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Sub-Saharan AFRICAN Prog Bands!
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zwordser View Drop Down
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    Posted: August 07 2022 at 12:10
So, you see the title. On PA, the list essentially amounts to artists from South Africa, and two bands from two other African countries: Ghana (Osibisa) and Madagascar (Vazimba). 

 The Most notable thing to me about the list is that at least half of the bands are from the 1960's and 70's (unlike the Middle East and Asia which are mostly 2000's).

IF you know of any other bands from Sub-S-Africa that can be call "prog" (or any of the Sub-genres) that for one reason or another are'nt on PA, please mention them. I'd be curious to know (and I'm sure others here as well).

BTW, African countries that are NOT Sub-Shaharan (Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia) can be found in the Middle East Post here:



Here's the list (sorted by Sub-Genre)

Artist/Band Country Category Year formed Avg. Rating Studio Albums Note
Canamii South Africa Crossover Prog 1980 2.96 1 32 ratings
Manfred Mann's Plains Music South Africa Crossover Prog 1991 2.74 1 19 ratings
Trevor Rabin South Africa Crossover Prog 1977 2.8 26 Most albums unrated
OhGod! South Africa Experimental/Post Metal 2015 0 1 not rated
The Ocean Doesn't Want Me South Africa Experimental/Post Metal 2008 3.5 1 2 ratings
Freedom's Children South Africa Heavy Prog 1968 3.4 3 80 ratings
Abstract Truth South Africa Indo-Prog/Raga Rock 1965 3.4 2 80 ratings
Demon Fuzz South Africa Jazz Rock/Fusion 1970 3.6 2 73 ratings, mostly for first album
Osibisa Ghana Jazz Rock/Fusion 1969 3.5 13 Most albums with few ratings
Albinobeach South Africa Post Rock/Math Rock 2006 4 2 1 rating; 1 not rated
Paving the Labyrinth South Africa Post Rock/Math Rock 2014 4 1 3 ratings
Savage Lucy South Africa Post Rock/Math Rock 2011 5 2 1 rating each
Flibbertigibbet South Africa Prog Folk 1978 2.52 1 12 ratings
Hawk South Africa Prog Folk 1971 3.6 2 23 ratings
Robert Calvert South Africa Psychedelic/Space Rock 1974


Chris Prophet South Africa Tech/Extreme Prog Metal 2019 0 1 no ratings
Vazimba Madagascar Tech/Extreme Prog Metal 2011 4 1 One album, 4 ratings




Edited by zwordser - August 07 2022 at 16:42
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David_D View Drop Down
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Points: 15558 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David_D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 07 2022 at 15:17

Since mid-70's, of all the African bands I've been most fond of Osibisa, and their debut is my absolutely fave album. 
Actually, it has been one of the very first Prog albums, I've become fond of, and even very fond of. Tongue
                      quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
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zwordser View Drop Down
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Originally posted by David_D David_D wrote:


Since mid-70's, of all the African bands I've been most fond of Osibisa, and their debut is my absolutely fave album. 
Actually, it has been one of the very first Prog albums, I've become fond of, and even very fond of. Tongue


I have one early Osibisa album which I really like.  I think it was the Roger Dean cover that first caught my attention to listening/getting it.

The only other band I know on the list so far is Demon Fuzz whose debut album is one of the better Jazz-Rock albums I've heard!
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Sean Trane View Drop Down
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From Lagos , Nigeria

 




The full Ofege début album:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqQQlhKuTTA

You could also name a few Fela Kutti albums of the 70's.


Edited by Sean Trane - August 08 2022 at 03:07
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David_D View Drop Down
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Points: 15558 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David_D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2022 at 07:03
Originally posted by zwordser zwordser wrote:

I have one early Osibisa album which I really like.  I think it was the Roger Dean cover that first caught my attention to listening/getting it.

If it's not their debut, it must be Woyaya, which is my second-fave of theirs, but I find the debut album more influenced by traditional African music (tribal) and quite a lot better.


Edited by David_D - August 08 2022 at 07:35
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zwordser View Drop Down
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Points: 1398 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote zwordser Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2022 at 09:16
Originally posted by Sean Trane Sean Trane wrote:

From Lagos , Nigeria


The full Ofege début album:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqQQlhKuTTA

You could also name a few Fela Kutti albums of the 70's.


Nice!  Definitely a 70's look and feel with a laid-back Afro-reggae vibe.  Not sure I'd call it Prog; maybe a little bit jazz-rocky.
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zwordser View Drop Down
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Points: 1398 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote zwordser Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 08 2022 at 09:21
Originally posted by David_D David_D wrote:

Originally posted by zwordser zwordser wrote:

I have one early Osibisa album which I really like.  I think it was the Roger Dean cover that first caught my attention to listening/getting it.

If it's not their debut, it must be Woyaya, which is my second-fave of theirs, but I find the debut album more influenced by traditional African music (tribal) and quite a lot better.


Yes, Woyaya is the album I have. 

Well, maybe they were primarily in Ghana in their earliest days. I think they did their recording of Woyaya in England, and were probably influenced by British invasion and other prog/fusion bands.
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