The rivalery between KSA and "Chief Commander" Ebenezer Obey was one of the key factors in progression the juju style from mid 70s and up till now. Juju moved from a high-life infuenced style, to genuine, Nigerian Yoroba music.

Amampondu is a multiethnic group. Their performances is look into music, and instruments, from most significant cultures in the Southern Africa region. At their world tours they are ambassadours for African culture. 

I (the main author) had the pleasure of speaking with Dizu at a great concert at Sandane in Norway. A very nice guy. He tells me that they have toured in over 30 countries. When they're at home they teach music in Langa and Cape Town to "promote African music". These schools is also a way of helping disabled and orphan children. Dizu and the band hopes to establish such schools all over the world. The happening at Sandane is maybe the first steps. They arranged a workshop at a music school there, and it's obvious that the participants had a great time. At the concert they joined the band to dance at stage. And that's a rare happening in Norway! 

Amampondo live and Amampondo at record are not the same thing. At the one album EthnoBass has heard, "Drums For Tomorrow" they mixes the traditional instruments with saxofon and keyboards. But this is done with good taste, and the traditional feeling is still there, recomended.

Amampondo at Music.org.za

Les ambassadeurs where a kind of rival to the Rail Band. Even 30 years later, most citizens in Bamako has definite opinion about which of the bands that where the greatest.

In the late 70s there where a very memorable concert. The Malian governments had a literally campaign (called News or Kibaru) and arranged a double concert with the Rail Band and Les Ambassadeurs. People in Mali saw this as a competition between the rivaling bands. Mory Kante and the Rail Band was first out. It was not common to dance at a concert, but Kante danced in he's "gran boubou" dress, a traditional clothing which was considered as very hard to dance in. A new way of performing was born. Les Ambassadeurs with Salif Keita followed up. Keita is of noble birth, and was expected to perform in the same outfit. But he was dressed in a manding-hunter dress. They had written a new song special for this event, called "Kibaru". The audience went crazy. The "winner" was never proclaimed. 

Keita wanted international fame, and the band moved to Paris, and added Internationaux to the name. "Les Abassadeurs Internationaux" was a success in Paris, but Keita moved on, and the band parted up.

More at the Baka Homepage, including stuff about the Baka Beyond band

He is deeply respected by i.e. Cesoria Evora. Mendez Brothers helped him to get started abroad. Banas music style sodade, is music full of longing, longing to the mainland.

The style is named after Mount Fuji in Japan, the mountain of love. The "Chief Doctor" used this name mainly because he liked the sound of it. Barrister started he's carrier in 1965. In the early 70s he formed the "Supreme Fuji Commanders", a band of 25 members. 

The other main bandleader in fuji is (Chief Doctor) Sikiru Ayinde Barrister.

"Whereas my parents, who nursed the sick, and my brother, who treats wounded soldiers, have devoted their lives to healing the body, I have devoted mine to healing the soul. The most profound paradox underlying all of my work is the power of love, which for the spiritual diseases of war and human cruelty is the only antidote." Source: http://www.luakabop.com/waldemar/

This phenomena was in the time in Guinea at the moment, with the "return to folklore" campaigns going on. The idea was originally from Cuba. This is probably the reason for the Cuban style and Congolese rumba influences.

Camara died in a car accident in 73. Bembeya Jazz keep't on thanks to  Sekou "Bembeya" Diabate aka diamond fingers, a innovative guitarist and style creator. The group fell apart and splitted up some time in the late 80s. At the top of their strength Bembeya Jazz toured widely, even in Moscow and Cuba. 

Sekou "Bembeya" Diabate are still going with a small band, recording and touring in US and Europe.

Black Umfolozi was the closing act at the 2001 Førde festival, and EthnoBass was there. Musically we must admit it was a bit disappointing. In my ears it was Ladysmith Black Mambazo in a lighter version. It was not bad at all, but EthnoBass expected something sublime. 

And it was a very entertaining concert. Black Umfolozi uses a lot of international humor, spreading their message of peace, harmony, and the Christian gospel. Their pantomimes and parodies are very good. They mime daily life experiences some of them traditional and some of them contemporary. The among the subjects are, boys competing to jump highest, the fat man, a man riding a car, and all kinds of african animals, like elephants, monkeys, birds, and so on. All in deep respect of zulu traditions and christian gospel traditions. The dancing was also very good, some of it was only entertainment, and some of it had a clear message, telling the story of the diamond mines, or about the story of the children left at home alone while the parents are of at work.. 

The voices goes from deep bass to tenor and falsetto song. The harmonies are tight, and the singing are precise. Then what am I complaining about? I guess it is the lack of originality in the musical material, and the lack of a thread in the performance. The numbers are a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

Homepage. (Closed till nov. 2001)

Went to Paris in 1979, break trough there in 81 with Orchestre Bella Bella with the guitar player Diblo Dibala. In 83 he performed at WOMAD in the UK. Now he is touring with a 5-6 musician band. 

Her first recording she made at a borrowed mbira, now she is a big success. Even though she was considered a "loose woman" at home, she became the best known player of mbira internationally. 

Solo is an important contributer at a wonderfull crossover recording named "Frå Senegal til Setesdal".

He is also a member of the Norwegian based multyculture crossover band Combonation.

His latest sucsess is another world music project "Ellika and Solo". Here he teames up with the Swedish fiddler, Ellika Frisell. Their album "Tretakt Takissaba" is the winner of the 2003 BBC World Music Award in the boundrary crossing category.

More pictures with Solo from the Førde festival 2001 here.

Clegg continued at his own, with a more western pop sound. In mid- 90s Juluka was reformed, and they recorded and toured the world, as a co band, with King Sunny Ade. 

Have a look at:
Badenia Les Freres Coulibaly at Førde Internasjonal Folkemusikkfestival 2003 (pictures and  review).