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DIGGING FOR JOY: Pan-African Psychedelic Disco w/ ra / sol
DIGGING FOR JOY: Pan-African Psychedelic Disco w/ ra / sol
11.05.25 · Montreal

DIGGING FOR JOY: Pan-African Psychedelic Disco w/ ra / sol

As DJing and dance music have been thrust into the mainstream, there is a lot of room to examine and (re)discover the hidden gems of dance floors past, when the ethos of liberation, unity, and joy were at the forefront of the music being made. If there is one genre of music that always, always, always sets a dance floor on fire, it's Pan-African funk, disco, and psychedelic electronica.

While disco, house, and hip hop were being created by African American descendants of slaves in the late 70s and early 80s, synthesizers were making their way around the world. When African musicians got their hands on these instruments, they combined them with various traditional sounds from across the continent. And thus was born some of the most timeless, soulful music that has ever been made. Expressing nothing but resistance through pure, unabashed sonic joy, music from the disco era made in Cameroon, Nigeria, Lagos & South Africa is featured in this mix. 11 songs, some that I've listened to hundreds of times. I hope they create the same kind of euphoria for you that they do for me.

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Tracklist

  • 0:00:10
    Shina Williams & His African Percussionists
    Agboju Logun
  • 0:07:36
    Ntombi Ndaba
    Tomorrow
  • 0:11:00
    Eko
    M'Ongele M'Am
  • Linda "Babe" Majika, Thoughts Visions And Dreams, Ray Phiri
    Let's Make a Deal
  • Emmanuel Kahe Et Jeanette Kemogne & Ben Gomori
    Ya Medjuie
  • Sir Victor Uwaifo
    Ohue (Frankie Francis & Simbad Edit)
  • Don Laka
    Stages
  • Olinga Gaston
    Ngon Engap
  • Mike Umoh
    Shake Your Body
  • Bebe Manga
    Lokognolo
  • V.O.
    Mashisa (Dub Mix)
  • William Onyeabor
    Body & Soul