March 29, 2020

Charts March 21-27, 2020

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 MDOU MOCTAR | "Ibitlan" b/w "Tiknass (Sunbone)" [Single] | Sahel Sounds
2 DZAMBO AGUSEVI ORCHESTRA | Brasses For The Masses | Asphalt Tango
3 BETO JAMAICA | Rey De Mi Folklor: Vallenato Y Cumbia Colombiana | OM Producciones
4 BAMBA WASSOULOU GROOVE | Dankele | Lusafrica
5 AFROINS, LOS | Goza La Salsa | Vampisoul
6 ANTIBALAS | Fu Chronicles | Daptone
7 DUBIOZA KOLEKTIV | #fakenews | Menart
8 BATUNGA AND THE SUBPRIMES | "Gates Of Ouantou" [Single] | Matasuna
9 KOKOLO AFROBEAT ORCHESTRA | 100 Fevers | Peace & Rhythm
10 LAKOU MIZIK | HaitiaNola | Cumbancha

March 22, 2020

Charts March 14-20, 2020

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 ANTIBALAS | Fu Chronicles | Daptone
2 BLACK MARKET BRASS | Undying Thirst | Colemine
3 DZAMBO AGUSEVI ORCHESTRA | Brasses For The Masses | Asphalt Tango
4 BAMBA WASSOULOU GROOVE | Dankele | Lusafrica
5 AFROINS, LOS | Goza La Salsa | Vampisoul
6 MDOU MOCTAR | "Ibitlan" b/w "Tiknass (Sunbone)" [Single] | Sahel Sounds
7 BATUNGA AND THE SUBPRIMES | "Gates Of Ouantou" [Single] | Matasuna
8 TIME IS FIRE | In Pieces | Electric Cowbell
9 KOKOROKO | "Carry Me Home" [Single] | Brownswood
10 KOLINGA | "Nguya Na Ngai" [Single] | Underdog

March 15, 2020

Charts March 7-13, 2020

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 CORNERSHOP | England Is A Garden | Ample Play
2 BETO JAMAICA | Rey De Mi Folklor: Vallenato Y Cumbia Colombiana | OM Producciones
3 GUASA, CUNUNO Y MARIMBA: AFRO-COLOMBIAN MUSIC FROM THE PACIFIC COAST | various artists | Vampisoul
4 ANTIBALAS | Fu Chronicles | Daptone
5 DUBIOZA KOLEKTIV | #fakenews | Menart
6 DAVID WALTERS | Soleil Kreyol | Heavenly Sweetness
7 KOKOLO AFROBEAT ORCHESTRA | 100 Fevers | Peace & Rhythm
8 LAKOU MIZIK | HaitiaNola | Cumbancha
9 PERU NEGRO | Son De Los Diablos | Vampisoul
10 ANTOINETTE KONAN | Antoinette Konan | Awesome Tapes From Africa

March 9, 2020

Charts Feb 29 - Mar 6, 2020

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 BAMBA WASSOULOU GROOVE | Dankele | Lusafrica
2 EVRITIKI ZYGIA | Ormenion | Teranga Beat
3 MONEY CHICHA | "The Mexican / Enfermera" [Single] | Peace & Rhythm
4 MACKA B | "Cucumba To Di World" [Single] | Peckings
5 MDOU MOCTAR | "Ibitlan" b/w "Tiknass (Sunbone)" [Single] | Sahel Sounds
6 RICHIE SPICE | "Valley Of Jehoshaphat (Red Hot)" [Single] | VP
7 GUASA, CUNUNO Y MARIMBA: AFRO-COLOMBIAN MUSIC FROM THE PACIFIC COAST | various artists | Vampisoul
8 CORNERSHOP | England Is A Garden | Ample Play
9 TUAREG MUSIC OF THE SOUTHERN SAHARA | various artists | Smithsonian Folkways
10 SAIGON SOUL REVIVAL | Hoa Am Xura | INFRACom!

March 7, 2020

Lusophonics

Sao Tome & Principe is an island country in the Gulf of Guinea, off the coast of Gabon; it was uninhabited by humans when the Portuguese landed there in 1470.  Today its population is about 200,000, making it the second smallest sovereign state in Africa (Seychelles is the smallest).

Ever since its 1975 independence from Portugal, tiny Sao Tome has punched way above its weight in popular music.  For the first time, it's now the subject of a compilation album (pictured above) bringing together 16 tracks from the early independence years.  You'll hear one on the March 9 edition of Global A Go-Go, along with music from fellow Lusophone African countries Angola and Cabo Verde.

Also this week: soul with a French touch, new releases by two of the longest-running Afrobeat groups in the USA, cumbia and vallenato, Senegal's psychedelic salsa, and Balkan beats meet dancehall.

March 3, 2020

Charts February 22-28, 2020

WRIR's NACC World Top Ten
1 GUASA, CUNUNO Y MARIMBA: AFRO-COLOMBIAN MUSIC FROM THE PACIFIC COAST | various artists | Vampisoul
2 ANTIBALAS | Fu Chronicles | Daptone
3 DUBIOZA KOLEKTIV | #fakenews | Menart
4 NIKANOR | Bajo El Sol | Rebel Up
5 WUTA MAYI | La Face Cachee | Sterns
6 EL WALI | Tiris | Sahel Sounds
7 MAMADOU KELLY | Les Bateaux | Clermont Music
8 KOKOLO AFROBEAT ORCHESTRA | 100 Fevers | Peace & Rhythm
9 ADOLFO ECHEVERRIA Y SU ORQUESTA | Sabroso Bacalao | Vampisoul
10 FARAFI | Calico Soul | Piranha

March 1, 2020

Guitar heroes of the Sahel

I've long contended that the best rock 'n' roll music in the world right now is being made in North and West Africa.  The March 2 edition of Global A Go-Go reinforces my claim.

You'll hear three killer guitar bands whose music is based on the Wassoulou traditions of southwestern Mali, including Bamba Wassoulou Groove (pictured above).  Plus another three in the assouf or desert blues genre, including brand-new singles from Tamikrest and Mdou Moctar.

Also this week: un poco mas de chicha, the psychedelic sounds of Greece, Somalian disco-funk, and new reggae singles by Richie Spice and Macka B.