African (Afro) Prog?
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URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=38537
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Topic: African (Afro) Prog?
Posted By: Uncle Hippie
Subject: African (Afro) Prog?
Date Posted: May 31 2007 at 19:51
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Hey all,
I heard someone mention the term "Afro prog" recently, and I was wondering if there are any great African progressive rock bands and albums to discover?
Thanks.
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Replies:
Posted By: Cheesecakemouse
Date Posted: May 31 2007 at 20:19
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osibisa is all I know
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Posted By: Speesh
Date Posted: May 31 2007 at 20:33
| Me too, Osibisa's very good. Be sure to check out their self-titled and Woyaya. |
Posted By: Faaip_De_Oiad
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 00:07
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Fela Kuti? ------------- 
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Posted By: puma
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 01:03
| Trevor Rabin was from South Africa...does that count? |
Posted By: paulindigo
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 02:16
...and Bob Calvert too... |
puma wrote:Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 03:40
| Like all sub-genres, it's not really about where the artist was born is it? |
Posted By: Visitor13
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 03:57
| Probably not exactly what you're looking for, but the band Aka Moon draws heavily on central African rhythms. Outstanding band, highly recommended! |
Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 04:05
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Kenny Henson - ' Let us become Man ' is pure hypnotic conceptual prog. Unfortunately it is only my word as all records and files seem to have dissipated like sand between the toes. Oh apart from my very rare, precious vinyl on hand. It originates from South Africa in 1974 but as Easy livin says prog is basically a universal theme so country of origin is irrelevant. ------------- ...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR] |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 04:44
Manfred Mann is also Soth Afirca borne.
as far as prof rock group outside Osibisan Assaigai (two albumůs on the Vertigo Swirl label, could fit. But there are certainly many African musicians who could easily be called progressive included in fusion and jazz rock. ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: fuxi
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 04:53
| If you're going talk about prog albums INSPIRED by Africa, then Weather Report's BLACK MARKET must be one of the best: first rate jazz-fusion, with superb synths! |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 05:08
I think fans of Chris MacGregor's Brotherhood Of Breathe would argue that! New jazz with a powerful South African influence. Indeed the Anglo Swiss label B&W, largely specialised in issuing recordings of South African jazz and fusion in the 90's (Dave Brubeck's sons were very active in that scene then too - recording and teaching in South Africa).
Not strictly prog , but a fusion of southern African rhythms and Americana, in Paul Simon's Grace? Then Mali seems to be the home of a significant amount of award winnning "world music" for the last decade - one reason why the likes of Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder have separately recorded there with local musicians. And I like a lot of Rai fusion coming out of Algeria via France, e.g. Rimitti (check her Sidi Mansour for the considerable involvement of Fripp, Flea and some of the Mother's brass section), and Rachid Taha - who has collaborated with Steve Hillage for over 20 years . ------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: honganji
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 05:11
South Africa has produced several progressive rock bands/artists worth listening. 
Canamii is the best symphonic rock band as far as I know, but PA doesn't list it ....
  <-- Canamii / Concept Also I own Tale. Tale released more than two albums at least. I own 2nd album Elysium Field. But it is less favorite album than Canamii / Concept.
 <-- Tale / Elysium FieldAfrica is the weakest area for me ....
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Posted By: Sir Hogweed
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 06:23
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Some of Peter Gabriel's work? |
Posted By: Rocktopus
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 06:24
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There's a not to bad jazzrock/fusion band from south africa: http://www.rock.co.za/files/at_index.html - Abstract Truth . I've got their not so good debut and the very nice follow up http://www.rock.co.za/files/silver_trees.html - Silver Trees . They got some hints in their music on what continent they are from, but I guess they might as well have been swedish. ...And the Swedish http://gnosis2000.net/reviews/archimedes.htm - Archimedes Badkar took inspiration from all over the place, Also africa Then there's South African Psych/protoprog band http://www.rock.co.za/files/fc_index.html - Freedom's Children . But that's not afro prog either. ------------- Over land and under ashes In the sunlight, see - it flashes Find a fly and eat his eye But don't believe in me Don't believe in me Don't believe in me |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 06:38
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Jo'Burg Hawk - eponimous
released on the Famous Charisma Label in 1972 more proto-prog than prog, but did feature a track called Dark Side Of The Moon. ------------- What? |
Posted By: oliverstoned
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 07:09
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Pure african influences are very rare in prog, unlike eastern influences. It's rather in the world jazz field that you'll find some, with projects such as Walcott's "Codona".
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Posted By: StyLaZyn
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 09:29
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What I understand from my college days, is that African Tribal music, or rather the beats, contain many polyrhythms. (Over lay this thread with the drummer poll currently going on). Many "drummers" each playing different beats in different time sigs.
This almost could qualify as Prog a la Fripp. Just lay some music on top of it and you are good to go!  Or did Gabriel already do this? ------------- 
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Posted By: Floydian42
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 18:08
Yeah, I think it was PG4 that had all the African vibe stuff, right? |
Posted By: Cheesecakemouse
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 18:25
is he any good? ------------- |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: June 01 2007 at 23:03
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Try this:
http://www.myspace.com/konononr1 - http://www.myspace.com/konononr1
http://www.crammed.be/konono - http://www.crammed.be/konono
(not suggesting this is prog, it's "slightly" different than what you hear everyday, and might interest you).
------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: BroSpence
Date Posted: June 02 2007 at 02:07
He is THE man. |
Posted By: Cheesecakemouse
Date Posted: June 02 2007 at 02:16
I'll have to remember that name then, and look out for his material. ------------- |
Posted By: philippe
Date Posted: June 02 2007 at 04:29
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Afro jazz with progressive, eastern or funkadelic influences as Codona, Black Merda, Brother Ah, Roland P Young ------------- 
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Posted By: dwill123
Date Posted: June 02 2007 at 08:29
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Sun Ra  |
Posted By: blazno
Date Posted: June 02 2007 at 11:09
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Maybe Tinariwen, a mix of rock, traditional Berber music and a little bit of jazz. I maybe mistaken but didn't Ginger Baker have a couple of African drummers on board in Air Force. off topic: Why aren't they on PA? ------------- 
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Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: June 02 2007 at 14:25
Make the case for GB's Airforce. Reebop Kwaku Baah was an in demand percussionist in the early 70's. He was with Airforce, the member of the reformed Traffic (Welcome To The Canteen) - one website tells me he was with Can briefly. He recorded at least one solo album under his own name, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Melodies-Jungle-Mans-Head-Reebop/dp/B000001CNN/ref=sr_1_1/026-0433989-8220406?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1180808458&sr=1-1 - - Melodies In A Jungle Mans Head through Jonas Hellborg's label DEM. ------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: The Rock
Date Posted: June 03 2007 at 02:53
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Duncan Makay was a keyboardist who worked amongst others with Kate Bush,Alan Parsons and Camel,he also released a few albums on his own.His style I would describe is classical prog a la ELP. ------------- What's gonna come out of my mouth is gonna come out of my soul."Skip Prokop" |
Posted By: Cheesecakemouse
Date Posted: June 03 2007 at 03:03
He's Avant Jazz not afro prog from what I've heard, some african influence but also Chinese, not Afro Prog, but he does have his proggy moments in Space is the Place. ------------- |
Posted By: Joolz
Date Posted: June 03 2007 at 03:40
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Re: Tinariwen, Fela Kuti .... etc It depends how you define your Prog. You won't find too many complex 'Prog' structures in African music. Some styles employ time signature changes during songs, but these tend to be defined by the style rather than any inherent progressiveness. If you are looking for progressive artists then you are looking at a rich seam of talent .... inventive and groundbreaking, blending native African styles with Rock, Jazz, Rumba, Blues, Rap etc Salif Keita Baaba Maal Youssou N'Dour Fela Kuti Franco The Rail Band Angelique Kidjo and a great many more |
Posted By: The Whistler
Date Posted: June 03 2007 at 03:41
True, but you can't deny the hat. That's some pretty progressive headwear. ------------- "There seem to be quite a large percentage of young American boys out there tonight. A long way from home, eh? Well so are we... Gotta stick together." -I. Anderson |
Posted By: clarke2001
Date Posted: June 03 2007 at 12:21
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There's loads of good music from Africa....maybe not exactly prog, but certainly a nice blend of musical styles... For anyone interested in African or African-influence music check the artist Joolz listed, they're all highly recommended indeed!! If anyone is interested in some nice mixture of African music and blues, this one is a must: Ali Farka Toure & Ry Cooder: Talking Timbuktu  And if anyone is interested in Western artists' works influenced by Africa, this is the ultimate masterpiece! (sorry Peter Gabriel fans!)  And speaking of some prog from Africa...well, Freddie Mercury was an African-born, right?  Actually, all prog rock is from that continent...because the entire human kind originated from Africa  million of years ago...------------- |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: June 03 2007 at 13:20
Good stuff, too. Too bad it's all out of print. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: fuxi
Date Posted: June 04 2007 at 14:19
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I always thought Salif Keita (one of Mali's greatest singers) sounded prog. Perhaps this was just because he has worked with Joe Zawinul. But just listen what he had to say in last Friday's INDEPENDENT newspaper (U.K.):
MY FAVOURITE RECORD IS... "Wish you were here" by Pink Floyd. Especially the nine-part composition 'Shine on you crazy diamond'. People are usually surprised when I tell them that I feel very close to the music of Pink Floyd. It's true though. I'D LOVE TO PERFORM WITH... Phil Collins. I have as much respect for the music as for the man. --- Now what do you make of THAT, Phil-bashers? For the sake of completeness, I ought to add that the one song Keita wishes he'd written is 'Hotel California'. Now smoke THAT! |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: June 04 2007 at 16:17
As Joolz suggested, it really depends upon how you define "prog." If you mean "are there African bands that make music which sounds like classic English/Euro progressive rock," the answer is "NO, not to my knowledge." 
If, however, you mean, "is there any good small-p "progressive" music made in Africa, adding modern instrumentation and diverse musical elements and influences to traditional, indigenous forms," the answer is a resounding "YES -- tons of it!"
I like Papa Wemba, King Sunny Ade, Manu Dibango, Youssou N'dour, etc, etc.
 Does that music belong here? Not in my opinion. Such stuff is loosely categorized as "world" music, and that's a VAST area (basically, all non-Western music).  ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Joolz
Date Posted: June 05 2007 at 08:23
You sound like a Salif Keita fan! It was his song 'Souareba' that first turned me on to African music back in the mid-80s.
Ah, but Peter, don't we already have some categories that us old Progsters have difficulty with? It may not be Prog as we knew it, but in modern PA terms, I think African Prog would sit very well with some of the sub-genres here. |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: June 05 2007 at 11:57
My point is that such an articial, subjective "genre" would be HUGE, and could not be fairly limited to Africa. Small-p "progressive" music is made all over the world -- art does not remain static. Geographical/cultural artforms "communicate," cross-fertilize, overlap, intertwine and mutate.
Again, we'd risk making "prog" even more synonymous with merely "good," "different" or "original."
Massive can o' worms, IMO! ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |