"Do you know the way to São Tomé? I've been away so long, I may go wrong and lose my way".
That is the rhetorical question asked by members of the São Toméan diaspora when pining for their islands. They know the literal answer of course. You head for Gabon, hop on a boat and you'll find them about 150 miles into the Atlantic.
But if that option isn't available then the music from back home can help them travel there in their minds. As you yourselves will be able to do while listening to the songs in today's post.
There is no better place to start that musical journey than "Léve-Léve", a compilation of 1970s and 1980s recordings from São Tome and Principe released by the always estimable Bongo Joe label in 2020.
There are a lot of great tunes on the album and I have opted for this one by Os Úntués. One of the stalwarts of the music scene in the years leading up to independence in 1975, they fused the local socopé rhythm with soukous and a little hint of samba to great effect. This track was first released in 1971 on an EP in Angola, an Angolan release being "the litmus test of success for any of the islands’ groups" (or so the blurb in the booklet says).
The next two artists also feature on "Léve-Léve" but not with these particular songs. First up we have Africa Negra, considered by many to be the best band ever to emerge from the islands. Formed in the early 1970s, their golden period was the 1980s when they bestrode Lusophone Africa like a colossus. The classic line-up split in 1989, but they have continued in one form or another ever since and in 2019 released their first album in over 20 years, "Alia Cu Omalí".
Today's selection was originally released on their 1986 album "San Lema" but you can find it more easily on "Antologia Vol.1", a compilation of their work put together by the boys at Bongo Joe. "Is there a Vol. 2?" I hear you ask. There will be next month and you can pre-order it here.
Africa Negra's main rivals for domestic superiority were Os Leonenses, pioneers of the puxa sound that swept the dancefloors of Santo António back in the day. Their lead singer, Pedro Lima, also had a successful parallel solo career which sadly came to an end (as did the band) when he died in 2019. His public funeral was one of the largest the islands had ever seen, and evidently "he was buried with his wireless microphone, so his powerful voice would always be heard".
A very good compilation of Mr Lima's solo material called "Recordar É Viver : Antologia Vol.1" came out in 2022. That is where you can find today's track, originally released on his debut solo album in 1981.
Like Mr Lima, I believe Amorim Diogo started his career as the lead singer of a band that features on "Léve-Léve", in his case Sangazuza. My limited evidence for asserting this is a 1986 album called "Cooperação" credited to Sangazuza and Africa Negra. He is the featured vocalist on half the tracks. As the other half are sung by João Seria, the vocalist with Africa Negra, by a process of deduction Mr Diogo must have bought Sangazuza to the party.
All of which is neither here nor there really as today's top tune wasn't released until 2015. I found it on a compilation called "Super Collection Sao Tomé e Principe" and you can as well (although you may need to set your ethics aside if you want to download it).
We will get to the Mandatory African Reggae in a minute but first some Optional African Rap. I have listened to loads of rap in compiling this series so far but most of it fairly standard stuff with nothing to indicate it is from Africa let alone the specific country the post was about.
However, every now and then I will come across something a bit more distinctive, as was the case with this catchy little piece by one Tigre T. It dates from 2017 and if you go onto YouTube so can find a few more from him in a similar style. Mr T has some sort of affiliation with local rap collective Os Vibrados Júnior, but based on what I've heard I would pass unless his name is on the label.
After all that enormous build up it is MAR time, courtesy of Ja Yi' Son (Jaylson Graça to his Mum). He comes from São Tomé. He may now be living in Almada in Portugal. This track came out in 2021. That's all I've got.
"Chi Bô Sá Migu Di Védê" - Os Úntuès
On the strength of that wonderful Africa Negra track I'm tempted to splash out €10 plus IVA on the album
ReplyDeleteAmorim Diogo and Tigre T are a good listen. And I'm liking the MAR track.
ReplyDeleteTwo in a row on the MAR, we are on a roll
DeleteI was thinking of you as the flotilla of Olympic participants made their way down the Seine in tonight's opening ceremony. Many of the smaller countries that us 1st worlders shamefully know little about. Kudos to you for your African Odyssey
ReplyDelete