I dug up this afro-cuban piece of Benin-treasure in
some dark corner of my little recordroom. It is always
a surprise what to find. Sometimes I start to wander
about in halls and corridors and get lost in piles of dusty
boxes. On other occasions I my feet are grabbed by waves
of liquid vinyl and I’m drifting on clouds of smoking groove…
But serious, this is pure gold,..just love Papillon’s guitar..

tracks;

1 Souviens-toi de ta promesse
2 Gbê sou vê gnin
3 So kê mi
4 Agnon djidjo

Long before being lead singer in Africando, Gnonnan Sossou Pierre
Kouassivi was leader of this group, the Dadjes Band International.
Gnonnas Pedro started his career aged 20 with leading Benin band
Los Panchos. Composer, singer, multi-instrumentalist (guitar, trumpet,
sax) but most of all performer of multi-sound music. Known worldwide
for Cuban influenced music and Agbadja, a modernized form of Fon
folkloric music. Music from Benin, Nigerian release, enjoy.

tracks;

1 Dadje von von von
2 Ngbahanov O.
3 Ennemi toton
4 Agbadja moderne no.2
5 Hommage aux dovaniers
6 Adigbedoto
7 Fini les pave’s

tracks;

1 Miyimi kpo ji jo ce kpo
2 Je suis Nigérian
3 Gnon nu to min lin
4 L’amour passager
5 Laisser-les-dire

There’s guitarists and guitarists. Zoundegnon Bernard ‘Papillon’
is a true virtuoso. With his Orchestre Poly Rythmo he brings this
astonishing album. Better take it while you can.

tracks;

1 Cherie Coco
2 Mille fois merci

Sam Mangwana, the Pigeon Voyageur, left Congo in 1976 and formed
the African All Stars in Abidjan. On this LP we hear only Stars,
Dizzy Mandjekou – Solo guitar,
Lokassa Ya Mbongo – Rhythm guitar
Kanyama ‘Ringo’ Moya Lotula – Drums
Syran Mbenza – 2nd Solo guitar
Bopol Mansiamina – Bass
Pablo Lubadika Porthos – Bass
David Diambouana – Saxophone
Tidiane – Saxophone
Sam Mangwana – Vocal
The music is in fact Congolese but being recorded in West Africa,
it has a more uptempo Nigerian-like sound with certain Highlife
elements. I saw this LP somewhere before but could not resist
ripping it oncemore, enjoy it !

tracks;

1 Matinda
2 Zamba y’Africa
3 Djamo djamo
4 Est ce que ça tourne ?

On one of my last recordhunts I found this LP by T.P. Orchestre Poly
Rythmo of the Peoples Republic of Benin. African groups love long names.
And we love their music, they truly honour their name by delivering
this super rhythmic highlife. The second side starts kinda abrupt,
sorry but it has little damage. Fantastic dancing material.

tracks;

1 Special Festac 77 in Nigeria A-side
2 Special Festac 77 in Nigeria B-side