978 at the mythical EMI Studios in Lagos (Nigeria), with the help of the legendary sound engineer Monday Oki, and released in Benin on the famous local record label “Albarika Store”.
Instant feel-good beninese Funky Soukous as only the almighty Poly Rythmo can play, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !
T.P. Orchestre Poly Rythmo De Cotonou – Homin Si Tche (Benin, 1978, Albarika Store)
