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Traditional Drumming of Ghana and Nigeria....CDs and DVDs!

While our selections are not inclusive of all that has been recorded, we have tried to pick out the CDs and DVDs that every lover of African music should have in their collection. We will continually add to our offerings...so check back if you already have all of these.

We added many SOUND CLIPS, and will continue to add more. These are mp3 files...usually about 60 seconds in length, downloading time will vary, depending upon your connection speed, but we tried to keep them small so that everyone could have a chance to sample something. Don't forget to check out our "sicklicks"!

ENJOY!
A NOTE TO MUSIC STORES:
We are proud to be US Distributors for the following:
  • All Mamady Keita CDs, books and videos
  • All Famoudou CDs, books, and videos
  • Buda's "Musique Du Monde" Series
  • Playa Sound titles
  • Arion World Music Titles (Soungalo Coulibaly, etc.)
Please contact us for wholesale pricing and terms.



  
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Chata Addy: "Shi Dah"

NEW!! Following in the footsteps of his father and uncles, this was Chat's first CD made after coming to the US in the 1980's. Not surprising, it's his most traditional and perhaps best. Though he runs through classics, such as Kpanlogo, Pah Cha, Gome, Oge, & Sikyi with agressive drumming and melodic vocals, you won't find a word of description in the abscence of liner notes. But letting the music speak for itself, drummers and dancers will enjoy this one! 12 tracks. Check out Kpanlogo here!
HEAR A SOUND CLIP! CD: $16.99
Meni Nonn Ni OB: "Ka Amehewo Kule"

NEW!! A great CD you'll find only here! OB is a GA drummer from Ghana who has worked on a great disc here with many of the classics. 74 minutes of traditional rhythms including Kpanlogo, Fume Fume, Kpatsa, Oge, and Gome. A great one for dance teachers to use too. Check out this Kpanlogo track (first) and the Gome track (second)...
HEAR A SOUND CLIP!

HEAR ANOTHER SOUND CLIP!
CD: $16.99
"Dagbamba Masters": "Traditional Drumming from Tamale, Ghana"

Led by Inusah Hamidu Jawula. This is the real deal from Tamale, Ghana. With only 6 musicians, the sounds of the Lunna (Talking Drum) and Gongon (Bass Drum) are much easier to hear than in Chernoff's,"Master Drummers of the Dagbon". Includes full length renditions of Tipariga, Takai, Bamaaya and Tora.
HEAR A SOUND CLIP! CD: $15.99
Okaidja: "The Traditionalist"

A young Ga drummer from Accra, Ghana, Okaidja is himself a traditionalist. Studying at the "Institute of African Studies" under the great Professor A.M. Opoku, he later joined "Ghana Dance Ensemble" which took him around the globe. This disc has very strong, tight vocals, lots of Kpanlogo drums, and many bell patterns that are new to most of us. Check out this smooth groove!
HEAR A SOUND CLIP! CD: $15.99
Ade Olumoko and African Spirit: "Musique Apala Du Peuple Yoruba"

A Musique Du Monde series recording (Buda label). Hear these drums talk!
HEAR A SOUND CLIP! CD: $ 16.99

WEB SPECIAL: only $ 12.50!
Obo Addy: "Okropong"

Back in print! A classic, traditional CD with Kpatsa, Toke, Kolomashie, Oge, Gome, and other Ghanaian staples.Recommended.
HEAR A SOUND CLIP! CD: $ 15.99
Obo Addy & Okropong: "Afieye Okropong"

His latest traditional album...check out the Obunu drums on this sound clip.
HEAR A SOUND CLIP! CD: $ 15.99
Aja Addy: "The Medicine Man"

A great classic to learn from...no vocals, clean recording, and lots of different tempos & grooves. The Ga drummers from Ghana are among the best hand drummers in the world. Hear the audio of the Ga classic "Gibo" a.k.a "Oge".
HEAR A SOUND CLIP! CD: $ 19.99
Aja Addy: "Power and Patience"

"Power and Patience" is a rare find of great rhythm and no vocals. Perfect for practicing and getting rhythmic ideas to apply to any band setting."-bb
HEAR A SOUND CLIP! CD: $ 19.99
Akom: "The Art of Possession":

A collection of Akan Traditional religious music from Ghana featuring various musicians.
HEAR A SOUND CLIP! CD: $ 14.99
The Yoruba/Dahomean Collection: "Orishas Across the Ocean"

Fans of Orisha song and rhythm will love this collection of 24 songs from Nigeria, unearthed by the Library of Congress.
HEAR A SOUND CLIP! CD: $ 16.99 Temporarily Out of Print!
The Arthur S. Alberts Collection: "More Tribal, Folk, and Cafe Music of West Africa"

This CD looks at both traditional and modern music in West Africa, from the Ashanti of Ghana to the pop music of Zaire, Liberia. A great intro for West African music. These rare recordings were made in 1949.
HEAR A SOUND CLIP! CD: $ 16.99
Babatunde Olatunji: "Drums of Passion"

Originally released in 1960...this album was one of the first "world music" albums recorded in the US and has influenced many musicians since that time. A classic! This recording features a bonus track, and photos.
HEAR A SOUND CLIP! CD: $ 15.99
Babatunde Olatunji: "Healing Session"

"The year was 1985 and a friend had an old "Drums of Passion" LP that he wanted to turn me on to... which was my first exposure to African percussion. Olatunji can be called the Grandfather of African Drumming in the US where he has influenced generations of drummers. Olatunji's last album before passing in 2003, Healing Session is slower than some of his other recordings, contemplative, and if you read the liner notes, you'll see that it is full of wisdom as well."-bb
HEAR A SOUND CLIP! CD: $ 16.99
"Yoruba Drums from Benin, West Africa":

A 1996 Smithsonian/ Folkways release focusing on bata and dunun ensembles used in Yoruba religious cult worship. 19 all digital tracks, featuring praises for Egungun, Shango, Oro, and Ifa.
HEAR A SOUND CLIP! CD: $ 15.99
"Rhythms of Life, Songs of Wisdom":

Akan music from Ghana, West Africa. A Smithsonian/ Folkways release.
HEAR A SOUND CLIP! CD: $ 15.99
Mustapha Tettey Addy: "Secret Rhythms"

Check out this smooth gome (box drum) rhythm.
HEAR A SOUND CLIP! CD: $ 19.99 Sorry, Temporarily Out of Print!
Mustapha Tettey Addy: "The Royal Drums of Ghana"

Thunderous drumming using Atumpani, Obonu, Ewe, and Log drums.
HEAR A SOUND CLIP! CD: $ 19.99
Guy Warren Ghanaba: "The Divine Drummer"

Originally a jazz drummer, and a member of the legendary Tempos highlife band in the 1940's, Guy Warren went to the US in the 1950's, playing with jazz legends like Coltrane, Parker and Monk. In playing American jazz, he re-discovered his "africanness" and returned to Ghana as Kofi Ghanaba to dig deeper into his own Ghanaian roots. This rare "way out there" CD was recorded live in Accra and the result: Ghanian rhythms meet legendary jazz drummer.
HEAR A SOUND CLIP! CD: $ 16.99
Beigu Neeyo: "Remembering the Chiefs"

An oral history ceremony of the Dagomba people in Ghana. Another great homegrown enhanced CD from Earth CDs. Contains about 25 minutes of audio, and an additional 15 minutes of video footage recorded on site in WA, Northern Ghana. You can see and hear subtulties (like the L-hand and wrist technique and the oral history being sung) in the music that is very unique to this region. A great tool for teachers and those studying Ghanaian music.
HEAR A SOUND CLIP! CD: $ 16.99
Durbar Procession in Cape Coast:

A parade and celebration of the Chiefs and Queen Mothers in the streets of Cape Coast, Ghana. This is an enhanced CD with 49 minutes of audio and 9 minutes of bonus video. Recorded on site by Earth CDs in 2001. Check out these fast, furious, and hard-to-find parade rhythms.
HEAR A SOUND CLIP! CD: $ 16.99
Master Drummers of the Dagbon: "Volume 2"

More great recordings by John Chernoff in Tamale, Ghana, of this culture's "talking-drum"...and no, that is not a buzz you hear in your speaker, it's the snare on the bottom of the Gon Gon drum.
HEAR A SOUND CLIP! CD: $ 15.99
Takai: "Dagomba Drum Instructional DVD

NEW DOUBLE DVD!! Filmed in Ghana, by our buddy Vijay Rakhra, this 2-disc set features Inusah Hamidu Jawula and the Naculunga Culture Troupe as they break down and demonstrate the drum AND dance parts for the Dagomba dance, Takai. Includes instruction for lunna (aka talking drum) and gungon (aka brekete) parts, and breakdown of the dance in its entirety.
   2-DVD SET: $ 29.99
Abubakari Lunna: "Drum Damba"

This book focuses on the Dagbamba culture of Northern Ghana. (The CD is currently out of print!)
   BK: $ 17.99
Dagomba Beats: Bamaaya and Damba Takai: "Lessons with Inusah Hamidu Jawula"

This NEW DVD features traditional and choreographed drum beats from Tamale, Ghana. Do you like Dagomba drumming? Have you read John Chernoff's book or heard the "Master Drummers of the Dagbon" CD? If so, you will LOVE this new DVD of Dagomba drumming put out by Vijay Rakhra. Instruction and improvisation on talking drum (Lunna) and Gongon (Bass drum) that makes it look easy. Includes photo slide show and other extras.
*Recommended.
   DVD: $ 29.99
"Traditional Dances of Ghana: Featuring dance instructor, Nana Yaw Koranteng"

Now on DVD! Filmed in Ghana, features the Aziza Music and Dance Ensemble and dance instructor Nana Yaw Koranteng. Rhythms covered include--Gahu, Kpatsa, Kpanlogo, and Fume Fume with segmented dance steps, dance solos, and live drummers. 61 minutes.
NOTE!! This is a DVD-R and differs slightly from commercially available DVDs...not all machines play DVD-R's, so please check your machines compatibility BEFORE you buy this!
   DVD: $ 29.99
"Dance-Drumming of the Anlo-Ewe":

This DVD, produced by The University of Ghana and Vijay Rakhra, features the Ghana Dance Ensemble. Rhythms covered include--Kinka, Agbadza and the Slow and Fast Agbekor. They perform in the Botanical Gardens in Legon, Ghana. Now on DVD!
   DVD: $ 29.99
"Ewe Drumming From Ghana: The Soup Which is Sweet Draws the Chairs in Closer" recorded by James Burns

This is sweet soup, indeed! Known worldwide for their mastery of 12/8 rhythms, you'll love the singing here, too. It reminds me of many Ewe wake-keepings in Ghana where the Agbadza goes all night long, and even a village away, you can hear the thunder of the lead Atsimeivu drum. Unlike the djembe tradition, all the lead drumming here is in the low register, and the high drums are mostly timekeepers. If you've been to Ghana, this will transplant you firmly back. Serious about drumming? DonŐt ignore the Ewe!
HEAR A SOUND CLIP! CD:
$ 16.99



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