Antologia, Vol. 1
Bongo Joe Records (76 mins)
When it comes to vintage dance music from the tiny Atlantic African islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, it would appear that Bongo Joe Records, with compiler DJ Tom B, have struck upon a rich seam. With this third such album in as many years, they turn their attention to the one of the country’s most successful dance bands, África Negra.
The group first got together in the early 70s (when their country was still part of Portugal’s colonial empire) and they’re still going, having survived schisms and splits along the way. Their style is known to fans as mama djumba: it has all the loveliest elements of Congolese rumba and soukous with the subtlest of Lusophone flavours and hints of highlife. It serves to highlight São Tomé’s position as a midpoint between Central and West Africa, embodied in the sparkling guitars and heavenly vocal harmonies.
This first volume of África Negra’s Antologia presents music from their 15 studio albums of the 80s and 90s, and a volume of unreleased material is expected soon, along with a European tour. If you’re looking for classy dance grooves with elegance and heat, this collection might well be your sound of the summer.