August 07, 2010

Morogoro marvels

If you ask me, this is an album which should be put on the World Heritage List. All human beings should at least be made aware of the existence of this music by the immortal Mbaraka Mwinshehe and the Morogoro Jazz.

This is certainly one of my very favourite albums by Mbaraka. When it comes to Mbaraka at his Mbaraka-st, you can hardly get any better than this. From the slightly out of tune horns in the opening track "Mapenzi Ya Nitesa" to the master's pizzicato plucking in the last track "Dr. Klerruu", there is no hint of pretentiousness, no trace of conceit. I almost feel like I shouldn't be listening to it: this music wasn't made so some idiot Dutchman would listen to it. The musicians can't possibly have been thinking that they would at one point be heard by a world-wide audience.

I don't think it would be wise to write about the individual songs. I won't write about how I love the breaks in "Matusi Ya Nini?" and "Pesa No.1", or the brilliant guitar explosions in "Mitindo Yetu", the classic "Dr. Klerruu", the Franco-esque climax of "Matusi Ya Nini", the amazing.....

Words won't do justice to the extasy this music can bring. I'll leave you to listen - probably in awe - to these Morogoro marvels.....

Polydor POLP 544 or POLP 544
at

15 comments:

  1. dial africa7 August 2010 at 16:15

    Thank you for this wonderful flowing music. You didn't promise too much.
    R.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Andrés7 August 2010 at 18:20

    I love it. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Subi Nukta8 August 2010 at 02:08

    Thank you so much for this record. As we say in Kiswahili, Asante sana!

    ReplyDelete
  4. reservatory8 August 2010 at 04:46

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. reservatory8 August 2010 at 04:58

    A beauty! THANKS for ALL the Mbaraka Mwinshehe stuff you've posted over the past year or so!

    ReplyDelete
  6. joji9 August 2010 at 02:38

    Kweli : shukrani tu!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous9 August 2010 at 07:59

    East Africa's answer to Franco!

    Thanks

    I am STILL looking for a video clip of this great man
    sincerely,
    wuod k

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous10 August 2010 at 06:22

    Undoubtedly the greatest musician to come out of Tanzania. He is an artiste I greatly admired....

    Rough Translations

    Mapenzi yanitesa - Love is torturing me...About a jilted lover who doesn't understand why they split.

    Kifo cha Karume - The death of Karume (I think Karume was the Sultan of Zanzibar)

    Matusi ya nini? - What are the insults for?

    Tunachogombea nini? - Well, I am not exactly sure but based on the context, a rough translation may be "What are we fighting over?"

    Nisalimie Wana Zaire - Greet the Zaireans. He is asking his pal to send greetings to the Zairean musical greats of the time. He mentions Franco, Dr. Nico, Tabu Ley, Jean Bombenga, Grand Kalle, Verckys, Bholen, Dewayon, Bokelo & Nico Lokombe by name

    Mitindo Yetu - Our trends/ styles...Basically about the dances of the time

    Pesa No. 1- Money No. 1...It is a song that is all about a materialistic spouse.

    Dr. Klerruu - A song in honour of Dr. Klerruu

    ReplyDelete
  9. Pieter10 August 2010 at 14:58

    The plucking in Dr Kleruu is one of my favorite examples of Mbaraka's guitar wizardry: like Franco's best work...

    ReplyDelete
  10. chris meserve14 August 2010 at 21:43

    i have to admit, i have been occasionally underwhelmed by him in the past, but this record sets me straight. what a tune Mapenzi yanitesa is! thanks!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. joe16 August 2010 at 19:23

    @ Pieter;

    I agree. The guitar takes on a very likembe-like tone from 2 minutes on. Do you think he's plucking the strings, or is he perhaps damping them with the flesh of his palm? In either case, it is a very impressive example of his mastery.

    ReplyDelete
  12. dj slow9 February 2011 at 18:56

    I discovered this artist here and have loved everything else I've found and heard. Thanks for all your fantastic contributions.

    Check out a mix (as well as several others) with the opening track on my blog:

    http://slowmusicmeltdown.blogspot.com/2011/02/afrimix.html

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous5 July 2011 at 22:11

    Thank you so much for sharing with Mbaraka's songs with us.Shame I cant listen to all this golden songs,as ADrive is not working for me.
    Please cant u send all these Ukumbusho songs through Worldservice Podcast,like u did with some of his songs on the Podcast you sendt on 15/June/2011?
    I promise to contribute a lot here on Mbaraka's history as I knew him(he used to play for us teenagers in the afternoon,in the special shows called Boogies,as we could not otherwise be allowed in the evening/night shows,as we were legaly not allowed,and had to attend school the next morning anyway).
    So I know what I am saying,when I observe that indeed he was a pure genius guy,who the East africans will never see his kind again,ever.
    Thanks.
    Mr Msomali.

    ReplyDelete
  14. WrldServ6 July 2011 at 10:07

    @Anonymous (Mr Msomali): Please contact through the address in my profile, and I will send you the files through another channel.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous7 July 2011 at 16:26

    Thank you so much WrldServ,for your kindness and dedication to world music.
    I will contact you through your adress in your profile.
    Kind regards
    Mr Msomali

    ReplyDelete