African Jazz/Funk/Psych

Formed of Laura Lee on bass, Mark Speer on guitar, and Donald “DJ” Johnson on drums; Khruangbin’s sounds are rooted in the deepest waters of world music infused with classic soul, dub and psychedelia. Their 2015 debut album ‘The Universe Smiles Upon You’ was heavily influenced by 60’s and 70’s Thai cassettes the band listened to on their long car journeys to rehearsal in the Texan countryside. ‘Con Todo El Mundo’ takes inspiration not just from South East Asia but similarly underdiscovered funk and soul of the Mediterranean and the Middle East, particularly Iran.

2000 Blacks Got To Be Free is a musical collaboration between the African American vibraphone player Roy Ayers and Fela.

Get out! Fight!” The Lijadu Sisters’ Horizon Unlimited is the insurgent afrofunk their second cousin Fela strived to create.

Live! is an album recorded in 1971 by Fela Kuti's band Africa '70, with the addition of former Cream drummer Ginger Baker on two songs.

In Ghana “to chop” is to eat, so the phrase No Funk, No Chop quite simply means; deliver afro funk and disco bombs, or no one will eat today.

This disc is an overt response to the consistent harassment afflicting Fela Kuti's Kalakuta Republic in the early '70s under the oppressive Lagos authorities.

On the title track Fela and the backup singers ridicule the mindset of men in uniform over an urgent, quick-march accompaniment from Afrika 70.

Hailu Mergia weaves Moog and DX7 synthesizers, Rhodes electric piano and rhythm machine into the rich harmonic layering of his accordion, creating hauntingly psychedelic, elegantly arranged instrumentals.

Living near Dortmund, Atta worked as a day-laborer, farmhand and English teacher, but he was also absorbing Stevie Wonder, the Staples Singers, KC and the Sunshine Band, Michael Jackson and the disco movement.

It was the sound of post-independence Nigeria, a time of celebration and wealth but, ultimately, of political oppression. 

Africamore: The Afro-Funk Side of Italy (1973-1978) Continuing Four Flies' dedication to delving into lesser-explored periods of Italian music, Africamore takes us on a captivating journey into the intersection of Afro-funk and the Italian soundscape during the six years between 1973 and 1978 

Funeral For Justice is the new album by Mdou Moctar. Recorded at the close of two years spent touring the globe following the release of 2019 breakout Afrique Victime, it captures the Nigerien quartet in ferocious form.

Seminal album from cult Ghanaian musician Alhaji K. Frimpong, recorded in 1976 and considered to be one of the best highlife albums ever recorded. Features the masterpiece Kyenkyen Bi Adi M’awu (come back my love) - universally known in Ghana, covered and sampled by artists such as Chronnix, Gnarls Barkley and many more. Backed by Vis a Vis - one of the most influential bands to come out of the Ghana Highlife / Afro Rock movement. Unique avant garde sound that blends traditional highlife percussion and horns with synthesizers. Original copies of the album are extremely rare. The album was reissued in limited quantities in 2011 and has been unavailable since - even reissue copies sell for high prices on the second hand market. Record Store Day exclusive pressing comes on Blue vinyl with heavyweight sleeve.

Sahra Halgan, Somaliland's iconic singer, freedom fighter, and cultural activist, returns with third album Hiddo Dhawr, a culmination of enduring friendship and global exploration

In the early 1980s, a particular alchemy between new musical technologies and significant social, cultural, and political transformations in Ghana gave rise to a new style of highlife.

The early 21st Century, a shadowy figure rose from the dust that settled atop forgotten record collections throughout Africa, leaving behind trails of clues, but Luaka Bop unmask a phantom: the great William Onyeabor.

The sessions lasted just two days, and we can only imagine the atmosphere in that room as the hip hop godfathers exchanged the conga drums of Harlem for the explosive sounds of authentic Afrobeat.

Soul Jazz Records' new Nigeria Soul Fever is their first release to explore the vast wealth of Nigerian music recorded in the 1970s.

Strut presents Mulatu Plays Mulatu, the first major studio album in over 10 years from the father of Ethio-jazz, Mulatu Astatke.

Florence Adooni Unleashes A.O.E.I.U. – An Afro-Futuristic Highlife Odyssey: Step into the future of highlife with Florence Adooni’s debut album, A.O.E.I.U. (An Ordinary Exercise In Unity). 

After what seemed like ages we finally tracked Eko down in Cameroun and persuaded him that a re-issue was most definitely needed.

Gentleman is both an Africa 70 and Afro-beat masterpiece.

Archival reissue of the Afroprog-psych Zamrock masterpiece.

Francis Bebey is the kind of artist whose legacy feels infinite. Tresor Magnetique, this compilation of unreleased tracks, archival recordings, and neglected gems from Bebey's vault, feels like a grand reveal in an ongoing narrative - a story that spans continents and generations. The compilation's name (translated as "Magnetic Treasure") sets the stage perfectly. Not only does it reference the fragile tapes discovered in the home of Bebey's son, Patrick, but it also hints at the almost gravitational pull of Bebey's art. Meticulously digitized at Abbey Road Studios, these tracks radiate clarity and urgency that defy the decades separating them from contemporary ears. One listen to Tresor Magnetique, and it's as if you're opening a letter from another era, only to find that its contents speak to you more vividly than today's headlines.

Fela Kuti (1938-1997) was a Nigerian musician, producer, arranger, political radical, outlaw and the originator of Afrobeat. A titanic musical and sociopolitical voice, Fela’s legacy spans decades and genres, touching on jazz, pop, funk, hip-hop, rock and beyond.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Fela Kuti's classic Open and Close, Partisan release the first vinyl pressing since the 1980s.

Legendary yet ever-evolving, Zamrock pioneers WITCH continue to push boundaries with their bold new record, ‘SOGOLO’. After their remarkable resurgence and 2023’s critically acclaimed ‘Zango’ - their first album in nearly 40 years -‘SOGOLO’ proves that their innovative spirit remains as strong as ever.

This definitive reissue features the original LP remastered and pressed on 180 gram triple vinyl in a gatefold sleeve.

The first vocal album by beloved Ethiopian nun, composer, and pianist Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru - profound and deeply moving home cassette recordings made amidst political upheaval and turmoil.

Wah Wah 45s are proud to present the debut LP on the label from Ghanaian vocalist and djembe drummer Afla Sackey. With his band Afrik Bawantu, he has fulfilled thedreamof blending traditional Ghanaian music with sizzling Afrobeat grooves, topping it off with anirresistibly funky twist! Their unique blend of vibrant African rhythms with brisk, animatedhorn sections and heavy bass-lines bring a fresh perspective to the Afrobeat genre.

The ultra-rare holy grail masterpiece by Elcados originally released by EMI-Nigeria in 1973 and recorded by Kayode Salami.

Restoring, reissuing and contextualising iconic tracks from Ousmane Kouyate & Ambassadeurs Internationaux, Rail Band, Les Messagers du Mali, Mystere Jazz de Tombouctou and many more, the second compilation in this series dives ever further into the richness of post- independence music emanating out of Mali. One in which traditional foundations and instrumentation, blended with modern musical advances and influence.

Seun Kuti releases highly anticipated album Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head) featuring guests Damian Marley and Sampa The Great.

Reissue, originally released in 1962. 

Over the past few years Acid Jazz has released a series of reissues from the enigmatic ‘Albarika Store’ – a goldmine of records from Benin, West Africa from the late ‘60s through to the early ’80s. 

Following the first in a series of his classic recordings reissued in collaboration with Awesome Tapes From Africa, Mergia assembled a band and began performing live again after many years driving a cab in Washington, DC.

“L’amour à folie” is Amadou & Mariam ‘s final album.

The album is a fusion of highlife and soul.

Ajomasé is the groundbreaking debut album by legendary Nigerian percussionist Gasper Lawal. Originally released in 1980. Lawal’s style was forged through decades of high-level percussion work with the likes of Stephen Stills, Barbra Streisand, George Clinton & Funkadelic, Manfred Mann, Alexis Korner, Vangelis and Ginger Baker’s Air Force band.

A landmark recording from one of Ghana’s great musical architects, Ebo Taylor’s 1977 self-title release marked the first solo LP by the legendary guitarist, arranger, and composer after years behind the scenes shaping the sound of modern highlife.

Muyei Power or Orchestre Muyei (muyei means ‘our country’) was one of the top dance bands of the1970s in Sierra Leone.

Mythical soul/boogie record recorded in Louisiana by Nigerian multi instrumentalist Rick Asikpo when he was studying in Houston.

Susso, aka bassist / producer Huw Bennett, creates music inspired by, and directly sampling, the magnificent sounds of the Mandinka people, recorded during a recent trip to Gambia.

His 2009 World Circuit debut, the raw and uncut Secret Agent, has all the ingredients that combine to make Afrobeat so special.

By 1972, when Music of Fela: Roforofo Fight was originally released (on two vinyl albums, Music of Fela Volume One and Volume Two), Fela was becoming one of the most avidly followed musicians in West Africa. 

The Nigerian princesses of afro-funk arrived on the international scene with 1976’s Danger and never looked back.

The 25 songs presented in "Roots Rocking Zimbabwe - The Modern Sound of Harare' Townships 1975-1980" showcase the birth of the modern music industry in Zimbabwe and the explosion of creativity bands of the 1970s and 80s endlessly delivered.

Femi Kuti’s ‘Journey Through Life’ marks a deeply personal chapter in the Afrobeat legend’s career

Abacothozi were formed in 1973 by bassist Berthwel Maphumulo, formerly of the Elite Swingsters.

Inspired by his cultural background Bukky goes in search of the cuisine traditions of his mother land Nigeria.

For 20 years the Tuareg culture and music has fascinated the world.

Seminal sounds from the golden age of Ghanaian music. Highlife, rock, and soul collide and merge with tradition and culture. New styles meet old styles.

This landmark recording from Now-Again’s comprehensive overview of Zambia’s premier garage-, psych-, prog-, funk-,afro-rock ensemble WITCH, We Intend To Cause Havoc! Is now available in a never before seen color variant.

Archival reissue of the garage-psych Zamrock masterpiece (1974) “Electrified by a diet of James Brown, the Stones and Deep Purple, WITCH were the stadium-filling kings of 70' Zamrock." MOJO...

This album is a compilation of hard-to-find 7" singles released in Kenya by the Audio Productions stable in the first half of the 1980s and most have never been released outside of East Africa.

Black Jesus eXperience’s ‘Time Teling’ explores the fragility of life, the preciousness of time and the importance of hope, love, joy, and community.

Alhaji K Frimpong’s 1977 Highlife masterpiece, melding traditional Ghanaian musical forms with experimental instrumentation and innovative arrangements.

Highly-anticipated first new songs since 1994

Following on from our extremely well received re-press of Pasteur Lappe's second album "Na Man Pass Man" here at Africa Seven we are really pleased to be heading back to the beginning with Pasteur. It is a another fine repress. The debut album "We, The People".

The 1974 debut album Ojinga’s Own and single Basa Bongo/Black Pepper by Guyanese Afro-Folk band The Yoruba Singers has been remastered for vinyl and digital.

Second volume of treasures in the ATA catalogue.

Strut Records is proud to announce a new official reissue of Simigwa by Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, launching a series of releases on Strut celebrating the legendary Ghanaian label Essiebons.

William Onyeabor was born outside Enugu, a small, rural town in Eastern Nigeria, he created his own genre of African electronic funk in the late 70s and early 80s, making music completely unique for his time.

Mdou Moctar’s new album is Funeral for Justice completely re-recorded and rearranged for acoustic and traditional instruments. It is an evolution of the band’s critically-adored breakout – the meditative mirror-image to the blistering original.

When a passionate DJ and crate digger intuitively selects music for a DJ compilation, without artistic compromise and without the burden of trends, AfroMagic vol.2 emerges from the depths of his soul.

1979 township disco funk masterpiece from one of South Africa’s most prolific bands of that era.

Following the great success of BBE’s 2023 reissue of Remi Kabaka’s 1976 lost masterpiece 'Son of Africa' comes yet another neglected and hitherto-hidden slice of pure Kabaka goodness: 1980’s 'Roots Funkadelia'.

This epic Afrobeat album contains just one eponymous track clocking in at just over 25 minutes in length, and beginning with a mysterious and psychedelic musical interplay between Fela on organ and Tony Allen on drums. 

Ayalew Mesfin stands aside the likes of Mulatu Astake, Mahmoud Ahmed, Hailu Mergia and Alemayehu Eshete as a legend of 1970s Ethiopia.

After “Afro Exotique – Adventures In The Leftfield, Africa 1972-88” was enthusiastically embraced by heads, collectors and core Africa Seven enthusiasts alike, we dived back down into the vaults, and hope we’ve come up with another volume of listenable esoterica from roughly the same period.