entry 2: zamrock, tishoumaren, desert blues, and wassoulou

Last year, I got really into Malian and Zambian rock music. I can confidently say my life is better for it, and I feel compelled to bring the good tunes of Tishoumaren and Zamrock to as many people as humanly possible. This recently went from being “out of the realm of possibility to most” to “possible?” thanks to the inclusion of a sample from Zamrock band Ngozi Family’s song “Nizakupanga Ngozi” in the lead single “Noid” of Tyler the Creator’s recent album “CHROMAKOPIA”. Though the sample is a sped-up clip of the song, I nonetheless hope it piques people’s interest in this cool subgenre of African rock music. And hopefully, I can convince you to check out some other awesome genres of music from Africa as well.

Zamrock
From 1970s Zambia emerged this flavor of psychedelic, fuzz-rock. The genre lasted until the later part of the decade, where economic troubles lead to the quiet death of the genre. However, its spark lived on through, most recently, compilation albums that collected some of the best tracks from the coolest bands in Zamrock’s hey-day. I own one of these myself, “Welcome To Zamrock! How Zambia’s Liberation Led To a Rock Revolution, Vol. 2 (1972-1977)”, picked up at my beloved Cheapo Records in Cambridge, MA. Sadly, don’t own Vol. 1, but you can own both from bandcamp.

And what a lovely primer it is! It selects hits from some of the premier Zamrock bands - some of which are still active to this day! On one end, you have WITCH - We Intend to Cause Havoc. Sick as fuck name, and incredibly slick tunes to match. “You Better Know” is a standout hit from the Welcome to Zamrock compilation, and WITCH actually reformed after almost 40 years and put out my !personal! Album of 2023: Zango. It’s a great album front to back that holds up on repeated listens, but the standout track for me is the groovy, gorgeous song “Unimvwesha Shuga” featuring vocals from Theresa Ng’ambi and Hanna Tembo. The charisma of the vocalists really brings the song to the next level - “Take me higher!” as the girls sing.
On the other hand, you have Paul Ngozi and his Ngozi Family (as previously mentioned). Paul Ngozi passed away in 1989 according to Wikipedia, so he’s unable to enjoy the widespread acclaim the renewed interest in his band & their songs has brought. It’s a reminder what a shame it is that these albums hadn’t received more widespread attention than they have up until now. But 2024 is one hell of a year, and I’m thrilled my prediction that Zamrock was going to be sampled in a modern pop song was proven right. Hopefully this little monolog I’m giving can convince you to check two of the genre’s most acclaimed bands out.

Tishoumaren
To lump these two genres under the extremely nondescript term “African Music” does them a complete disservice, considering they’re so sonically distinct. Tishoumaren (also called assouf or desert blues) originates from the Saharan regions of North & Western Africa. Zamrock is from way further south on the continent. But I think a lot of music from many countries that are not primarily English-speaking are often neglected by the larger music scene. Which is a shame, it makes things very homogenous! So, while I have your ear, I want to suggest another subgenre of music to you!
I first learned of Tishoumaren through this documentary titled “The Tragic Story of Africa’s Festival in the Desert” by Bandsplaining. I want to say my buddy Mikey put me on it. Here’s a link!

I found one of my favorite musicians of all time through this genre: Mdou Moctar. I consider his album “Afrique Victime” to be one of the best albums I’ve ever heard! The guitar strumming is so perfectly executed in this album, and every song draws you in hypnotically, till you cant help but bob your head along. I missed out on the chance to see him live recently and I’m still pissed at my dumb self. UGH! Don’t be dumb like me, I’ve heard the guy’s amazing live… anyway…

I actually listened to Tishoumaren music before finding Zamrock. Unlike Zamrock, which was a subgenre that died off for a time, Tishoumaren has had a long, thriving history that I am completely under-qualified and uninformed to recount. The Tishoumaren band Tinariwen literally served in Gaddafi’s military, which is not something most rock bands do. It just goes to show how intertwined Tishoumaren music is with the Tuareg musicians that play it. And speaking of that…

Malian Music - “desert blues” and “Wassoulou”
Make no mistake, Tuareg music falls under the umbrella of Malian music, but I really need to emphasize how varied the music of Mali is! When I travel late at night on flights and I need some music to lull me into the state of weird twilight sleep you get on airplanes, I like to put on the hypnotically smooth album “Ali” by Malian musician Vieux Fara Touré with the backings of the Texan three piece band Khruangbin. The album is named for Ali Farka Touré, the father of Vieux and widely acclaimed Malian musician in his own right. The elder Touré passed away in 2006, but he forever left a mark on the “desert blues” Khaira Arby is another standout Malian singer of Tuareg descent. However, her music focuses on her powerful, beautiful vocals. My favorite album of hers is “Timbuktu Tarab” from 2010. Within Malian music, though extending beyond its boarders, is the Wassoulou subgenera that’s pioneered by women. Oumou Sangaré’s Seya from 2009 is a standout of the genre that I’d love to recommend.

I’m by no means anything remote to an expert on this subject, but I feel very excited about it so I hope I’ve been able to pique your interest on the topic of music you may have never considered checking out before!