Land of the honest men

December 11, 2022 is Burkina Faso’s 64th Independence Day. This small (roughly the size of Colorado), densely populated (about 22 million people), landlocked West African nation formerly known as Upper Volta has had its struggles: eight coups d’etat including two in 2022 and a current bout of Islamic fundamentalist terrorism among them.

No Burkinabè musician has yet become a pan-African or worldwide star, but the music that has been produced in Burkina Faso since independence is superb in quality and variety. This week on Global A Go-Go, you’ll hear an hour of some of my Voltaic favorites, and I assure you that I’ll only be scratching the surface of what’s out there.

Also this week (Sunday December 11, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): Latin soul and a new single from Austin’s Superfónicos, and birthday tributes to Cuban bandleader Pérez Prado and Yugoslavian mischief-maker Dr. Nele Karajlić.

Podcast: radio4all.net/program/114218
All the podcasts: radio4all.net/series/Global%20A%20Go-Go

Show Archive

Play show / Add show to playlist

Playlist:

Oliver Lake, “Separation”

from Matador Of 1st & 1st

Passin Thru - 1996

USA

Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros, “Global A Go-Go”

from Global A Go-Go

BMG Rights Management (US) LLC - 2001

England UK

Bil Aka Kora, “Dibayagui”

from Dibayagui

CD Run - 2014

Burkina Faso, 2004

La Cour Supreme, “Vieux Kaboré”

from Le Verdict

ETK Productions - 2005

Burkina Faso

Kandy Guira, “Yelema (Changement)”

from Nagtaba

Vlad Productions - 2021

Burkina Faso-France

Konde Mangue Et L'Orchestre Les 5 Consuls, “Woulouni”

from Woulouni / Pop Kondé - Single

Volta Discobel

Guinée Conakry-Burkina Faso, 1970s

Pierre Sandwidi, “Yamb ney Capitale”

from Le troubadour de la savane (1976-1980)

Born Bad Records - 2018

Burkina Faso, 1977

Amadou Balaké, “Taximen”

from Taximen

Bolibana - 2005

Burkina Faso, 1978

Burkina Azza, “Djanfa Magne”

from Wari Bô

Social Joy - 2022

Burkina Faso

Baba Commandant & The Mandingo Band, “Afro Mandingo”

from Sonbonbela

Sublime Frequencies - 2022

Burkina Faso

Debademba, “Agnakamina”

from Debademba

Chapa blues/naïve - 2010

Burkina Faso-Mali-France

Joe Cuba, “Tu Lo Sientes? (Do You Feel It?)”

from Bustin' Out

Fania - 1972

USA

Harlem River Drive, “Harlem River Drive (Theme)”

from Harlem River Drive

Rhino - 1971

USA

Superfónicos, “Primera Luz”

from Primera Luz - Single

self-released - 2022

USA

Matuto, “Dream of Life”

from Matuto

Galileo Music - 2011

USA-Brazil, 2009

Benny Moré, “Anabacoa”

from Legends of Cuban Music: Benny Moré (Con Pérez Prado) [Recorded Between 1948-1950] [with Pérez Prado]

Capitol Latin - 2006

Cuba-México, 1952

Perez Prado and his Orchestra, “Mambo No. 5”

from Pérez Prado Plays Mucho Mambo (Mono Version)

BNF Collection - 1953

Cuba-México

Orquesta Akokán, “Mambo Rapidito”

from Orquesta Akokan

Daptone - 2018

Cuba-USA

Orkesta Mendoza, “La Caminadora”

from La Caminadora

Glitterbeat Records - 2019

USA-Mexico

Los Zafiros, “La Caminadora”

from Los Zafiros

Alegria Music Latino - 2016

Cuba, 1964

Fellove, “El Jamaiquino”

from El Gran Fellove

RCA Records Label - 2012

Cuba, 1957

Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra, “Devil In The Business Class”

from The Best of Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra

Universal Music Division Capitol Music France - 2009

Ex-Yugoslavia, 2000

Dr Nele Karajlic, “Daddy, Don't Ever Die On a Friday”

from Muzika Iz Filma "Crna Macka Beli Macor"

Komuna (via Film Danas) - 1998

Ex-Yugoslavia