New Mundiando: Poly Ritmo, Staff, Very Best…
Marcos Sacchi's Mundiando podcast always packs a whirlwind of a playlist. In the latest episode, we find our own Rose Dede Tetteh among some of our favorite artists. Here's the full playlist: (from Mundiando) 01- Vieux Farka Touré | Sarama (Earthrise Soundsystem...
Refugee All Stars (Sierra Leone)
New track from Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars available via Cumbancha, download it here for free. So who are the Refugee All Stars? From refugeeallstars.org: The film 'Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars' tells the remarkable and uplifting story of a group of six...
Emmanuel Jal (Sudan) free download
From GhettoRadio.nl Almost exactly a year ago, former child soldier turned musician made a commitment to raise funds to build schools in Sudan and Eastern Africa Prior to his rescue by an international aid worker, Emmanuel had endured the worst atrocities thinkable...
Vieux Farka Touré vs Sabbo
For those who forgot... Vieux Farka Touré, despite his name (vieux = old in French) is not Ali Farka Touré ancestor, but his own SON!! He's been on the road pushing his dad's legacy worldwide, and even counts Ahmed Fofana as one of his musicians, often his small...
Fazuma vs Akwaaba
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...
08/27 SF: BBRAVE @ Afrolicious
Joey and Oz of Afrolicious are inviting Akwaaba's turntable-hogging founder, BBRAVE, to spread the African sounds in San Francisco's Mission district. The night goes down at Elbo Room (map).
08/21 LA: BBRAVE @ Daddy O’s
O-Raj has been rockin' the decks at Enterprise Fish Co in Santa Monica all summer long. After a first fun + successful collabo with Akwaaba's BBRAVE at the Townhouse (ahhhh, the good ol'days) in Venice Beach last July, O-Raj is sharing the aquatic limelight again on...
08/04 WW: Akwaaba Sem Transporte
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...
08/06 MX: BBRAVE @ Queretaro 246, Mexico City
Last minute gig at this brand new spot on the border of Zona Roma and Condesa, 246 Queretaro right by Insurgentes, Akwaaba invades DF!!
08/04 WW: Ze Bula remix contest
Akwaaba Music, Mad Decent & Fairtilizer are happy to bring you the Ze Bula Remix Contest by Figura and DJ MJ, off of our Angolan kuduro compilation “Akwaaba Sem Transporte”. THE RULES 1. Download the acapella HERE (140 bpm) 2. Remix the song the way you like! 3....
04/21 Alou Sangaré’s Buranké on iTunes
Alou Sangaré's abum Agoh comes out today in the iTunes music store, cop it while it's hot!
08/06 MX: BBRAVE in Mexico City
BBRAVE takes over the decks at Queretaro 246, a month old spot right on the edge of Zona Roma and Condesa, right by Insurgentes. Akwaaba African beats invade DF!!
Akwaaba Sem Transporte on Myspace
Everyone has their favorite site to listen to music and check out new artists... Myspace still deserves respect, so we created a page for Akwaaba Sem Transporte, our Angolan kuduro compilation.
Alou Sangaré on Myspace, at last!
Alou's not a big Myspace user, so we here at Akwaaba created a page for him. We forward all inquiries to him in Bamako. By phone, you know he likes to use his bluetooth, especially on calls with the US ;p
Mamou Sidibé on Myspace, at last!
Mamou Sidibé has had a website, but for the last few weeks it's been down. One more reason to hurry up and create her own myspace page!.
Mamou Sidibé mixtape @ Breath of Life
Breath of Life always has interesting music and thoughts. They recently highlighted Mamou Sidibé's great mixture of Malian and Ganadougou tradition, with computer drum sequencing and "techno". You can read the full post here or download the mixtape here.
10/09 DE: BBRAVE @ Mash It Up Cologne
Markossa, Jäz & DJ Baska invited BBRAVE to share some of the Akwaaba sounds at their Cologne weekly party Mash It Up, on Friday October 9 at Subway.
Benjamin Lebrave interview @ Green Owl
Our friends over at Green Owl Records featured a nice in-depth interview today. In it Akwaaba founder Benjamin Lebrave discusses why he started Akwaaba, what it's all about and most importantly, what are the goodies coming your way soon! Thanks to WIlls for his time...
Akwaaba featured in Soma Magazine
Soma Magazine from San Francisco did a nice piece on Akwaaba this month. Check out the digital version of the magazine and head to page 28, or read it directly here. Thanks to Amity Bacon for her time and interest in Akwaaba!
08/01 LA: BBRAVE @ Classix
Classix is a new monthly party that you can depend on! Every month Classix will challenge dj's to dig deep in the crates and bring out only the truly classic ish. Maybe it's a jackin' Chicago house track from '89, a bumpin' re-edit of an old disco jam, a hip-hop...
09 /26 LA: BBRAVE @ Create:Fixate
We Like “Comfusões”
Comfusões takes Angolan Pop music from the golden 60s and 70s to Brazil. The songs by legendary singers like Teta Lando, Artur Nunes or Carlos Lamartine are passed on into the hands of the most exciting Braziilan producers of today. For a long time now Angola has been...
08/18 WW: Carlos Lamartine
To balance out our kuduro release, Akwaaba Sem Transporte, here is a beautiful collection of Carlos Lamartine's recordings, from the mid 1960s til 1975. He was a member of several bands, including Os Aguias Reais, and was backed up by some of Luanda's best conjuntos:...
We like “I Bring What I Love”
Just saw this movie. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in Youssou N'Dour's music, Senegal, Africa, their culture(s), religions and relationship with the West.
08/12 LA: Akwaaba on Cosmic Barrio
Derek Rath, host of Cosmic Barrio every Sunday on KPFK, invites Akwaaba founder Benjamin Lebrave to talk about his recent trip to Angola, Angolan music, African music, Akwaaba, and more of that good stuff. Tune in at 6pm this Sunday July 12, KPFK 90.7fm in LA, online...
08/20 LA: BBRAVE @ Afro Funke
06/27 LA: Afrodicia – KPFK interview
Nnamdi Moweta, host of Afrodicia on KPFK, is having Benjamin Lebrave share some of his Angolan experiences on his show this Saturday June 27 at 3pm PST. Listen at 90.7FM in LA, on the KPFK website, download it here or just listen to it right here:...