It’s funny where the web takes you. One minute I was dropping by Jens Lekman’s website, next I’m downloading songs from a tape put out by some crazy street performer dude from Ghana called Onipa Nua.
I’d never heard of Onipa Nua. And I’m not sure that Jens Lekman has either. But Jens had posted a video of Ghana Hiplife artist Bollie singing his song ‘You May Kiss Your Bride.’ It was kind of funky and silly – especially the mwaa kissing noises – so I Googled the song to see if I could download it anywhere. One of the sites suggested was Awesome Tapes from Africa.
Wow. What a find.
The guy who runs the blog had travelled through Africa and on returning, started digitising all the cassettes he’d bought. The result is a treasure chest of African music virtually unheard of outside the continent. Or, to be honest, outside of the cities they were made in.
It’s a bit hit and miss, as you’d expect. But the gems – like Onipa Nua’s I Feel Alright – are well worth trawling through the dross for.
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Sounds cool. I had a look, curious if he’d listed any Ethiopian ‘bus music’. sadly not – but I presume it’s only a matter of time!