There’s a real connection between Afrobeat and France… Not that we’re the only ones, of course – far from it – see the Canadians of SoulJazz Orchestra, the Americans of Antibalas or Kokolo etc., but there have been a number of stories about French, Cameroonian and Nigerian musicians over the past thirty years, many of which are still very much alive today: Les Frères Smith, Fanga, Vaudou Game, Franck Biyong & Massak… (I’m deliberately leaving Manu Dibango out). Several of these groups were formed around former Fela musicians such as Muyiwa Kunnuji & Osemako. This is also true of the historic Ghetto Blaster and its iconic guitarist Kiala Nzavotunga. Unfortunately, the band recorded very little, and People is its only vinyl, released in 1985 (there was also a CD in 2003, River Niger). The title Na Waya became the unmissable hit! Beyond the founders, we find the late Willy N’for, saxophonists Steve Potts and Féfé Priso, Chief Udoh Essiet (an album to come this year), etc. and we travel from Nigeria to Senegal (Life Goes On) via Cameroon (Ayé).
People – Ghetto Blaster, 1985
