Szavanna_blog

Some lively vibes from the great Manu Dibango.

video link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=581YndWsFuk

I am not really sure what the title is … enjoy

video link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvZWWUbXRp0

video link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziwwdPWWI9w

From the film’s site :

“The musical road movie, Return to Gorée, tells of African singer Youssou N’Dour’s epic journey following the trail left by slaves and by the jazz music they invented. Youssou N’Dour’s challenge is to bring back to Africa a jazz repertoire and to sing those tunes in Goree, the island that today symbolizes the slave trade and stands to commemorate its victims. Guided in his mission by the pianist Moncef Genoud, Youssou N’Dour travels across the United States of America and Europe. Accompanied by some of the world’s most exceptional musicians, they meet peoples and well known figures, and create, through concerts, encounters and debates, music which transcends cultural division.
From Atlanta to New Orleans, from New York to Dakar through Luxemburg the songs are transformed, immersed in jazz and gospel. But the day of their return to Africa is fast approaching and much remains to be done to be ready for the final concert…”

video link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txtaUgNhyvk

video link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFTOqZsLjaw

“In 2007, Time magazine named Youssou Ndour one of the hundred most influential people in the world of art. Not only for his music, but especially for what this Senegalese singer did on the side: his work for UNICEF, his efforts to spread technology in Africa and to fight poverty as well. As a result, Ndour is seen by many Africans as the epitome of success and self-confidence. What’s more, to quote his friend Peter Gabriel, the singer has “a voice of liquid gold.” When Ndour starts singing, all the bad stuff fades away for awhile, and concert excerpts give us a generous dose of this phenomenon. But I Bring What I Love is not about Ndour as much as it is about his album Egypt. Released in 2004, this work is dedicated to Ndour’s love for the Islamic faith. Not the smartest PR on earth, if you consider the fact that the world was suffering from a mild case of hysteria regarding that religion, but Ndour wasn’t concerned. In Senegal, however, the singer was criticised for not being religious enough according to conservative spiritual leaders, his album was a work of blasphemy. With Ndour as its guide, this film reveals the spiritual and musical sources that led to Egypt and what the singer was really trying to convey to his audience” ( from here )

video link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK4kE329o28

video link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdW0jwEihrs

Yesterday Johnny Clegg was on TV talking about his son, Jesse who is just starting out with his musical career. It’s comforting to know that Jesse, just like Vieux and Ziggy, carries on with the family tradition – but also bringing fresh sounds – just like Mama Afrika’s music and message carries on in the songs of new generations.

From Jesse’s site :

“Jesse was born in Johannesburg in 1988. By the time he was six months old he was on tour with his father, Johnny Clegg, and between 1988 and 1994 he spent at least 5 months a year on the road. He was a classic road kid and grew up backstage and on tour buses.

Early on, Jesse carved out an independent direction for himself in the rock genre, very different from the world music style developed by his father.  He strived to express himself in the most authentic way possible and understood the importance of being able to perform live.

He experimented with a number of different instruments – which included saxophone, clarinet, drums and piano – until he settled and focused mainly on guitar.  By seventeen, songwriting was his chief musical focus and it was in this period and the years to follow that he honed his writing skills and put together the songs recorded on the first album. The single “Today” which was released on radio in mid August 2008 debuted at number one on the Highveld Homebrew Chart, a considerable feat for a debut artist with a debut single and an historical first for Homebrew. The album “When I Wake Up” is due for national release on 1 October.”

Here Jesse talks about his song, Today :

video link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi67ZZ0pb3c

Here is a song that Johhny wrote for his son many many years ago – preparing him for life’s challenges :

Johnny Clegg & Savuka – Cruel, Crazy And Beautiful World

“For my son and all the children of his generation who will have to deal wilh all that my generalion has

bequeathed to the 21st century.”

You have to wash with the crocodile in the river
You have to swim with the sharks in the sea
You have to live with the crooked politician
Trust those things that you can never see
Ayeye ayeye jesse mfana (jesse boy) ayeye ayeye

You got to trust your lover when you go away
Keep on believing that tomorrow brings a better day
Sometimes you will smile while you’re crying inside
And just once you will turn away while the truth is shining bright
Ayeye ayeye Jesse mfana (Jesse boy) ayeye ayeye

Chorus :
It’s a cruel crazy beautiful world
Every time you wake up I hope it’s under a blue sky
It’s a cruel crazy beautiful world
One day when you wake up I will have to say goodbye
Goodbye — It’s your world so live in it!

Beyond the door, strange cruel beautiful years lie waiting for you
It kills me to know you won’t escape loneliness,
Maybe you lose hope too
Ayeye ayeye jesse mfana ayeye ayeye

Chorus :
It’s a cruel crazy beautiful world
Every time you wake up I hope it’s under a blue sky
It’s a cruel crazy beautiful world
One day when you wake up I will have to say goodbye
Goodbye — It’s your world so live in it!

When I feel your small body close to mine
I feel weak and strong at the same time
So few years to give you wings to fly
Show you the stars to guide your ship by

Chorus :
It’s a cruel crazy beautiful world
Every time you wake up I hope it’s under a blue sky
It’s a cruel crazy beautiful world
One day when you wake up I will have to say goodbye
Goodbye — It’s your world so live in it!

It’s your world so live in it

video link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cu6fKtWoFU0

Today I found a comment to my post that includes Oliver Mtukudzi’s famous Todii. Here is what Pradeep said about this amazing song :

 ”I had a deep feeling that music in Africa must be diverse and rich. What i found after i took an internet connection is a beautiful experience. As soon as heard this song the first night I knew that this is a great singer. His body rhythem, his facial expressions, his guiter-almost a part of his voice all together reveal-what music really is, what no words can define. I donot understand any of his words, except perhaps a vague idea from the visuals. Yet I come back again and again to listen to him. In comparison to music from africa, I find the music of the western world, synthetic and clinically contructed. Let the smell of the earth and the pain and ecstassy of the soul of living a life of struggle be there in songs from Africa, forever.”

Here is Todii again – listen and see what made Pradeep write these words after listening again and again to this song.

video link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfdI-Nw0kkM

Thank you so much Pradeep – I am happy I can contribute to your explorations of African music. And now I can’t stop listening again and again Todii is such a great song ….

video link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnjKu4aGJfk