AM Foreign World Cup: Round 3 - Africa (Part 2)

[Stephan]

Bracket 3.1.5
Mahmoud Ahmed - Ere Mela Mela
Mulatu Astatke - Yèkèrmo sèw

Bracket 3.1.6
Geoffrey Oryema - Lapwony
Mulatu Astatke - Yègellé Tezeta

Bracket 3.1.7
Miriam Makeba & The Skylarks - Inkomo Zodwa
Bonga - Mona Ki Ngi Xica

Bracket 3.1.8
Danyel Waro - Banm Kalou Banm
Mulemena Boys - Navuluku

[nicolas]

Stephan there is a mistake in the third bracket : Daniel Waro beat Miriam Makeba in the previous round so he shouod be here instead of her.

[Stephan]

You mean the fourth bracket, right? Fixed!

[Michel]

Bracket 3.1.6
Mulatu Astatke - Yègellé Tezeta

Bracket 3.1.7
Bonga - Mona Ki Ngi Xica

Bracket 3.1.8
Mulemena Boys - Navuluku

[cartoken]

Bracket 3.1.5
Mahmoud Ahmed - Ere Mela Mela

[Honorio]

Bracket 3.1.5
Mahmoud Ahmed - Erè Mèla Mèla (Ethiopia, 1975)
Mulatu Astatke - Yèkèrmo Sèw (Ethiopia, 1974)
The Éthiopiques War: two artists from Ethiopia that recorded songs during the 70s but were discovered for Western audiences on the late 90s thanks to the Éthiopiques compilations released by Buda Musique. The two main discoveries were the singer Mahmoud Ahmed and the multi-instrumentalist Mulatu Astatke. Both songs are awesome, my vote goes to the wonderful "Yèkèrmo Sèw."


Bracket 3.1.6
Geoffrey Oryema - Lapwony (Uganda, 1993)
Mulatu Astatke - Yègellé Tezeta (Ethiopia, 1969)
The second song by Mulatu Astatke is delicious (with that exotica sound) but my vote goes to the beautiful singing of Geoffrey Oryema's on "Lapwony," the only remaining song nominated by Greg,


Bracket 3.1.7
Miriam Makeba & The Skylarks - Inkomo Zodwa (South Africa, 1959)
Bonga - Mona Ki Ngi Xica (Angola, 1972)
Probably the strongest bracket of the week, two wonderful songs and two excellent singers in their prime, Miriam Makeba in the late 1950s and Bonga in the early 1970s. My choice? Mama Africa.


Bracket 3.1.8
Danyèl Waro - Banm Kalou Banm (Réunion, 1999)
Mulemena Boys - Navuluka (Zambia, 1983)
I wanted to vote for the minimalist slave chant of Danyèl Waro but listening again to "Navuluka" with those fresh guitars, those 80s cheap rhythm boxes and those optimistic vocal harmonies I changed my mind. And my vote.

[Miguel]

Bracket 3.1.5
Mahmoud Ahmed - Erè Mèla Mèla

Bracket 3.1.6
Geoffrey Oryema - Lapwony

Bracket 3.1.7
Bonga - Mona Ki Ngi Xica

Bracket 3.1.8
Mulemena Boys - Navuluka

[nicolas]

Mahmoud Ahmed - Ere Mela Mela 5
Mulatu Astatke - Yèkèrmo sèw 4.75
My favorite African song of all times wins over another fantastic song

Bracket 3.1.6
Geoffrey Oryema - Lapwony 3.5
Mulatu Astatke - Yègellé Tezeta 4.25

Bracket 3.1.7
Miriam Makeba & The Skylarks - Inkomo Zodwa 4.5
Bonga - Mona Ki Ngi Xica 4.5+
Bonga's melancholy beats Miriam's joy here

Bracket 3.1.8
Danyel Waro - Banm Kalou Banm 5
Mulemena Boys - Navuluku 4
The more I listen to Waro, the more I like his music. What a voice!

[nicolas]

And Waro is a big Brassens fan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b88Q7tp0zvo

[Dan]

Bracket 3.1.5
Mahmoud Ahmed - Ere Mela Mela
Mulatu Astatke - Yèkèrmo sèw

Two titans. I slightly prefer "Yèkèrmo sèw".

Bracket 3.1.6
Geoffrey Oryema - Lapwony
Mulatu Astatke - Yègellé Tezeta

Maybe it's a bit silly to vote for the same artist twice at this fairly late stage, but hey, I'm supposed to vote for the song I like more. I love Geoffrey Oryema's voice though.

Bracket 3.1.7
Miriam Makeba & The Skylarks - Inkomo Zodwa
Bonga - Mona Ki Ngi Xica

Because the actual song seems to have disappeared from YouTube entirely, I thought I'd provide the Grooveshark link to Miriam Makeba's "Inkomo Zodwa". It doens't look like the song is going to make it through to the next round, but I'm pleased it has made it this far. It's not one of Mama Africa's most famous songs, but it's my favourite South African song. The joy, the optimistic rhythm, the way that such catchy and beautiful music can be created out of something as simple as a penny whistle... those are all things I love about South Africa and its music.

Bracket 3.1.8
Danyel Waro - Banm Kalou Banm
Mulemena Boys - Navuluku

Danyel Waro certainly has an impressive voice (and thanks very much for the link to the Brassens cover, nicolas) but the song by the Mulemena Boys has a Southern African sound that I'm more familiar with and love.

Happy holidays everyone (from the Soweto Gospel Choir)!

[jamieW]

Bracket 3.1.5
Mahmoud Ahmed - Ere Mela Mela
Winner: Mulatu Astatke - Yèkèrmo sèw
Both had a similar soothing atmosphere and jazzy feel that I really liked; but I’ll go with Astatke, since “Era Mela Mela” felt slightly overlong.

Bracket 3.1.6
Geoffrey Oryema - Lapwony
Winner: Mulatu Astatke - Yègellé Tezeta
The subtle guitars of “Lapwony” work really well here, creating a nice, haunting atmosphere. However, I’m really enjoying Astatke’s layered instrumentals. Astatke goes 2 for 2 this week with me (although just barely in both brackets).

Bracket 3.1.7
Miriam Makeba & The Skylarks - Inkomo Zodwa
Winner: Bonga - Mona Ki Ngi Xica
The only match this week that wasn’t very close for me. I voted against both of these in the last round. This time, I get to pick one of my favorites that I didn’t vote for, and go with the wonderful vocals of Bonga over the cheerful flutes of “Inkomo Zodwa.”

Bracket 3.1.8
Winner: Danyel Waro - Banm Kalou Banm
Mulemena Boys - Navuluku
And now for two I did vote for last time. I’m still feeling Waro’s exotic pairing of vocals and percussion ever so slightly over the distinctive guitar of “Navuluku.”

[Kingoftonga]

Bracket 3.1.5
Mulatu Astatke - Yèkèrmo sèw

Bracket 3.1.6
Geoffrey Oryema - Lapwony

Bracket 3.1.7
Bonga - Mona Ki Ngi Xica

Bracket 3.1.8
Danyel Waro - Banm Kalou Banm

[nicolas]

I feel sad for Cesaria Evora, Mahmoud Ahmed and Danyel Waro, 3 of my very favorite world artists. I t seems that people here prefer songs with a stronger Western influence either in style or instruments... The probable victory of Bonga is a little relief though

[Poliuks]

Bracket 3.1.5
Mahmoud Ahmed - Ere Mela Mela
Mulatu Astatke - Yèkèrmo sèw
Mulatu Astatke's track is a bit more focused, I think.

Bracket 3.1.6
Geoffrey Oryema - Lapwony
Mulatu Astatke - Yègellé Tezeta
Hard choice, this time I will go with pretty vocals of Lapwony, but Yègellé Tezeta is quite enjoyable too.

Bracket 3.1.7
Miriam Makeba & The Skylarks - Inkomo Zodwa
Bonga - Mona Ki Ngi Xica
Easy - Bonga is my favourite of the whole game (what a voice!).

Bracket 3.1.8
Danyel Waro - Banm Kalou Banm
Mulemena Boys - Navuluku
Sunny, warm, happy sound of Navuluku is just wonderful.

[Stephan]

My votes are for Mahmoud, Mulatu, Bonga, and Danyel.

Bracket 3.1.5
Mahmoud Ahmed - Ere Mela Mela - 4
Mulatu Astatke - Yèkèrmo sèw - 5

Bracket 3.1.6
Geoffrey Oryema - Lapwony - 4
Mulatu Astatke - Yègellé Tezeta - 5

Bracket 3.1.7
Miriam Makeba & The Skylarks - Inkomo Zodwa - 2
Bonga - Mona Ki Ngi Xica - 7

Bracket 3.1.8
Danyel Waro - Banm Kalou Banm - 3
Mulemena Boys - Navuluku - 6

[Honorio]

Goodbye, Mama Africa