· November, 2007

Stories about Music from November, 2007

Kuduro: The Sexy Angolan Rhythm With a Message

  30 November 2007

Whether the word Kuduro comes from the Kimbundu language, native to northern Angola and means “location” or from the Portuguese expression meaning “hard ass” or “stiff bottom” is debated but there's no argument that the dance is sexy. As one watches the dancers of this Angolan music style jutting their...

Armenia: Rock ‘n Roll Rebels

  29 November 2007

The Armenian Patchwork posts photographs from the last gig by Armenia's most popular rock band, Bambir. Now with a new drummer, Anush quotes the band's guitarist as saying their new set contains songs which are a reaction against society and nationalism.

Zambia: Listen to George Kazoka

  29 November 2007

Ben Loxo takes us to Zambia for a musical journey: “Wow, busy week. Feeling a bit tired this morning. A little Zambian “you’ve done me wrong” acoustic by George Kazoka lifts me out of bed and into my mug of coffee.”

Uganda: Ten questions with the Comrade

  29 November 2007

Beloved by the blogren for his prolific, provocative comments and his endless, passionate devotion to North Korea, the 27th Comrade was until recently one of Uganda's most active bloggers. Two months ago the Comrade decided to take a hiatus from his blog Communist Socks and Boots. Our author Rebekah Heacock sought him out for a conversation about writing, reggae and, naturally, Communism.

Russia: Peter Nalitch

  29 November 2007

Siberian Light writes about Peter Nalitch, Russia's “homegrown star to match Borat”: “Seriously – who could resist the charming Nalitch as he croons “Gitarrr, Gitarrr, Gitarrr, jump to my yaguarrr, Gitarrr, Gitarrr Gitarrr, come to my boudoirrr” from the front seat of his cramped Soviet Kopeika car?”

China: “Red Foreigner” Sings Red Songs Naked

  28 November 2007

An American blogger who names himself Honglaowai (red foreigner) has revived the Chinese red songs, a serious political music in China ,and extensively posted his music videos on YouTube, Youku and Tudou such video sharing websites. What's more, in his red song MVs, he is naked to the waist.

Armenia: HaShiSh

  24 November 2007

Life in the Armenian Diaspora reports that HaShiSh, an Armenian punk rock band from South America, is touring the U.S. Meanwhile, Unzipped posts an account of former System of a Down frontman, Serj Tankian, performing in London.

Ukraine: Maidan is 3

  22 November 2007

Ukrainiana posts photos and video from the third anniversary of the Orange Revolution in Kyiv and criticizes president Yushchenko for not being self-critical enough: “What about our purchasing power? What about our average life expectancy? What about the AIDS epidemic? What about the casualty rate in the mining industry? What...

Egypt: New TV Channel

  22 November 2007

“As if we are really in a desperate need for another Music Video Channel !! And it is not like any other channel it is the MTV Channel directed to the Arab world,” writes Zeinobia, from Egypt.

Ethiopia: Teddy Afro Concert Review

  20 November 2007

A review of Teddy Afro concert in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: “Last night I attended a concert by Teddy Afro. I think I'd heard the name maybe once before K mentioned going. The concert was being held at the Ghion, so I imagined a nice little crowd in one of the...

Mali: The music of Mariam Bagayoko

  19 November 2007

Awesome Tapes From Africa posts the music of Mariam Bagayoko: Um, yeah. This is scary. The other-worldly pentatonic balafon and its apocalyptic overtones repeat toward infinity, and I can't help but think of Reich's marimba ostinatos and Partch's microtones here.

D.R of Congo: Grand Master Franco Luambo

  19 November 2007

Shakara blogs about the Congolese musician, Franco Luambo: “It’s a known fact that Franco recorded various praise songs for Mobutu, openly supported Mobutu’s presidential campaigns and toured to promote the Authenticity policy.”