Hear trancey music from desert blues man Alhousseini Anivolla from Niger (of the band Etran Finatawa) and Girum Mezmur, the Ethio Jazz guitarist from Addis Abeba (and Musical Director for Mahmoud Ahmed), and their pan-African All-Star band from the album Afropentatonism. In combination with the one-stringed Ethiopian violin called masinko, Anivolla sings in Tamashek about a conflict-laden region, speaking directly to the younger generation with messages of protecting peace on “Algher (Peace)“. Also, listen to Ethiopian singer Mahmoud Ahmed and the Éthiopiques reissue of Erè Mèla Mèla, “one of the last treasures of what must be termed the "golden age" of modern Ethiopian music” (Soundohm) along with music by Grammy-winning Tuareg band Tinariwen from their 2023 album Amatssou, connecting the Tuareg and Ethiogroove traditions.
There’s also music from Tootard, a band of stateless musicians from occupied Golan between Israel and Syria who combine guitars, saxophone, and lyrics in Arabic with the Tuareg desert blues of northern Mali and reggae. Then, listen to music that looks to the trancey grooves of the Gnawa people of Morocco from guembri player and singer Moktar Gania (younger brother of the late Maâlem Mahmoud Gania), and Gnawa Soul. Then, from Mauritania, listen to an electrified take on Moorish tradition with hints of psychedelic rock and funk from griot Noura Mint Seymali featuring amplified “modified Moorish guitar”. Plus, Ethiopian song from Eténèsh Wassié & Toulouse band Le Tigre (des platanes) and more. - Caryn Havlik
Program #4966, Music From North Africa and the Near East (First aired 1/16/2025)
ARTIST: Alhoussein Anivolla & Girum Mezmur
WORK: Awash / Ammalele [1:00]
RECORDING: Afropentatonism
SOURCE: Piranha Music
INFO: piranha.de | piranha-records.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Alhoussein Anivolla & Girum Mezmur
WORK: Algher [4:29]
RECORDING: Afropentatonism
SOURCE: Piranha Music
INFO: piranha.de | piranha-records.bandcamp.com
WORK: Bemen Sebeb Letlash [4:34]
RECORDING: Ethiopiques 7: Mahmoud Ahmed - Ere Mela Mela
SOURCE: Buda Musique #82980
INFO: budamusique.com
WORK: Imidiwan Mahitinam [3:33]
RECORDING: Amatssou
SOURCE: Wedge
INFO: tinariwen.com/amatssou
WORK: Negcha (Neu Gnawa) [5:06]
RECORDING: One Beat Mixtape 2017
SOURCE: Found Sound Nation
INFO: https://onebeatmusic.bandcamp.com/album/onebeat-2017-mixtape
WORK: Addis Ababa Bete [5:23]
RECORDING: Yetchalal
SOURCE: Buda Musique
INFO: https://ukandanz.bandcamp.com/album/yetchalal-2
WORK: Ambassel Fantay [4:48]
RECORDING: Zeraf!
SOURCE: Buda Musique
INFO: Try Discogs.com
WORK: Laissez Passer [3:54]
RECORDING: Laissez Passer
SOURCE: Glitterbeat Records
INFO: glitterbeat.com
WORK: Tzenni [5:12]
RECORDING: Tzenni
SOURCE: Glitterbeat GBCD/LP 016
INFO: glitterbeat.bandcamp.com
WORK: Ana el Gnaoui [3:48]
RECORDING: Masterisé
SOURCE: Nomad Roots Records
INFO: Available at Spotify, YouTube, AppleMusic
WORK: Awash / Ammalele [1:29]
RECORDING: Afropentatonism
SOURCE: Piranha Music
INFO: piranha.de | piranha-records.bandcamp.com