May 6, 2022

Say it with a lemon

Happy birthday to Mahmoud Ahmed, who turns 81 years young on May 8!  In Ethiopia, they call him Frash Addash, the Mattress Renovator, the man who make old songs sound new again.
 
He's one of the last great singers remaining from Ethiopia's musical Golden Age of the 1960s and 70s, and no one can make Ethiopian music fans shake from their shoulders down to their feet in eskista (ecstacy) quite like Ahmed.  This week on Global A Go-Go, you'll hear four songs from Mahmoud's brilliant catalogue, including two of those shoulder-shaking eskistas.
 
Also this week (Sunday May 8, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): a jazzy first hour with South African marabi, Ghanaian and Nigerian highlife and spiritual jazz from all parts; Mali's Wassoulou sound; and urban dance music based on French Caribbean zouk.

 
 
Artist | Country | Song | Recording | Label | Year
 
Oliver Lake | USA | Separation | Matador Of 1st & 1st | Passin' Thru | 1997
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros | England UK | Global A Go-Go | Global A Go-Go | Hellcat | 2001
 
Abdullah Ibrahim | South Africa-USA-Panama | Water From An Ancient Well | Water From An Ancient Well | Yellowbird | 1986
The African Echoes | South Africa-USA | KwaBuluwayo | The Rough Guide To South African Jazz (Second Edition) | World Music Network | 197x
 
Etuk Ubong | Nigeria-England UK-Netherlands | Spiritual Change | Africa Today: Night Dreamer Direct-To-Disk Sessions | Night Dreamer | 2020
The Souljazz Orchestra | Canada | Celestial Blues | Inner Fire | Strut | 2014
Sons Of Kemet | England UK-Barbados | To Never Forget The Source | Black To The Future | Impulse | 2021
 
Jembaa Groove | Germany-Ghana-Benin-Israel-Portugal | Adesane | Susuma | Agogo | 2022
Chinonso Egwuatu & Divine Victory Band Of Africa | Nigeria | Omeogo | Njo Ka Akanu | Upright Music Production / Palenque | 2022
 
Mahmoud Ahmed with the Ibex Band | Ethiopia | Erè Mèla Mèla | Erè Mèla Mèla | Kaifa | 1975
Mahmoud Ahmed with the Ibex Band | Ethiopia | Mètché Nèw | Erè Mèla Mèla | Kaifa | 1975
Mahmoud Ahmed with the Ibex Band | Ethiopia | Bèlomi Bènna | Asheweyna / Bèlomi Bènna - Single | Kaifa | 1975
Mahmoud Ahmed | Ethiopia | Ashkaru | Tizita | AfroLife | 1996
 
Bamba Wassoulou Groove | Mali | Farima | Farima | Label Bleu | 2015
Le Super Djata Band Du Mali | Mali | Nama Djidja | En Super Forme Vol. 1 | Numero Group | 1982
Oumou Sangaré | Mali | Wassulu Don | Timbuktu | World Circuit | 2022
 
Batida | Angola-Portugal-Cabo Verde | Bom Bom (feat Mayra Andrade) | Bom Bom - Single | Crammed | 2022
David Walters | France | Manyè | Soleil Kréyol | Heavenly Sweetness | 2020
Yvon Paris | Cabo Verde-Senegal-France | Pombinha Branca | Afrolove Kizomba Special | Lusafrica | 2014
Magic System | Côte d'Ivoire | Chérie Coco | Toutè Kalé | Capitol | 2011

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