What the heck.

I’m in the mood for a bouncy, fun music vid today. This one makes me happy when I play it.

Senegal Fast Food by Amadou & Mariam

They’re both blind, which perhaps adds poignancy to the joyous music. Political message only if you wish it.

I also like their ‘Je Pense a Toi‘. You might even want to hit their site, which has other vids and info.

I don’t listen to enough African music. When I do, I remember where the blues came from, and realize that it’s continued to grow from its cradle, in ways very different from the European/American evolution. And, by golly, I’m sometimes even reminded that Africa is a real continent, with a whole bunch of countries, with different cultures and histories, a fact which seems to often slip from my mind.

There’s an amazing melancholic side to be had, of course:

I was an early fan of Geoffrey Oryema — ‘The River’ from his 1991 album ‘Beat the Border‘ is some of the deepest blues I’ve ever heard. He’s Ugandan, and his music is informed by that country’s horrific history. I can’t find any streams of the song anywhere, but highly recommend the whole album to you.

Here’s ‘Land of Anaka‘ from his album ‘Exile‘, which will give you an idea of what he’s about musically.

**********************************