Poly-Rythmo' 76 feat Danialou Sagbohan




This album has been released in 1976 but the title "Gbeto Vivi" was recorded in Nigeria in 1972. That day, Poly-Rythmo's drummer, Yehouessi Leopold, was too tired to play Sagbohan's Title.




So Sagbohan asked the sound-engineer to install an other microphone so that he would sing while playing drums. Sagbohan never did it before and it was, besides, his first recording in Studio.

Super Star de Ouidah (1965)



Returning to Africa by the Mono sound Of Ouidah and the gate of No Return (Ouidah, in the Mono region of Benin), is the twin-town of Salavador de Bahia in Brazil). The Super Star of Ouidah was one of the first orchestra of Dahomey. Super Star from Ouidah was also the first band of  Poly-Rythmo's bass player Bentho Gustave. It seams that he is not playing on this record composed by Houedanou Sebastien and Behanzin Paulin.



Retour en Afrique avec le son Mono du Duper Star de Ouidah et la porte du Non-Retour (Ouidah dans la région du Mono, est la ville jumelle de Salvador de Bahia au Brésil). Le Super Star fut un des premiers orchestres après l'indépendance mais aussi le premier groupe de Bentho Gustave, le bassiste du Poly-Rythmo. Il semble qu'il ne joue pas sur ce dernier ne joue pas sur enregistrement composé par Houedanou Sébastien et Behanzin Paul.

EGUNGUN (Brazil 1964)


This post is an answer of an previous post about Dahomey's Egungun music. This LP is taken from a fantastic work about Egungun ceremonies in Salvador de Bahia. Recorded in 1964, nothing changed between Benin and Brazil.

oro

"Only the spirits that are specially prepared to be invoked and to materialize can receive the name of Egungun, Baba Egun. The main objective of the cult is to make visible the spirits of the ancestors which act as a link between the living and their forefathers. Thus, the Baba bring to their descenders and believers, their blessings and advice but can not be touched. The Egun must always remain seperated from the living."

Side A:
1. Iba Orisha Iba Onile
Salutation to Onile at the beginning of every ceremony.

2. Osanyin
Three chants praising Osanyin, patron of leaves and medecine.

3. Egunugun Kigbale
Through this chant the ancestors are called to come and embody themselves in the world of the living.

4. Ewo Nile
Warning call, something is going to happen. The ancestor is going to arrive.

5. Oro Abi Oro
This chant expresses the meaning of the rit itself oro), re-enacting the comunity links, bringing happiness, goodness and welfare.

6. Onile Mo Bodo Ile
Baba is arriving, he announces himself saluting the elders and asking permission to come in.

7. Nile Wa Alagbe
Baba sings, encouraging the Alagbe, the ritual musicians.

8. Agboula Ago Nile
When Agboula comes to world, evrything rejoices in happiness

9. O She Wara Wara
Two chants in homage to Shango, divine ancestor of the royal dinasty of Oyo from where the Agboula community traces its origins. Many of the Egun revered today, were in life, Shango worshipers.

Side B:
1. Salutations to Baba Olukutun, head of all the ancestors.

2. Loni Ojo Odun
Two chants of great joy for the annual festival of Baba Olukotum. A burst of rockest intensifies the ceremony.

3. Kiye KiyeBo Iroko
Homage to the Egun of the forefathers that were in lifetime woreshipers.

4. Orisha Wa Iye
A chant calling the entities to come and dance with joy.

5. Afulele Ade
A chant in homage to Oya Igbale, queen and patroness of the Egun.

6.Omi Ro
A most profound chnat that evokes all african ancestry.

7. Aluja
The drums play the Aluja, the favourite rhythm and dance for Shango, head of kings, Alafin of Oyo, owner and patron of fire and thunder.

Sunny Black's Band (1965)


Another rare realese by the Beninese group out of which emerged the Poly-Rythmo. A single composed by Clément Mélomé featuring a jerk on side A and a bolero on side B. I Think this single was recorded in 1965.

Encore une nouvelle édition du Sunny Black's Band alias Poly-Rythmo. Disque composé par Clément Mélomé, on trouve sur la face A un jerk et la Face B un boléro. Des rythmes populaires pour l'époque. Je pense qu'il a été enregistré en 1965.