Latest mix from Zhao in his NGOMA mix series. Zhao had this to say about his most recent mix, "while staying in the same territory as 2, the journey is not the same, and many things make this one unique: the psychedelic motorik genius of Dj Clock's "Durban Guitar"; the monolithic, earth shaking visions of Black Coffee; DJ Sdoko's ominous Kraftwerkian phuture; Manya's soul stirring take on traditonal Angolan melodies; a surprisingly wicked banger from the Dutch DJ Bigga (UK is not the only place currently Afro minded), and ending with Sami vocal style from Mari Boine, reinterpreting the sound of indigenous Norway*. most of the selection are not well known or commonly used tracks in the "scene", with only one exception: just could not stay away from the Yellowtail (but check how it is used before you complain).

concerning the anti-apartheid and war samples used through out the mix: the struggle for freedom from colonialism is the context which gave rise to contemporary South African music: Kwaito was born amidst antagonism and bloodshed, and has led to the current house music scene. thus songs such as "100 Zulu Warriors" and the radio broadcast at the end should not be taken as an incitement of racial conflict (especially in light of last year's wave of horrible xenophobia) but as a reminder of the political realities of the Apartheid era from which this music comes. "

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Next up we've got a mix from Chief Boima originally posted on Ghetto Bassquake. Here's a few words from Boima about the mix, "My biggest excitement is the regional similarities. A bunch of tracks are from Southern Africa: Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Angola, and not included, but don't forget Botswana. Also, as evidenced by the start and end of the set, house is big in Latin America and the Caribbean. I added a little Bay Area pride at the end. (But still reppin South Africa!)"

Tracklisting:

1. Fuego-Dejalo Caer
2. Dj Furreta-Minha Mangole
3. Unathi-U R Devine
4. DJ Damost-Wa Ku Kuluka feat. Mr. Dino
5. DJ Jesus-The Thanks
6. Bob Sinclair-The Love Generation
7. Dj Furreta-Ola La Yeah
8. Dj Joca-Djokidos
9. Dj Cleo-Gabz to Mbabane w/Brickz
10. Black Runner-Pump It Up
11. Magic System-Zouglou Dance
12. Dj Killer-Revolucionário
13. Murder Cat-Blam Blam
14. Enur-Calabria Riddim
15. Ding Dong-Go Away
16. ?-?
17. Goapele-Closer (Remix)

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The Fader also recently have done a 2-part feature on African house music as part of their Ghetto Palms column. You can read part I HERE, complete with a kwaito/ pitori house blend with tunes by Mujava and Cleo and also read part II HERE, an exclusive interview with DJ Mujava. Fader also created a podcast for their African music centered issue from 2008 that you can download HERE with tracks from Buraka Som Sistema, BLK JKS, Esau Mwanwaya, and more.

Here is a new one from Zhao. If you enjoyed his NGOMA1 mix, which you can find a few posts down, here is his newest mix; this time featuring the sounds of African Techno and House as well as other afro-influenced styles of electronic music. Here is what he had to say about the mix:

'it is said that the drum itself was invented in Africa. and as far as i'm concerned, all modern pop and especially dance music have deep roots in the musical traditions of that continent. i have made the admittedly sensationalist proclamation "techno comes from Africa", and here is an extremely simplified version of my concept of this lineage: slave songs - blues - gospel - jazz - funk - disco - house - techno ---- the circle is complete. some may have problems with this generalization (and in some ways i do too), but all sidelines, exceptions, and details aside, essentially it makes sense to me. after all, the 4 on the floor hypnotic groove can be found in the myriad styles of African music from every era, be it high-life, rumba, or the thousands upon thousands of much older regional traditions.

most people were, and still are, confused, skeptical, or straight up dismissive when i talk about this, but history was made in 2008 with Warp Records' release of DJ Mujava's Township Funk in Europe, which i believe is only the beginning of Europeans coming to grips with the awesome power of African Techno.

i have been playing Euro-centric minimal, hard techno, breaks, electro, etc., for years, but in recent years have increasingly sensed a solipsism, stagnation, and bankrupsy. but i feel the style loosely termed "UK Funky" is leading the way out of the rut; and it is no coincidence that the most exciting thing happening in European dance music is directly derivative of African and Afro-Caribbean rhythmic structures.

enough talk. switch on the amplifier, lower the lights, and put on those dancing shoes.'

Tracklist

01 Rowick Deep - Let It Play / Intro
02 Dr Duda and Dr M-bee - Ghostbusters
03 Dr Duda and Dr M-bee - Alien Attack / Ghostbusters (Return)
04 Dr Duda and Dr M-bee - The Disco
05 Ghostman - Yush
06 Dr Duda and Dr M-bee - Rumba Dance Featuring Gina
07 Hardhouse Banton - Grrrw
08 Crazy Cousins - Inflation
09 Geeneus - Into the Future
10 Fingaprint - Just Leave
11 DJ Cleo - Bloemfontein Funk
12 DJ Cleo - Gabz To Mbabane
13 Dj Bobo - Things Might Change
14 Dj Mujava - Township Funk
15 Claude Vanstroke - Who's Afraid of Detroit
16 Kentphonik - Happiness feat Lolo
17 Unknown - Vozes Afro
18 Nick Holder - Erotic Illusions (triple t ov mix)
19 Radar - Arabiant / Benga & Coki - Night Geeneus Remix
20 Shackleton - Next to Nothing
21 Geeneus - Make Me
22 Benga - someone 20
23 Mapaputsi - Life
24 Copyright feat. Shovell - Warrior Dance
25 Unknown - Derbouka / Ilario Alicante & Trade - Living Near Africa
26 Ghostman - 25th Hour
27 Dr Duda and Dr M-bee - Music
28 DJ Cleo - Zoe / Percussion
29 Crazy Cousins - Bongo Jam
30 Africanism All Stars - Bisou Sucré
31 Oskido - Wanyamalala
32 Unknown - Do Ask Me

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Showcasing one of the most original mixes of the year, DJ Zhao fuses the sounds of raw afro and asian traditional music with modern bass driven beats from the dubstep and grime scene. Original productions compiled by the Ngoma Soundsystem (Ngoma is Swahili meaning drums, dance, and song) for Germany's Fusion Festival earlier this summer 2008.

"if you've ever wondered what Digital Gamelan is like, what happens when Capetown Gospel singers relocate to London ghettos, or how Robots would play Ethiopian Jazz..."
....then give this mix an ear.

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01 Intro
02 Deadbeat - Lost Luggage >< Indonesia traditional - Spring Water
03 itoa - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart's Dub Band D1 >< Indonesia traditional - Morning Sun
04 Balwinder Safri - Karve Da Din >< 2562 - Basin Dub
05 Iran Traditional - Zeybek >< Dj Hatcha - Chillz
06 The Mahotella Queens - Muntu Wesilisa >< Wiley - Bang Bang Instrumental
07 Turkia Traditional - Kervan >< L-Wiz - Fruit Shop
08 Indonesia Traditional - Sanda Kandung >< Grime instrumental
09 Benga - Half Ounce >< Burundi Traditional bernadette ii
10 Indonesia Traditional - Ngantosan // Mark One - Slang
11 Danny Weed - Dirty Den >< Huseyin Ali Riza Albayrak - Ey Zahid
12 African Headcharge - Belinda >< Blir - 19_4_04
13 Kode 9 - Magnetic City >< Akhenation - 361 Degrees
14 Pinch - Qawwali >< Toshinori Kondo - Fukotsu
15 Indonesia Traditional >< L-Wiz - Fruit Shop
16 The Mahotella Queens - Ndodana Yolahleko >< Skream - Skunkstep
17 Circle - Memo >< Even Order ???
18 Hiripsime - ces femmes qui me ressemblent >< Cyrus - Random Trio - Bounty
19 Hijak - Nightmares >< ø - Toisaalia
20 Ana Whabibi - Mahmoud Fadi (interlude)
21 The Mahotella Queens - Amezemula >< Iron Soul - Slo Moshun
22 African Headcharge - Run Come Saw >< DQ1 - Wear The Crown
23 Indonesia Traditional - Padang Magek >< Omen - Rebellion
24 Mulatu Astatge - Kulunmanqueleshi >< Dj Hatcha - Just a Rift
25 Loka - Fire Shepherds >< L-Wiz - Fruit Shop
26 Loka - Fire Shepherds >< Dubwoofa - Devoliz >< Kion Zindagi
27 DJ Wonder - What >< La Chat Playa - Gangsta Forever
28 Rove >< 2046 Soundtrack >< Vex'd - Destruction
29 L-Wiz - Sub >< Armenia Traditional - Boulbouli Hid (Le Chant du Rossignol)
30 Shackleton - Blood On My Hands >< Dashti - Abdoinaghi Afsharnia >< Turkia Traditional - Cagirayim Seni