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Africa
Africa O-Ye! A Celebration of African Music
Graeme Ewens
Da Capo, 1992. ISBN#: 0-306-80461-1
paperbound, 224
pages, color illus. $25.
History. Decorative and well written
general introduction to sub Saharan African music. Color illustrations
are unparalleled, the many LP and 45 label illustrations are a nice
touch. First published by Guinness, UK, 1991.
African Pop: Goodtime Kings
Billy Bergman
Quarto Books, 1985. ISBN#: 0-7137-1551-0
paperbound, 143 pages, OP.
History. The first general interest book on African popular music
published in the USA. Published by Blanford Press, UK. These facts and
histories appear over and over in subsequent books on the subject. B.
George helped Billy with contacts for his African trip and wrote a brief
section on traveling with Ebeneser Obey's band in Nigeria.
African Rock
Chris Stapleton, Chris May
Obelisk /
Dutton , 1990. ISBN#: 0-525-48554-6
paperbound, 373 pages, illus.
some drawings, $15.
History. Fave. One of the most literate
endeavors written by two long time fans, and radio hosts from the UK.
Like most ñAfricanî books, only concerned w/ Black, Sub-Saharan Africa.
Best overview, best index in the biz. Subtitled, The Pop Music of a
Continent. Titled, African All-Stars, in the UK, Quartet Books, Ltd.,
1987, ISBN: 0-7043-2504-7.
African Stars: Studies in Black South African
Performance
Veit Erlmann
University of Chicago Press,
1991. ISBN#: 0-226-21724-8
paperbound, 213 pages, B&W illus.,
$16.
History. History of Black South African music, 1890 to the
70s..
Breakout: Profiles in Africa Rhythm
Gary Stewart
University of Chicago Press, 1992. ISBN#: 0-226-77406-6
paperbound,
157 pages, B&W illus.
History. Personal encounters and
interviews. Portraits of Kanda Bongo Man, Nico, Franco, Remmy Ongala,
S. E. Rogie, Big Fayla, Francis Fuster, Nana Ampadu, Hedzoleh Soundz,
Olatunji, Orlando Julius Ekemode, Joni Haastrup, Fela, and Sonny
Okosuns.
The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music, Vol. 1 : Africa
ed, Ruth M. Stone
Garland, 1998. ISBN#: 9-780824 060350
hardbound, minimal B&W illus., 851 pages, about 100 bucks.
What shelf? : Africa / History
A milestone of research, this is a massive overview of the continent's music, with emphasis on traditional music. Shortcomings include the non encyclopedic organization despite its title, that many African countries/cultures/and modern pop (esp. North Africa) are only touched upon or ignored.. To be applauded is the large overview sections at the beginning of the book that attempts to give an overview of an entire continent (numerous articles, 451 pages). When a country of culture is focused on, the results are amazingly complete. Academic text, but not dense (just tiny) - if you donÕt know words like orthography and idiophone, not for you. Includes short discographies and a CD.
In Township Tonight!
David B. Coplan
Longman,
Inc., 1985. ISBN#: 0-582-64400-3
paperbound, 278 pages,
$15-ish.
History. Subtitled, South Africa's Black City Music and
Theatre. Better than the Erlmann book by a nose.
Stern's Guide to Contemporary African Music
Ronnie
Graham
Zwan (UK), 1988. ISBN#: 1-85305-000-8
hardbound, 315p.
maps.
Reference & Discography. Fave. Good artist/band histories.
In combination with the second volume, a pioneering work. US version
issued by Da Capo and titled, Da Capo Guide to African Music.
Country by country approach (sub Saharan only) by Retro Afric label
founder Ronnie Graham. One of the first and only good discographies
ever published in a general interest book, but lacking many label names,
and the ones that are there force you to look-up a code. A
groundbreaking bit of research with all the mistakes that such work
entails.
Sweet Mother: Modern African Music
Wolfgang Bender
University of Chicago Press, 1991. ISBN#: 0-226-04254-5
paperbound,
235 pages, B&W illus. $15.
History. A bit nutsy, very informal and
enthusiastic dig into Black sub-Saharan African music with a socialist
perspective, and a greater emphasis on Francophone countries than most.
NO index. Not well fact checked. Disjointed. Wacky B&W illustration
choices. A great read.
The Voice of Egypt
Virginia Danielson
University of Chicago Press, 1997
paperbound, 273 pages
History. Part of the Chicago Studies in Ethnomusicology, Philip V. Bohlman and Bruno Nettl, editors. While most books cover a popular artists whoÕs popularity can, for a short period of time, typifies a nation, Umm Kulthum was, and to some extent remains, Egypt. This relationship between artist and audience, artist as representative of a NationÕs culture, the primary focus. Good artist biography, the first one in English of this neoclassical and popular singer. Also good overview of the times and popular music scene. Social and political history of less interest. No attempt at a sorely needed discography.
The World of African Music
Ronnie Graham
Pluto
(UK), 1992. ISBN#: 0-7453-0552-0
hardbound, 235 pages, maps.
$40.
Reference & Discography. Fave. This is the Stern's Guide to
Contemporary African Music, Volume. Updated and expanded, you'll need
both. Supposedly a paperbound, version available in the States.
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