Guadeloupe! Martinique! Reunion! Revolution!
This is Jazfro's soundtrack to the current (French colonial) crisis - for whatever reason, the news sometimes reach slowly my remote 'island-continent-village' -perhaps it is due to the sharks stalking the shores? In retrospect, Australia day's 'ghetto' selection was even more pertinent than I thought at the time! So here is a follow-up mix, centered on afro-caribbean sounds and featuring classic protest and liberation songs from Africa, the Caribbean, and beyond.
The selection begins most appropriately with a classic 1970's Martinique protest song from the great Henri Guedon, pioneer of the Franco-Cuban genre. Then a bitter-sweet rendition of a 1960's Puerto-Rican classic by Senegal legend Nicolas Menheim -of Star Band, Super Etoile de Dakar & Africando fame. 'Sopente' is one of my favorite Super Cayor tunes, a dancefloor killer about the 1995 CFA devaluation -Fela Kuti would have approved of that one! The mix then moves on to a classic anti-apartheid uplifting reggae by South Africa's #1, Lucky Dube, and on to Jamaica's The Rulers' rocksteady hit 'Wrong Em'Boyo' -famously covered by The Clash on 'London Calling'. Novalima's 'Chinchivi' is a modern version of a classic Afro-Peruvian blues, followed by an 'on-yer-bike' Haitian anthem by Jephte Guillaume, punctuated by a punchy Manu Chao Franco-Brazilian number. 'Cabral' is one of Orchestra Baobab's most famous liberation / anti-colonialist songs, this one an extended and moody version. Desmond Dekker's classic '007/Shanty Town' -arguably the ultimate James Bond tune- requires no comment: just get your feet on the dancefloor! The 1940's Bedasse 'Depression' tune is a timely reminder of what lies ahead, with a bitter-sweet mento/calypso twist. At this stage I could not resist including 'El Carretero' -perhaps the best ever Cuban blues. The selection closes with the -unintentionally?- ironic 'Bonne Annee' by the Amazones, recorded in 2008 -the legendary Guinean Army female band's second recording in 50 years! Clio is decidedly a most unforgiving mistress: ignore her at your own peril...
1. Guajira Contestacion / Henri Guedon / Early Latin And Boogaloo Recordings
2. Borinque Tropical / Nicolas Menheim & Le Super Sabador / Commandante Ché Guevara
3. Sopente / Super Cayor De Dakar / Sopente
4. Feel Irie / Lucky Dube / Africa's Reggae King
5. Wrong Embryo / The Rulers / Trojan Ska Box Set Vol. 1
6. Chinchivi / Novalima / Afro
7. Kanpe (Get Up) / Jephte Guillaume & The Tet Kale Orkestra / Voyage Of Dreams
8. El Dorado / Manu Chao / Proxima Estacion: Esperanza
9. Cabral / Orchestra Baobab / Roots & Fruit
10. 007 (Shanty Town) / Desmond Dekker / Trojan Ska Box Set Volume 1
11. Depression / Bedasse with Chin’s Calypso Sextet / Boogu Yagga Gal
12. El Carretero / Guillermo Portabales / World Legends
13. Meilleurs Voeux / Les Amazones De Guinée / Wamato
Music is a weapon, use it judiciously and effectively: PLAY LOUD! EDUCATE YOUR NEIGHBOURS!
