Bab L’ Bluz release new album ‘Swaken’
Swaken features 11 tracks that spark and pulse with kinetic, pedal-to-the-metal energy.
Fri, 10 May 24
Benin, Gabon, Mali, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Congo-Brazzaville
Musow Danse
Released 16 February 2024
- Musow Danse (Women's Dance)
- Mother Murakoze (feat. Alvie Bitemo)
- Flaws (feat. Mamani Keïta & Fafa Ruffino)
- Kiss Me (feat. Dobet Gnahoré)
- Kuma Fo (What They Say)
- Espérance (feat. Mamani Keïta)
- To Be Loved (feat. Kandy Guira)
- Queen Kuruma (feat. Fafa Ruffino)
- Bobo Me (Interlude) [feat. Nneka]
- Amahoro (Don't Get Angry) [feat. Alvie Bitemo]
- My Place (feat. Dobet Gnahoré)
- Bobo Me (feat. Nneka & Mamani Keïta)
Liner notes
The all-female African supergroup Les Amazones d’Afrique, a collective which has included some of the biggest stars in African music, make a triumphant return with a brand-new sound on their third album Musow Danse.
Les Amazones d’Afrique is an all-female collective formed in Bamako, Mali, in 2014 by three renowned Malian music stars and social change activists, Mamani Keïta, Oumou Sangaré and Mariam Doumbia, and it has since expanded to involve many female artists from across Africa and the diaspora. While their cause — campaigning for gender equality and eradicating ancestral violence — is worthy enough in itself, their musical creative expression is equally powerful. Richly melodic and far-ranging, it blends pan-African styles and collaborative harmonies with gritty, contemporary pop.
Following two critically-acclaimed albums République Amazone (2017) and Amazones Power (2020) working with the idiosyncratic Congotronics producer Doctor L, the band have now collaborated with Jacknife Lee (U2, Modest Mouse, Taylor Swift) on the new album to embrace a powerful pop sound led by 808s and glitchy synths and drawing from contemporary hip-hop and trap influences.
Further listening
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Released 24 January 2020
A creative force that embraces international voices; sweet, strong harmonies that summon the rights of women and girls; a meltdown of heritage and new gen talent… Les Amazones d’Afrique are back with Amazones Power, the sequel to their widely acclaimed 2017 debut album, République Amazone. -
Released 18 February 2022
It’s a voice that soars — pure, clear and true — above bass and synths, traditional percussion and infectious Mande guitar grooves. A stop-you-in-your-tracks voice instantly familiar to anyone in Mali, West Africa: Rokia Koné, a.k.a the Rose of Bamako. On her debut album, she teams up with California-based rock producer Jacknife Lee to reimagine the Malian sound in ways both leftfield and beautiful.
Further reading
The Zawose Queens from Tanzanian musical dynasty announce debut album Maisha
The Zawose Queens, Pendo and Leah, are the daughter and grand-daughter of the late Dr. Hukwe Zawose.
Wed, 20 March 24
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