African

Want to hear some of the awesome music of the many West AND East African artists performing at The Cedar during August through November, 2011, but not sure where to start? Listen to our video playlist below, with 12 tracks from Samba Mapangala, Vieux Farka Touré, Ballaké Sissoko and Vincent Segal, Sidi Touré, Aar Maanta, Staff Benda Bilili, Baaba Maal, Debo Band + Fendika, Bassekou Kouyaté and Ngoni Ba. If you like the mix, please feel free to grab the widget and post on your blog, or like on Facebook.

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Music and Food in celebration of the 15th anniversary of Mshale Newspaper. Featuring local African talent in cuisine and music.

In April of 2010 Secret Stash Records traveled to Lima, Peru and assembled Peña, an Afro-Peruvian ensemble featuring a handful of the best musicians within the genre. Peña is defined as a meeting place or grouping of musicians or artists.  The group was a revolving door of sorts that included over a dozen players ranging in age from 24 to 65. In seven days they recorded over 50 tracks. With no access to a conventional recording studio they improvised by tracking in classrooms, living rooms, balconies, offices, and even on the stoop of a hostile.  The sessions were fast, free spirited, and generally consisted of one or two takes per track. The result is an authentic display of one of the world’s most unique, unexplored and underrated musical styles.

“Sunny, worldly pop delight.”—Time Out New York