Various Artists - Urgent Jumping! East African Musiki Wa Dansi Classics (2016)

A collection of 27 East African golden oldies from the '70s and '80s compiled by the British DJ and journalist John Armstrong. One well-known word and a phrase in KiSwahili - "safari" and "hakuna matata" - are both useful and euphonious, but they aren't enough for a sophisticated music-lover. "Zilipendwa" denotes an object of admiration, but in a musical context it applies to what might be called "golden oldies". "Serebuka" is a lovely word that translates as "blissful expressive dance". "Musiki wa dansi" (the KiSwahili-English exchange goes both ways) is the general term for "zilipendwa" that inspires "serebuka", and it's what this double-album is all about. KiSwahili is spoken throughout East Africa (a first language for many people, a lingua franca for most) and is sung in various musical styles, but other languages give voice to other styles in this culturally diverse region, and musiki wa dansi encompasses some of them, too. One of the most prominent is benga, which originated in the 1970s among musicians of the Luo ethnic group in western Kenya, drawing on traditional rhythms and melodies but wielding electric guitars and basses. From further west came rumba and soukous, brought by Congolese émigrés to Kenya and Tanzania, where they formed bands that often included musicians from all three countries, sang in Lingala, KiSwahili and local languages, and have been enormously popular and influential since the '60s. The Arabic and Indian complexions of taraab from Zanzibar, Lamu and other islands off the East African coast colored pop music in the mainland cities of Mombassa, Nairobi and Dar es Salaam as well, particularly with the chakacha beat. Armstrong gives lively recollections of a bygone time in a wonderful place grace the album booklet. Two and one half hours of 21 Kenyan, Tanzanian and Congolese bands.

Tracklist:

01 LOrch. Dar International - Rufaa Ya Kiko 05:15
02 Afro 70 - Hasara Ya Moto 04:13
03 Kauma Boys Band - Rose Atieno 04:32
04 Super Mambo Jazz Band 69 - Nasalaki Nini 04:53
05 Maquis Du Zaire - Denise 05:26
06 Victoria Jazz Band - Anyanga 05:05
07 Orchestre Conga Internationale - Nakupenda Sana 04:40
08 LOrch. Dar International - Rudi Nyumbani 06:39
09 The Golden Kings Band - Taabu Ya Awendo 05:07
10 Sunburst Band - Matatizo Nyumbani 04:19
11 Urafiki Jazz Band - Nauli Ya Uda 03:18
12 LOrchestre Grand Piza - Oboti Kolisa 05:07
13 Hafusa Abasi & Slim Ali and the Kikulacho Yahoos Band - 04:46
14 Moreno - Dunia Ni Duara, Pts. 1 & 2 09:46
15 Sunburst Band - Enzi Za Utumwani 04:04
16 Sega Sega Band - John Ochieng 05:00
17 LOrchestre Super Mambo - Kurukia Ukuta 04:49
18 Earthquake Jazz Band - Blasio Onyango 03:54
19 LOrch. Dar International - Chama Kimoja 05:17
20 Vijana Jazz Band - Kosa La Wazazi 05:13
21 Orchestre Special Liwanza - Vicky, Pts. 1 & 2 09:12
22 Super Mambo Jazz Band 69 - Jeanne Mulongo 05:03
23 Juwata Jazz Band - Mpenzi Zalina 05:29
24 LOrch. Dar International - Hatari Kubwa 07:30
25 Afro 70 - Cha Umheja 03:18
26 LOrch. Dar International - Rafiki Sina, Pt. 1 04:04
27 Orchestre Super Jambo - Yenga, Pts. 1 & 2 09:11