Sahel Sounds

Coming soon! Hi-energy electronic dance music from Northern Ghana, created by farmers turned musicians working out of DIY rural studios. Relentless percussion, trance loops, heavy autotune and slinky VST synths. Sourced from locally-released VCDs circulating the markets of Dagbon and entirely unavailable outside the region until now.

Studio Simpa collects tracks from the past decade of the neo-traditional Dagbani dance genre, modernized traditional percussion dance - produced by Mohamed “Ebony” Fuseini, recording drums on his phone and recreating the sound of traditional music via FL Studio. Collaborating with “Gawani”, flashy singers from the surrounding villages and local VCD producers, Ebony created hyper-electronic versions of simpa for the local video market, complete with suggestive videos of women shaking their hips - light cultural transgression in the predominantly Muslim Dagbani North.

The compilation showcases the top artists of the scene - Dickson Gawani, Bala Zaaku, Yaa Naara and others - across a range of style and subject, from political commentary to warrior clan rhythms. Includes extensive liner notes by Morgan Greenstreet with artist interviews, cultural history, and song translations. Debut release on Autotune the World, evolving from the NTS radio show from Sahel Sounds’ Christopher Kirkley.

autotune the world Morgan Greenstreet

⚡️ 🌍 Limited edition vinyl available for preorder now on autotunetheworld bandcamp 7.17.26 ⚡️ 🌍

Bounaly and Alhousseyni Maïga in a wedding in Bamako, Mali. The two have played together for years, originally both from the North of the country, living in the capital since the crises of 2012, sending Northerners into exile. While Tuareg guitar has captivated international audiences, Songhoï music is mostly associated with the acoustic blues of Ali Farka Toure. But even Farka himself played electric sets, inspired by the amplified Takamba of Gao # and Timbouctou. Bounaly and Alhousseyni continue in this style, yet to reach the full range of international attention, but thriving in the wedding scene. For more check his LP “Dimanche à Bamako”.

Ali Ag Amoumine & Tallawit Timbouctou on the banks of the river Niger

Mohamed Doumbia “Enregistrement Live No Limit Bamako” out today! Recorded a few years back on a trip to Mali, where I happened to cross paths with Mohamed Doumbia and his phenomenal band playing in a small neighborhood bar in the capital. They played late into the night, playing in a timeless style that harkens back to the golden age of Malian music - still very much a living music scene. 🇲🇱

“Imouha” live in Tassagk Intalamt, Agadez