AFRICA IN YOUR EARBUDS #17: AWESOME TAPES FROM AFRICA

Download a pan-continental vintage Africa In Your Earbuds mixtape from Awesome Tapes From Africa.

Awesome Tapes From Africa, the brainchild blog-come-record label of Brian Shimkovitz,  gathers hard-to-find cassettes from the continent. ATFA selections regularly span vintage mbalax, juju, bongo flava, and disco-electro cuts, amongst many others, which are then presented on the site as free downloads.

For Africa In Your Earbuds #17, Awesome Tapes compiles a pan-continental, analog tape mix of tunes from his vast collection, including songs by the first two ATFA record label artists, — Malian singer Nâ Hawa Doumbiaand North Ghana's kologo player Bola. Speaking on his mix, Brian writes:

I wanted put together a selection of songs that I have been into lately for the Okayafrica community. Since you guys are into all different kinds of sounds I tried to include songs from all over, spanning a few decades. I have been playing a lot of tapes live and it's left some of the more relaxed recordings get a bit dusty. So I am keeping it kind of chill here until the more dancefloor-ready tracks toward the second half.

Head to Awesome Tapes to buy the official releases and browse the collection. Plus lookout for ATFA spinning live (tour dates below).

Stream and grab Africa In Your Earbuds #17: Awesome Tapes From Africa below! As always, a big up to Underdog for the cover art.

Okayafrica x Awesome Tapes From Africa Mix

1. Ephrem Tamru "Ney Ney" Ethiopia

2. Nâ Hawa Doumbia "Dan Te Dinye La" Mali

3. Zagazougou "Zagadon" Ivory Coast

4. Issa Coulibaly "Lodjourato" Mali

5. Ahwach Souse Title Unknown (Side A excerpt) Morocco

7. Jagwa Music "Liwalo Na Liwe" Tanzania

8. Ndiogou Seck "Xoox-yi" Senegal

9. Issa Bagayogo "Lanaya" Mali

10. Foster Manganyi "Ndzi To Tiyisela" South Africa

11. Bola "Tivona Vonbubo" Ghana

ATFA Live Dates

05.18 New York NY / Santos Partyhouse

05.19 Brooklyn NY / 285 Kent w/ Lamin Fofana

05.20 New York NY / Lisa Cooley Gallery

05.23 Boston MA / Spectacle

05.25 Seattle, WA / CAIRO

05.26 Portland OR / Holocene

05.28 George, WA / Sasquatch! Music Festival at the Gorge

Previously on Africa In Your Earbuds: PETITE NOIROLUGBENGA, RICH MEDINA,VOICES OF BLACK, LAMIN FOFANA, CHICO MANNDJ UNDERDOGDJ OBAHSABINEBROTHA ONACIDJ AQBTJUST A BANDSTIMULUSQOOL DJ MARVSINKANECHIEF BOIMA.

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