Interactive poll #22: The Africa edition

Welcome to the 22nd Interactive Poll. This time we go to Africa - a large continent that goes from Alexandria to Cape Town, from Dakar to Mogadishu (plus a few islands along the coastline).

The song (or piece, if it is an instrumental) must be either 1) from Africa, 2) related to Africa or 3) just inspired by African music in one way or another. Thus, we go by a format similar to the Latin American poll earlier on. However, there are no genre restrictions. Cover versions are allowed.

Prog artists can participate, but please think twice before entering with a 20 minutes long epic, and please don't choose too well known artists (I believe that, say, tracks from Remain in Light will be too well known around here).

The voting will open in a week, next Monday. Until then, you are free to post up to three songs, but please have your final nomination ready in time. Thus, there will pleny of time to vote before the next poll is up.

I wish everyone good luck :)

My second nomination is a tractor.

When I read the title I knew I had to nominate this song It's rather long so I'll make it my only suggestion to this poll.

Easy Money wrote: King Sunny Ade "365 is my Number/The Message"   The cool jam kicks in a little after the 1:50 mark.

The video is unavailable here. This one worked for me:

My favorite African guitarist....

Who needs Paul Simon? Or instruments?

Miriam Makeba (with Hugh Masekela) - Soweto Blues

Looking forward to what you post of Hamza, I am also a fan!  

Great theme, I love this, even though I don't have that much...

Here's drums legend Tony Allen (1940-2020, RIP!) with Hugh Maskela paying tribute to their former band leader Fela Kuti. I think this was released only a month or so before Tony's death. 

I could propose three of Tony Allen, I love him so much. But that's not what I'm gonna do.

Yes, nice theme! Although music from Africa is not my strongpoint (and I see already some of the artists that I do know presented), there is definitely much African inspired music around. I could have come up with something from Orange Blossom again, but I already presented them in earlier polls. Then I thought I do an Angélique Kidjo special, but there are too many other interesting things - maybe I put up some songs of/with her later on, apart from a first one now.

But, in chronological order, first some rock from Tanzania (though several band members came from other countries too, and rock must be considered "world music" from an African point of view...). Typically mid 70s, but very good: Sunburst - Vijana:

Then some Angelique Kidjo, but before she broke through with her solo career. She was invited by Dutch jazz (rock) pianist/keyboardist Jasper van 't Hof to take part in his African inspired band Pili Pili - typically mid 80s, but very good... The studio version of this song is 15 minutes, but I stumbled upon a great live version that is almost half that long (and it's nice to see them perform): Pili Pili - Hoomba Hoomba:

(for the studio version you can go here)

And my third, a kind of african-celtic-electro-mix, typically mid 00s, but very good: Afro Celt Sound System - When I Still Needed You:

Enjoy!