Sunburst

Ave Africa - The Kitoto Sound Of East Africa: 1973-1976

Strut
25.95 €
icon/play-white
Backorder
Tax included, Shipping not included
Strut presents a definitive collection of recordings from one of Tanzania’s most revered bands of the early 1970s, Sunburst. Covering their output from 1973 to 1976, this first retrospective features their singles for the Moto Moto and TFC labels, their sole album, ‘Ave Africa’ and an unreleased radio session recorded in Tanzania in 1973. By the time Zairean guitarist Hembi Flory Kongo had formed the band in Dar Es Salaam in 1970 playing “copyright” cover versions, soul and funk had long influenced young musicians in Dar and ‘boogies’, weekly soul events, were commonplace at the city’s clubs. Despite the Tanzanian government banning soul (both music and dancing) through their conservative Ujamaa policy in 1969, Sunburst grew as a band and developed their own musical direction which they later called Kitoto Sound, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of the band members. Lyrical themes included black pride and colonial oppression – the band even played a gig for visiting civil rights heroine Angela Davis. After June 1973, Sunburst gained a national audience through a live session for the state-owned Radio Tanzania, a crucial means for domestic bands to air their work. A month later, they won a band competition in Dar Es Salaam and their popularity in Tanzania grew further. They began recording singles in Kenya, standing apart from the predominantly rumba, jazz or taarab styles sung in local languages at the time. In 1974, Sunburst met Zambian musician Rikki Ililonga from Zamrock group Musi- O-Tunya and he invited them to Zambia. Meeting their later manager, car company employee Peter Bagshawe, they embarked on an ill-fated tour with Kenyan funk band Matata before working on a first full album in 1976 in Lusaka with new band members. The LP came out at the height of the Zamrock scene led by bands like Witch and Ngozi Family but Sunburst offered a more intricate sound as musicians born in six different countries tapped into a multitude of styles, languages and stories. “Our songs support freedom struggles and encourage peasants and workers to work harder,” singer James Mpungo recounted. “Our songs also criticize our people for allowing themselves to be too westernized.” After a handful of further singles for Tanzanian state label TFC, including the popular ‘Banchikicha’, the band split, frustrated by living on “bare minimum earnings” from their music. The result of three years’ painstaking work after tracking down bandleader Hembi Kongo, bassist Bashir and the band’s ex-manager Peter Bagshawe, this overdue retrospective is curated by Thomas Gesthuizen (DJ Gioumanne) of Africanhiphop. com and Dave Tinning of Santuri East Africa. The package features a full band biography alongside rare photos, press cuttings and memorabilia. 1. Kitoto Sound 2. Ukuti Ukuti 3. Ba Motoka Na Castle 4. Kamungulwe 5. Your Day Will Come 6. Ani Uni 7. Wakulu Wa Kuno 8. We Need Each Other 9. Alhamdullilah 10. Ntambwa 11. How Can I Get To You 12. Ave Africa 13. Simba Anguruma 14. Kipato Sina 15. Vijana 16. Black Is Beautiful 17. Enzi Za Utumwani 18. Instrumental 19. Simba Anguruma 20. Black Is Beautiful 21. Wakulu Wa Kuno 22. Kosa Langu Mpenzi

Share Article

Details

Genre

Afro Rock

Release Date

30.06.2016

Cat No

130521

Tracklist

Track 1
icon/play-white
Track 2
icon/play-white
Track 3
icon/play-white
Track 4
icon/play-white
Track 5
icon/play-white
Track 6
icon/play-white
Track 7
icon/play-white
Track 8
icon/play-white
Track 9
icon/play-white
Track 10
icon/play-white
Track 11
icon/play-white
Track 12
icon/play-white
Afro Disco
icon/play-white
2-LP
Various / Kampire Presents
33.95 €
A Dancefloor In Ndola Strut
Add To Cart
Afro Music
2-LP
icon/play-white
Various / Kampire Presents
33.95 €
A Dancefloor In Ndola Strut
Afro Funk
icon/play-white
LP
Lafayette Afro Rock Band
27.95 €
Soul Makossa (Black Vinyl) Strut
Backorder
Afro Music
LP
icon/play-white
Lafayette Afro Rock Band
27.95 €
Soul Makossa (Black Vinyl) Strut
Afro Beat
icon/play-white
LP
Lafayette Afro Rock Band
27.95 €
Malik Strut
Add To Cart
Afro Music
LP
icon/play-white
Lafayette Afro Rock Band
27.95 €
Malik Strut
Afro Funk
LP
Lafayette Afro Rock Band
30.95 €
Soul Makossa (Transparent Blue Vinyl) Strut
Backorder
Afro Music
LP
Lafayette Afro Rock Band
30.95 €
Soul Makossa (Transparent Blue Vinyl) Strut
New Soul / R&B
LP
Nubiyan Twist
30.95 €
Find Your Flame Strut
Backorder
Funk/Soul
LP
Nubiyan Twist
30.95 €
Find Your Flame Strut
Afro Jazz
icon/play-white
2-LP
Idris Ackamoor / The Pyramids
31.95 €
Afro Futuristic Dreams Strut
Backorder
Afro Music
2-LP
icon/play-white
Idris Ackamoor / The Pyramids
31.95 €
Afro Futuristic Dreams Strut
Disco
icon/play-white
2-LP
Various
27.95 €
Surinam Funk Force Rush Hour
Backorder
Disco
2-LP
icon/play-white
Various
27.95 €
Surinam Funk Force Rush Hour
Reggae / Dub
2-LP
Various
37.95 €
Studio One Story Soul Jazz
Backorder
Reggae / Dub
2-LP
Various
37.95 €
Studio One Story Soul Jazz
Funk
icon/play-white
12"
The Pinch
15.95 €
Shot Out Peoples Potential Unlimited
Backorder
Funk/Soul
12"
icon/play-white
The Pinch
15.95 €
Shot Out Peoples Potential Unlimited
Reggae / Dub
icon/play-white
LP
Horace Andy
24.95 €
In The Light Dub (Original Artwork Edition) 17 North Parade
Backorder
Reggae / Dub
LP
icon/play-white
Horace Andy
24.95 €
In The Light Dub (Original Artwork Edition) 17 North Parade
Reggae / Dub
LP
Rhythm & Sound
25.95 €
With The Artists Burial Mix
Backorder
Reggae / Dub
LP
Rhythm & Sound
25.95 €
With The Artists Burial Mix
New Soul / R&B
2-LP
D'Angelo
29.95 €
Voodoo Virgin
Add To Cart
Funk/Soul
2-LP
D'Angelo
29.95 €
Voodoo Virgin