My name is Catherine Barnes, and I’ll be contributing a series of articles to this blog on Angolan semba and Brazilian samba. I’m a percussionist and armchair ethnomusicologist fascinated by all rhythms African and of the African diaspora. I recently returned from studying samba in Rio de Janeiro, which is also where I encountered Angolan semba music for the first time. I became interested in the similarities and differences in the two styles, and what better place to explore them than here at Akwaaba Music?
Angolan semba and Brazilian samba share a common ancestor: the massemba dance from central Angola. Known as umbigada, or “belly-bumping” in Portuguese, the dance is characterized by a hip thrust meant to mimic the act of procreation. (source)
Here’s a Brazilian umbigada group performing at the First Forum in Defense of Popular Traditions in Piracicaba, Brazil:
Now check out this recent video of couples dancing semba in Luanda, Angola. Notice the “belly-bumping” movements at 1:40.
Although samba is usually danced without a partner, samba da gafieira, or ballroom samba, has become very popular, especially in Rio de Janeiro. Seu Jorge even featured it in the video for his hit song “Carolina” :
Keep checking back for more information on the similarities and differences between Angolan semba and Brazilian samba!
Not sure who took this photo… but whoever took it did a great job. As we start 2010 we hope to get back to Luanda very soon, the music and energy were so inspiring… and as the African Cup of Nations approaches, surely the levels of energy – or straight up chaos! - in Luanda must be reaching new highs!!!! Saudades das pessoas que conhecemos em Angola… feliz ano novo!!!
Akwaaba meets Killamu in front of his home and studio in Luanda, Angola. Killamu’s been making kuduro beats for close to a decade, and explains the stories and realities of kuduro in Angola today. We highly recommend you watch the video in HD on Vimeo!
Enjoy the tease, Killamu’s full length album comes out January 12, 2010. If you haven’t already, go download Killamu’s song Flaminguinho right here for free.
By far the baddest, biggest edition of Bomb Diggy will be the Amsterdam Dance Event Special!
a serious line-up will wreck the floor and smash a horny vibe in your face till 05:00 in the morning:
- yes.. a special set with the hottest baile funk tunes by European adopter Daniel Haaksman!
- the live deep and analog hiphoppedy global tech kicks of soundboy Filastine, together with MC Nova from Indonesia!
- BBRAVE from Akwaaba Music with the true African sounds, banging from calypso, hiplife, kuduro and back to Ghanian roots!
- Raving bassline and no-mercy bouncers from the one and only AC Slater!
- the brothers from Lisbon with their soca fueled bashment and kuduro influenced afro-electro: Octa Push!
- supported by the deep dubstep sounds from new kid on the block Tommy Tequila!
- and rounded off with the records of residents Mataklap, Makks & Ru-D
IF YOU DON’T FEEL LIKE HOUSE/TECHNO PARTYING AND SEEK OTHER SOUNDS ON THE AMSTERDAM DANCE EVENT FESTIVAL:
COME TO THE OT301 ‘CAUSE THAT’S WHERE THE TROPICAL BASS IS GONNA KICK!
stay tuned if you want to win tickets for this night!
NO PRE-SALE!!!! SO DON’T BE TOO LATE!!!!
bye friends!
Bomb Diggy crew
23. October 2009 22:00
OT301, Amsterdam
Daniel Haaksman (Man Recordings), Filastine (Soot Records, Shockout), Octa Push (Iberian Records, Soul Jazz), AC Slater (Trouble & Bass), BBRave (Akwaaba Music), Tommy Tequila (New Kid on the Block), Mataklap, Ru-D & Makks
In honor of all the maquis, chop bars and other bass pounding watering holes encountered on his journeys to Africa, BBRAVE compresses it all into one pungent hour of sweaty music, hiplife, coupé décalé, semba, kuduro and stuff we’re not sure how to classify… see for yourself:
Listen here:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Le Shanghai, a big, big maquis rue Princesse in Yopougon, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Lisbon, Portugal’s own DJ Mpula, host of the Radio Fazuma show, connects with the Akwaaba team to revisit the Angolan gems collected on Akwaaba Sem Transporte. Adding a dash of his own potent production, this mix is sure to get your body in motion. And sure to give Angolan kuduro new means of transportation, directly to your ears.
DJ Mpula, animateur de l’émission Radio Fazuma à Lisbonne, au Portugal, prend le contrôle des manettes pour revisiter la compile Akwaaba Sem Transporte. Il y ajoute un soupçon de sa propre production, ce qui donne un mix fortiche, qui a priori devrait faire remuer vos arrières-trains. Et permet à ce kuduro Angolais de se déplacer plus proche encore de vos oreilles.
“DJ Mpula”, apresentador do programa Rádio Fazuma em Lisboa, Portugal, conecta-se com a equipe Akwaaba para revisitar as gemas coletadas na coletânia Akwaaba Sem Transporte. Adicionando um pouco de sua própria produção, potente, esse mix fará o seu corpo se mover. E com certeza dar kuduro angolano novos meios de transporte, diretamente a seus ouvidos.
At last… Akwaaba unleashes a wild collection of bangers from Luanda, Angola. Some of the big names are on there, Puto Prata, Noite e Día, Zoca Zoca, but some new comers (Os Mais Potentes, Figura) and total newbies too (F4, Gelú-Six). The album is available for purchase in the iTunes store, and you can listen to it on Fairtilizer.
Older Entries
| 
