Music from Togo – Back on The Block

West Africa has always had a strong tradition of music and dance: Afro-beat and Juju in Nigeria and Benin, HighLife in Ghana, the Mandingue music, etc…

Many artists have worked on doing their mix with other musics such as Jazz, Rythm & Blues, or Disco. Osibisa, one of my favourite bands from the 1970s, which included four musicians from Ghana, probably made the perfect fusion of African sounds and rythms, Jazz, Rock, Latin, and R&B. Also, artists such as Mory Kanté, Ali Farka Touré, Youssou N’Dour, and Angelique Kidjo, have brought an important part to the African music, and to its universal nature.

In the West African musical paysage, Togo has produced a number of internationally known popular artists such as Bella Bellow, Jimi Hope and King Mensah. Bella Bellow actually inspired a vague of female artists among which Afia Mala and Fifi Rafiatou.

I was greatly surprised to see how the Togo music scene was active these last years, particularly in the Rap and R&B front, but also in the traditional styles and the fusion between modern and traditional.

Recently, I discovered Renya, a young female Gospel singer. Her new album “Gake” features those warm sounds from the Togo and Ghana coast old bands, as well as balads in the pure R&B style.

Stay tuned ! There is more to come…