Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou

about

Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou is arguably West Africa’s best-kept secret. Their output, both in quantity and quality, was astonishing. During several trips to Benin, Samy Ben Redjeb managed to collect roughly 500 songs which Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou had recorded between 1970 and 1983. The cultural and spiritual riches of traditional Beninese music had an immense impact on the sound of Benin’s modern music. Benin is the birthplace of Vodun (also Vodoun, or, as it is known in the West, Voodoo), a religion which involves the worship of some 250 sacred divinities. The rituals used to pay tributes to those divinities are always backed by music. The majority of the complex poly-rhythms of the vodun are still more or less secret and difficult to decipher, even for an accomplished musician. Anthropologists and ethnomusicologists agree that this religion constitutes the principal “cultural bridge” between Africa and all its Diasporas of the New World and in a reflection of the power and influence of these sounds many of the complex rhythms were to have a profound impact on the other side of the Atlantic on rhythms as popular as Blues, Jazz, Cuban and Brazilian music. Two Vodun rhythms dominate the music of Orchestre Poly-Rythmo: Sato, an amazing, energetic rhythm performed using an immense vertical drum, and Sakpata, a rhythm dedicated to the divinity who protects people from smallpox. Both rhythms are represented here mixed in with Funk, Soul, Crazy organ sounds and Psyc

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top songs

albums

Echos hypnotiques, from the Vaults of Albarika Store, Vol. 2: 1969-1979 (Analog Africa No. 6)

The Skeletal Essences of Afro Funk, Vol. 3: 1969-1980 (Analog Africa No. 13)

The Vodoun Effect: Funk & Sato from Benin's Obscure Labels, Vol. 1: 1972-1975 (Analog Africa No. 4)

Echos Hypnotiques

African Scream Contest: Raw & Psychedelic Afro Sounds From Benin & Togo 70s

The 1st Album 1973 (Analog Africa Dance Edition No. 1)

Volume Two - Echos Hypnotiques

African Scream Contest

Madjafalao

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African Scream Contest: Raw And Psychedelic Afro Sounds From Benin And Togo 70's

The Vodoun Effect: Funk And Sato From Benin's Obscure Labels 1972-1975

The Vodoun Effect: Funk & Sato from Benin's Obscure Labels (1972-1975)

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