Friday 26 September 2014

Bi Furu (marriage today) An alternative wedding playlist

When my older brother asked me to create a playlist for his wedding reception earlier this month it started me thinking about songs from West Africa on the subject of weddings. So in parallel with his playlist I decided to curate a set of tunes from Mali and Burkina Faso. 

From the joyous and evocative sound of Amadou and Mariam's `Beaux dimanches' to Oumou Sangaré subverting a traditional song to critique patriarchy here is my alternative playlist. 

Also featured are some scorching township tunes by the likes of Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens I was inspired to dig out after guesting on another Cambridge 105 radio show The Kipper the cat (vinyl) show. 


Hear the world premier of a selection from nearly 300 mint condition 78s discovered in an abandoned record shop in Gauteng just outside Johannesburg here