semba (angola)

a day that deserves to be written off and forgotten
computer hardware hassles and subsequent battling with software
so for a bit of pleasure returning to a more enjoyable exercise
having a little bit of a look at some music of the world
back to west africa - another new style discovered
songlines magazine described semba as follows in their 50 rhythms of the world

in angola, the word means 'navel'
so you can guess the kind of sensuous dance step it describes
angolans will proudly tell you that it's the beat that gave birth to brazilian samba
characterised by lilting but propulsive rhythms, percolating acoustic guitars
fluid, upper-registered bass lines and hypnotic hand-held percussion
it also has something in common with other musical styles from portugal's former colonies
including the morna of cape verde

i went looking on youtube for semba music
came up with quite a few interesting videos
and the usual bunch of very dodgy live recordings
using a hand-held camera at a concert somewhere
but there was one that i found quite drawn to
a tune titled maiorais performed by bonga kuenda
bonga is another african musicican of repute
forced into exile for his out-spoken views
during angola's fight for independence from portugal
and still critical of the government now in power
the video has a quite surreal look about it
beautiful people in a beautiful country
and the music has a uniqueness about it
with a lot of the attributes mentioned above
so presumably a fine example of semba
(38 of 50)