an introduction
From the summers of 2005 to 2008, I lived in Conakry, the capital city of Guinea in West Africa. From there I went on countless trips to various other countries in the region, namely Sierra Leone, Ghana and Benin. My goal was, to find as many vintage African records as possible.
The archive of this blog contains 60 reports that I wrote while in Africa. The links ending with "-MP3-" will lead you to posts which include mixes that were created with the records found on these travels. All articles are in chronological order. If you want to start from the beginning, please begin at the bottom with the story of Mr. Mafa and his record store.
Enjoy!
Frank
6 comments:
Dear Frank,
I just discovered your site this weekend thanks to some kind soul out there in the ether sending me a link without my requesting it - and I am very glad he did!
I must have listened to about 10 hours of your mixes this weekend and you've really opened my eyes to a lot of African music I'd never heard before as well as stuff I already knew and loved. It's just my kind of site! When I find some new music I tend to research it deeply and find out as much as I can related to it so your site was a Godsend after deciding to look down the Beninois voodoo funk alley. And that was all thanks to the Barbican Centre here in London programming Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou for this coming September.
Do you ever make it over this side of the pond? Please let me know if you do...if you don't already know people then I'm sure I could set you up a couple of DJ sets at appropriate club nights. There's some interesting and good stuff being played in London - but not quite on your level, of course.
Anyway, enough of the arse licking... I feel privileged to have found your site and listened to the mixes you've put together over the years. A million thank yous. Wishing you the very best for the future.
Peace,
Alex
Hey Alex,
thanx for your kind words.
Sure, I'd love to come to London...
please get in touch via email
frank@voodoofunk.com
Cheers!
Frank
Greetings, I'm a devoted reggae,ska lover and I discovered African funk music a few years ago I'm getting more and more into it and has become a part of my life to asame as reggae.I asume You already know about the beauty of Ethiopian jazz Mulatu Astatke .It became Spiritually Yu Know...... I wanna thank you for your great Mixes I got some Great Reggae Roots for yu in return If Yu Like, Anyway,....More Love and wisdom from Ethiopium From The Netherlands KIBIR AM LAK
Hey Frank, Loved your show at the Glasslands last week. Will review it and the great tunes along with others for a brand new creative humanitarian overseas mag called HELO: The Crisis Story Magazine. We have lots of aid workers and locals across Africa and a new issue coming out in the next couple days. I'd like to contact you about the review and photos, but can't find any better means than this. If you have time, write me at Editor, Helo@Helo-Magazine.com. - Peace, - Daniel
Just realized also that in addition to the fabulous music, plus visual show, you probably have some interesting witness/ friend of witness views on the govt transition in Conakry. Let me know if you'd like to communicate about your music and/or weigh in as a unique source on a creative approach story about Guinea for a global aid worker rights advocate audience at www.helo-magazine.com/launchpad. - Daniel
yo. i was talking to this dude on a photoshoot and we were talking about how we both like FELA and i was like "how do i find more African/Nigerian tunes? i can't get enough but i don't really know anyone else who listens to it... so i'm a bit lost." i guess he knew about your blog and passed it on to me...
wow man! wow! you are not playing around! i'm slowing going through the older posts and downloading the mixes and i try to keep up with the recent one and get any and all mp3s you post. i've yet to hear a track that i don't like.
so in short...
thank you thank you thank you!
i'm an artist amongst other things and i live in LA so i can't make it to your dj sets which i'm sure are epic. next time i come to NY i'm going to track down where you are spinning & come check it out.
so that's it. just wanted to shout out and give you props and say thanks for supplying us with these hits man.
joe mckay
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