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First post - Congas with Afrobeat

PostPosted: Sun Oct 01, 2017 10:02 pm
by barry_k
Hi everyone,

This is my first post here.

Do any of you know any conga rhythms that would suit Afrobeat (e.g. the music of Fela Kuti/ Tony Allen)?

There doesn't seem to be much out there at all for the congas in this area.

The following video seems like a good Afrobeat resource for the drum kit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyFCT_NkBx4

I would love to find a similar video (or some rhythms) for the congas.
It sounds like there are some congas in the background of the above video with a Tumbao variant in there.

All input and advice based on your experience would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

Barry

Re: First post - Congas with Afrobeat

PostPosted: Wed Oct 04, 2017 1:01 pm
by burke
Hi and welcome,

Not to be a bummer, but this forum is kinda dead now, but some folks still contribute. However as an archive of incredible information I hope it stays up for a long time.

I'm not familiar the music of Fela Kuti/ Tony Allen but when I checked out the link you provided I immediately thought 'funk' and specifically about what Micheal Spiro says about it.

There is 1/2 a video of this on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHEYss29dwg
...but unfortunately its the half about playing shuffle tumbao and not funk ... but I think he offers a free trial for congamasterclass
However this guy's version is in the same ballpark as Spiro's
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef_Pz8Q16is

That is just my ears opinion and may be wildly incorrect [ie what you should play with the music you reference]

Cheers

Re: First post - Congas with Afrobeat

PostPosted: Thu Oct 05, 2017 12:06 pm
by barry_k
Hi Burke

Thanks very much for taking the time to reply I really appreciate it.

You are right there is definitely a funk element to Afrobeat. I will check out the videos and see how the rhythms fit.

Sorry to hear that the forum is pretty dead. Is there another conga forum that you are member of that is more active?

Thanks again for your advice.

Cheers for now

Barry

Re: First post - Congas with Afrobeat

PostPosted: Thu Oct 05, 2017 4:38 pm
by burke
None that I know of or belong to.

Re: First post - Congas with Afrobeat

PostPosted: Thu Oct 05, 2017 7:50 pm
by Chtimulato
Hi.

About afro-beat, and its kind of "cousins" highlife and juju music, I suggest you listen to a lot of CDs or Youtube videos.
You'll certainly eventually learn basic patterns which you can enhance later.
You can also attend gigs, if there happens to be some where you live.

A research (in French) on the "Afrobeat" Wikipedia page gave me a lot of bands names, not only Fela and his sons, and not only from Nigeria. I discovered for instance that the British band Osibisa, which I've been knowing for a long time, is also labelled as related to Afrobeat.
If you don't find any results in English (which would surprise me), I can give you the link to the page in French.

About the forum, it's not quite dead, since we're still exchanging... It's just "a little" quieter than before.
Most members are not dead, anyhow, but are now rather on Facebook - for those who like and use Facebook.

Re: First post - Congas with Afrobeat

PostPosted: Fri Oct 06, 2017 12:47 am
by burke
I just checked my pulse ... and you are correct ... not quite dead :lol:

Re: First post - Congas with Afrobeat

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2017 7:59 pm
by skypeace
After a forty year hiatus I have come back to hand drums, congas and bongos.
Hope this forum stays alive to help me get back on track. Back in the day we learned conga by listening to and watching Babatunde Olatunji and that was as about Afro as you got.

Re: First post - Congas with Afrobeat

PostPosted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 4:00 pm
by Roka
Check those bands

AFRODIZZ
LONDON AFROBEAT COLLECTIVE
NEVEN AFROBEAT
ESCORZO AFROBEAT EXPERIENCE
MR SOMETHING SOMETHING
FANGA
THEY MUST BE CRAZY

They have a very nice approach to percussion in afrobeat music.
At least for my taste.

Re: First post - Congas with Afrobeat

PostPosted: Sun May 06, 2018 1:58 pm
by barry_k
Hey Everyone

It is really good to know that this forum is still alive and kicking.

Thanks again to all for your input and advice - really helpful.

@Roka - I love Newen Afrobeat. I hadn't heard of some of the bands you recommended so I was pleased to get some new things to investigate.

Cheers for now!