okay awAwesome Tapes From Africa, the brainchild blog-slash-record label of Brian Shimkovitz, gathers hard-to-find cassettes from the continent. ATFA selections regularly span vintage mbalax, juju, bongo flava, and disco-electro cuts, amongst many others, which are then presented on the site as free downloads.
For Africa In Your Earbuds #17, Awesome Tapes compiles a pan-continental, analog tape mix of tunes from his vast collection, including songs by the first two ATFA record label artists, — Malian singer Nâ Hawa Doumbia and North Ghana’s kologo player Bola. Speaking on his mix, Brian writes:
I wanted put together a selection of songs that I have been into lately for the Okayafrica community. Since you guys are into all different kinds of sounds I tried to include songs from all over, spanning a few decades. I have been playing a lot of tapes live and it’s left some of the more relaxed recordings get a bit dusty. So I am keeping it kind of chill here until the more dancefloor-ready tracks toward the second half.
Head to Awesome Tapes to buy the official releases and browse the collection. Plus lookout for ATFA spinning live (tour dates below).
Stream and grab Africa In Your Earbuds #17: Awesome Tapes From Africa below! As always, a big up to Underdog for the cover art.
Okayafrica x Awesome Tapes From Africa Mix
1. Ephrem Tamru “Ney Ney” Ethiopia
2. Nâ Hawa Doumbia “Dan Te Dinye La” Mali
3. Zagazougou “Zagadon” Ivory Coast
4. Issa Coulibaly “Lodjourato” Mali
5. Ahwach Souse Title Unknown (Side A excerpt) Morocco
7. Jagwa Music “Liwalo Na Liwe” Tanzania
8. Ndiogou Seck “Xoox-yi” Senegal
9. Issa Bagayogo “Lanaya” Mali
10. Foster Manganyi “Ndzi To Tiyisela” South Africa
11. Bola “Tivona Vonbubo” Ghana
ATFA Live Dates
05.18 New York NY / Santos Partyhouse
05.19 Brooklyn NY / 285 Kent w/ Lamin Fofana
05.20 New York NY / Lisa Cooley Gallery
05.23 Boston MA / Spectacle
05.25 Seattle, WA / CAIRO
05.26 Portland OR / Holocene
05.28 George, WA / Sasquatch! Music Festival at the Gorge
Previously on Africa In Your Earbuds: PETITE NOIR, OLUGBENGA, RICH MEDINA, VOICES OF BLACK, LAMIN FOFANA, CHICO MANN, DJ UNDERDOG, DJ OBAH, SABINE, BROTHA ONACI, DJ AQBT, JUST A BAND, STIMULUS, QOOL DJ MARV, SINKANE, CHIEF BOIMA.
