First off, I’m not really sure where this site stands, legally, but I’m going to tell you why Awesome Tapes From Africa is more important as a device for the globalization of music than any of us give credit for.
On one side, the ATfA plays a game we know well and good in the blog word. It is a “Full Album Blog” that posts all the tracks from various tapes and albums from that continent across the Atlantic (Ghana, especially). The B-side is a much interesting story. Awesome Tapes From Africa isn’t just another blog that helps the listener bypass the economics of the music industry and “steal” their favorite artists’ music, it’s great publicity for the creator and mind expansion for the usual blog-savvy community.
The artists featured are some of the biggest names around as well as some lesser. Many of the artists featured on the blog would never be heard, never have been heard or at least found it extremely difficult to make their names familiar to a western civilization that holds most of the power in deciding what trends, musical or otherwise, will catch on globally. Musically, African music is ridiculously diverse and original with each group representing strong values and intent–each region yielding a new and particular sound. Our concept of time-signature, key, tempo and very well our entire musical system is only one style to some of these artists. Almost always fusing their traditional (and sometimes extremely local) sound with something that hails to a much greater concept of popular music ends with some of the most lush and complex as well as simple and effective music I’ve heard in a long time. We forget there is a world out there…
In America, a completely networked system, we can obviously spot the difference between East Coast and West Coast rap or share our thoughts on pre- and post-Nirvana grunge bands in Seattle during the 90’s. It is a well documented musicology. So while we have LA, NYC, Miami, Austin, Seattle, Chicago, etc. each with its own musical style and history, then how can we group all of Africa into one stereotypical genre in our minds? We must explore and never has the simple blog community had the chance to open doors this way. This morning I sampled rap from all around the continent. I even found music from my homeland of Kenya. Now, in some small way, I can stay connected and learn about a culture by virtue of spending time with albums from the artists that are popular and influential there. Here are some favorites:
MP3: Wakimbizi – “Hallo Hallo (Radio Edit)” from Nairobi, Kenya
MP3: Mah Damba – “Sosoly” from Mali
MP3: Alhassan Ibrahim – “Zuu Mahamu Akonsi” from Northern Ghana
MP3: Yoro Diallo – “Kobê Wati Yé” from Mali
Now, I’m not saying that this is the only way to explore the music of the world. In fact, I’d like to find out more about other systems. Finding the sound that shakes you to the core is certainly not impossible, it is a humble joy. And hopefully, with a keener interest in the music of the world, we can expand our interest in the fuel behind the music… the current events. Remember… every city (and every village) has news, even on a slow day.
There is much more to be had at the awesome Awesome Tapes from Africa.
Also, feel free to share your favorite world music. I’m down for everything.
