Afrobeat(s) with Christian Adofo
I read the book A Quick Ting on Afrobeats by Christian Adofo in a weekend (it is fairly short, but I was also hooked!). It was a brilliant combination of musical history of the Afrobeats genre alongside the personal journey of the author Christian. I thought that he would be an amazing person to interview on the Mother of Mankind show so sent him a message through Instagram. This is pretty much how I contact all of the artists who I invite on the show and, like many of the others I have contacted, he got back to me and said he was game to come on the show.
The stars aligned so that we could meet in Farringdon at the Musicbox Radio studio to do the interview live. It was the first time I had ever done an interview for the show in person and it meant that I couldn’t prepare to the same extent that I normally do. A slightly unsettling but also exciting prospect for me - I turned up with a bag of records and my USB and Christian brought his USB and we built the show as we went. We followed a similar path to the book in terms of genres - from Highlife to Afrobeat to Burga Highlife to House and UK Funky to Afrobeats (with an ‘S’!).
Christian opened my eyes to so many connections through those genres, helping me to see how they are connected, how they are distinct and who some of the key figures were in driving those changes. I spend so much time thinking about music in different geographies, but very little thinking about how much changes over time. He gave me a new perspective in that way and it’s something I am much more aware of now!
It was great to hear Christian’s personal account of all of this music too - as a non-African guy who is obsessed with music from Africa, it’s really insightful for me to get to know people who have a more lived experience of the music than I do. I hope that some of my listeners benefit from it in a similar way too!
Full Tracklist:
Tin Lin Non - Honore Avolonto
Kyenkyen Bi Adi M’awu - K. Frimpong & Hí Cubanos Fiestas
My Lady Frustration - Fela Kuti and His Africa 70
Shakara - Fela Kuti
Let’s Start - Fela Kuti and Ginger Baker
We Can Move - Free Youth
Sesa Wo Suban - Charles Amoah
Kaakyire Nua - George Darko
Come on Home- Lijadu Sisters
Koroba - Tiwa Savage
Koko - Karen Nyame KG Feat. Mista Savage
Aketesea - Kontihene
Enjoy the Silence (Reinterpreted by Mike Shinoda) - Depeche Mode
Angele Ni Fie - Juls & Sango
Atia Donko - Nan Quame
Anybody - Burna Boy
JAE5 Feat. Skepta & Rema
Sodjo - Kardinal Ricky Feat. Togbe Yeton
Ginger - Wizkid Feat. Burna Boy
Different Boy Feat. Damian Marley & Angelique Kiddo
Gbona - Burna Boy
Enye Woa - (Extended Intro) Pat Thomas
Lover - Fela Kuti
