King Sunny Ade is another great Nigerian artist! Ja Funmi is one of my favorites: https://youtu.be/LIO9MjfOo48?si=bZFOTgQF0SZZgT_X

Africa has a ton of fantastic musicians.

For instance, Dur Dur Band from Somalia: https://youtu.be/cVfrEmO5no4?si=aeqeufJpsKiIyvQX

Mulatu Astatke from Ethiopia: https://youtu.be/jXdVpT_aSJU?si=jMzwDIS75L9pqhxf

John Wizards from South Africa: https://youtu.be/1FNWfhmTn1M?si=lmHOUgvqxYS_P_Av

It’s a very deep well.

I was introduced to Mulatu Astatke's music from Jim Jarmusch's "Broken Flowers" soundtrack. [1] He's now one of my favorite African musicians.

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yulnyGZ4d3Y&list=PLHrPP0rObV...

Speaking of Afro-rock, I'll take this opportunity to plug the Zamrock sub-genre, and specifically the bands WITCH [1], Ngozi Family [2], Chrissy Zebby Tembo, [3] and Amanaz [4].

The first 3 tracks are very garage-y. The 4th is more mellow. All 4 are tracks I come back to often.

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqFhpe3ZBlg&list=RDOqFhpe3ZB...

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzwFtRaB4Fk&list=RDAzwFtRaB4...

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfrKVOS1AvI&list=PLwVQppKVOQ...

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjUOYLJ8IYI&list=RDGjUOYLJ8I...

I've enjoyed some of the Touareg stuff (like Tinariwen or Tarwa N-Trini -Berber, really). You can see where some of the American blues came from.

If you ever get the chance to see Tinariwen live, take it!

I doubt we'll be seeing them in the US for a while... :'(

They are playing in Delhi, tomorrow, though. I let a friend of mine from there, know.

Another friend of mine went to see The Hu[0], last time they toured the US. Said it was one of the most awesome concerts he'd ever attended.

[0] https://www.thehuofficial.com

Heh. He just sent me pics of the concert. He's there now.

Nice! I am happy for him. Such an amazing band and live experience, and I bet Delhi is a great place to see them.

I'll keep an eye out for The Hu, thanks for the tip!

This was also a really neat compilation for discovering artists I’d never heard of:

https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/various-artists-mogadis...

It's been a while since I've listened to the Afro rock. Need to start digging again, thanks for the links.

Recently I've been really into Senegalese sabar sounds. If you can catch this collective live somewhere, go see:

https://ndagga.com/

There are many many styles and genres of music across the continent, and a diaspora of african artists, a random grab from my play history has:

Angelique Kidjo's - We We https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4NsRS3S1UY

later sampled by Burna Boy in Anybody https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so4dgTRaWFk

Sona Jobarteh, playing Kora, Gambia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSD_amb-l9Q

S.Africa way, Mahlathini & Mahotella Queens, Kazet Gazette https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR7UbvhVT8g

Kanda Bongo Man Lela Lela - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76VFiJsFIcc

Bhundu Boys Hatisi Tose - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-acwRukdO8

Toure Kunda Emma - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6u0omHFhqE

Songhoy Blues (Mali) Soubour - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOValSt7YOY

Little Simz Point And Kill feat. Obongjayar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvY31eN3gtE

Backo Dada's cover ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHCZDtA9wbc ) of Mory Kanté's Yeke Yeke ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGFtLh-5pVY )

Hmm, better stop for now - lunchtime.

Addendum, just for fun; Ghanaian-Australian Genesis Owusu teaming up with The Chats to cover Talking Heads' classic Pyscho Killer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTmGpJJsQEU

If I may suggest two artists besides the great Fela Kuti: William Onyeabor (try "Tomorrow") and Dizzy K Falola (try "Sweet Music").

William Onyeabor got me into African fusion. He's definitely one of the most interesting characters on the scene and the synthesizers in his music were some of the best. RIP.