SOUL UNLIMITED Radioshow 639

This episode of the Soul Unlimited radio show features a special with highlife and Afrobeat from Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, and South Africa. This musical journey also focuses on the music scene in Zimbabwe in the late 1970s, which is presented on the excellent compilation “Roots Rocking Zimbabwe.”
The show kicks off with the Dutch band New Cool Collective, who recorded the album “Trippin’” with Afrobeat legend Tony Allen in 2005, which was re-released on vinyl in 2022. Next up is highlife from Ghana, first with Ebo Tayler featuring a song from his 2024 album from the Jazz Is Dead series, followed by a new album from Gyedu-Blay Ambolay. With “Wake Up Afrika,” he continues his collaboration with the German label Agogo Records, which began in 2017. It is a worthy late work by the now 78-year-old highlife legend, who once again presents the soulful highlife sound. His mix of highlife, funk, soul, jazz, and proto-rap is unique and captivating. A great album.
Next, we head first to Benin and then back to Nigeria and the sons of the legendary Fela Kuti. First, we hear Seun Kuti with a song from the album Heavier Yet, which was released last year. More recent, however, is the new album by his older brother Femi Kuti, who has released his 12th studio album, Journey Through Life. This marks a new chapter in his career, as he produced the album on his own for the first time. Fresh interpretations of some older songs and new songs result in a harmonious album with Femi Kuti’s typical Afrobeat sound, which does not spare sharp criticism of political corruption and social injustice. A great album.
Next, we travel musically to Kenya and then to South Africa, where we meet The Anchors, whose third album, “Black Soul,” was recently re-released. This long-lost gem, recorded in 1972, offers an insightful look at the development of the South African Afro-fusion scene during a time of change.
A similar musical development took place in neighboring Zimbabwe, which was then still called Rhodesia. In white-dominated Rhodesia, it was not common for black people to be reported on in the press, and when the Rhodesia Herald first reported on a black musician, guitarist Manu Kambani, it sparked a wave of protests from conservative whites. At the same time, however, many young musicians were inspired by Manu Kambani, who had become famous in this way, and formed their own bands. They began to fuse rock music, Congolese rumba, South African mbaqanga, soul, and traditional beats into an underground music movement that would shape the future of Zimbabwean sound and challenge the colonial establishment. The compilation “Roots Rocking Zimbabwe (The Modern Sound of Harare‘ Townships 1975-1980)” released by Analog Africa presents an excellent selection of top-class songs from this period. Label boss Samy Ben Redjeb is responsible for the compilation and, as always, he has done an excellent job. This compilation offers a wonderful insight into an exciting music scene that would otherwise have remained hidden from us. Great, the record of the week!
Finally, I would like to introduce you to the latest EP by Immy Owusu, who has teamed up with Sensible J for this project. A current production by two Australian musicians with Ghanaian and South African roots. Here, too, you can hear the inspiration from the music described above.
Enjoy listening to this episode!

Playlist:

Soul Unlimited – Radioshow Theme
New Cool Collective featuring Tony Allen - One More Time
Ebo Taylor, Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad - Feeling
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley & His Sekondi Band - It Doesn’t Matter
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley & His Sekondi Band - U Like Or U No Like
T. P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - Segla
Santrofi - Amina
Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 - Emi Aluta (feat. Sampa The Great)
Femi Kuti - Corruption Na Stealing
Femi Kuti - Politics Don Expose Them
The Mighty Cavalliers - Dunia Ina Mambo
Bazali Bam - Joyful
The Movers - Hot Coffee
The Anchors - Given’s Boots Part 2
The Anchors - Rhodesia
Witch - Introduction
T. Mapfumo & The Acid Band - Chiiko Chinotinetsa
The Phaze - Baby Please
The Green Arrows - The Towering Inferno
Double Shuffle - Taj Mahal
Immy Owusu And Sensible J - Spiritual War
Immy Owusu And Sensible J - Curly Hair
Mahotella Queens - Wozani Mahipi