Mauri Yambo: 08/04/2018

Saturday, April 14, 2018

LingalaPop, Volume 2

As mentioned in Volume 1 of this series, I have on occasion made the case on this blog and in my tweets (@MauriYambo) that certain Congolese music productions have all the features -- and, I should add now, effects on audience (or fan) sensibilities -- which are typically associate with or seen in pop music, as broadly understood. I have even grouped that kind of Congolese music under a hashtag: #LingalaPop. I have done so, essentially, in order to keep faith with that expansive lingua franca we know as Lingala -- and which serves as the base for all the songs referenced here.

You will find listed below the next volume (Volume 2) of 10 songs which qualify to be labelled as such. A third, and very likely the last, volume of 10 video (or audio) clips will follow. I think that the songs are the leading ones. Perhaps I should say: among the leading ones.

I confess that my selection has also been restricted to songs about which I have made 'substantive' comments already (or have ranked in #TheYamboSelection) -- over the stretch of a few years. I try to restrict my commentary essentially to songs that have "reached my ears" in one way or another, and that I consider superior. But exceptions do occur. The fact is that there's just so much music being produced -- increasingly, "all over". It would overwhelm any one commentator to say something meaningful about each "drop", so to speak -- or even about many enough.

The comments that I have made are already available on this blog, and I give below the link associated with each listed song. The songs are not arranged in any particular order of rank. I really love all of them, and think you will do so too. Here they are:

[Note: You may have to Right Click the song of your choice on the list below, and then choose the "Open link in a new tab" option in order to watch or listen to the clip]

1. Makolo ya Massiya by Carlyto Lassa
2. Elengi ya Mbongo by Innoss'B ft. Koffi Olomide
3. Amour en Or by Claudia Bakisa ft. Fabregas Metis Noir
4. Cha Cha by Innoss'B
5. To Dondwa by Fally Ipupa ft. Fvicteam (Christy Lova, Boogie Black, Anita Mwarabu, Shesko Lemeraude and Master Virus)
6. Bolingo Mabe by Innoss'B ft. Anita Mwarabu
7. Fiko Fiko Fion by Claudia Bakissa ft. Koffi Olomide
8. Esopi Yo by Awilo Longomba ft. Tiwa Savage
9. Posa ya Bolingo by Alicios
10. Mannequin by Fally Ipupa ft. Keblack x Naza

Friday, April 13, 2018

LingalaPop, Volume 1

I have written severally in the past about Congolese music, sung mostly in Lingala but quite frequently interspersed with French -- and often in Swahili as well. And I have on occasion made the case on this blog and in my tweets (@MauriYambo) for a music genre -- and more specifically certain 'instantiations' of Congolese music -- which I see as having all the features of pop music as broadly understood. I have even given the genre a hashtag: #LingalaPop. So there you are.

I wish now to bring together the songs which qualify to be labelled as such. I will do so in at least three volumes of 10 video (or audio) clips each. This is the first volume. I think that the listed songs are the leading songs, but I stand to be corrected.

I confess that my selection has also been restricted to songs about which I have made 'substantive' comments already (or have ranked in #TheYamboSelection) -- over the stretch of a few years. Those comments are already available on this blog, and I give below the link to each. They are not arranged here in any particular order of rank, however. I really love all the songs, and think you will do so too. Here they are, then:

[Note: You may have to Right Click the song of your choice on the list below, and then choose the "Open link in a new window" option in order to watch or listen to the clip]

1. Karolina by Awilo Longomba
2. Cache Cache by Awilo Longomba
3. Echantillon ya Pamba by Nico Kassanda
4. Yolanda by Kanda Bongo Man
5. Tembe na Tembe by Bozi Boziana
6. Independence Cha Cha by Le Grand Kalle
7. Non by Franco
8. Christina by Tabu Ley
9. Ndaya by Mpongo Love
10. Muchana by Kanda Bongo Man

AfroPop Jam Session 3 ~ Friday Edition

Here's #AfroPopJamSession 3 ~ Friday Edition. It brings to you a collection of 10 fine, fine video clips to usher in the weekend. They're all Hot. They're pure, and proudly, Afro. And, you bet, they make us all proud. They're Pop, and (eye/ear) popping!

There's no ranking order here. This is the starting line. You get to decide who's the 'Finest Finisher', who's the Finer, and who's the Fine.

[Right click any of the 10 Song titles below and then choose the "open link in new window" option in order to watch the video of your choice]:

1. NIGERIA: Leg Over by Mr. Eazi

2. KENYA: Here We Go by Gabu x Magix Enga x Kristoff x Prezzo

3. ANGOLA: Muita Areia By C4Pedro

4. TOGO: Tere Tere by Toofan (Masta Just x and Barabas)

5. TANZANIA: Salome by Diamond Platnumz x Rayvanny

6. UGANDA: Nkwatako by Sheebah

7. DRC: Karolina by Awilo Longomba

8. TANZANIA: Kelele za Chura by Chege ft. Nandy

9. GHANA: Bebe by Nana Fofie

10. UGANDA: Tukiggale by Eddie Yawe

Click here to go back to AfroPop Jam Session 1 ~ Friday Edition
Click here to go back to AfroPop Jam Session 2 ~ Friday Edition

Thursday, April 12, 2018

AfroPop Jam Session 2 ~ Friday Edition

Here's #AfroPopJamSession 2 ~ Friday Edition. It brings to you a collection of 10 fine, fine video clips to usher in the weekend. They're all Hot. They're pure and proudly Afro. And, you bet, they make us all proud. They're Pop, and (eye/ear) popping!

There's no ranking order here. This is the starting line. You get to decide who's the 'Finest Finisher', who's the Finer, and who's the Fine.

[Right click any of the 10 Song titles below and then choose the "open link in new window" option in order to watch the video of your choice]:

1. ANGOLA: Spetxa One by C4Pedro
2. TANZANIA: Kokoro by Rich Mavoko ft. Diamond Platnumz
3. UGANDA: Fantastic by Radio and Weasel
4. NIGERIA: Nek-Unek by MC Galaxy ft. Davido
5. TANZANIA: Dow by Roza Ree
6. KENYA: Rider by Khaligraph Jones x Petra
7. NIGERIA: Kilamity by Sugarboy ft. Kiss Daniel
8. TANZANIA: Kababaye by Chin Bees
9. ANGOLA+SOUTH AFRICA: Africa Unite by Nsoki ft. DJ Maphorisa x DJ Paulo Alves
10. UGANDA+KENYA: Throne by Navio ft. King Kaka

Click here to go back to AfroPop Jam Session 1 ~ Friday Edition
Click here to proceed to AfroPop Jam Session 3 ~ Friday Edition

AfroPop Jam Session 1 ~ Friday Edition

Here's #AfroPopJamSession 1 ~ Friday Edition. It brings to you a collection of 10 fine, fine video clips to usher in the weekend. They're all Hot. They're pure, and proudly, Afro. And, you bet, they make us all proud. They're Pop, and (eye/ear) popping!

There's no ranking order here. This is the starting line. You get to decide who's the 'Finest Finisher', who's the Finer, and who's the Fine.

[Right click any of the 10 Song titles below and choose the "open the link in a new window" option in order to watch the video of your choice]:

1. Nigeria: King Kong Remix by Vector x Phyno x Reminisce x Classiq x Uzi
2. South Africa: Mayibabo by Kwesta x DJ Maphorisa x DJ Buckz x OkMalumKoolKat
3. Kenya: Nakupenda by Le Band ft. Khaligraph Jones
4. Nigeria: Bum Bum ~ Yemi Alade's Fyne Samba
5. Tanzania: Bounce by Vanessa Mdee feat. Maua Sama x Tommy Flavour
6. South Africa: Koze Kuse by DJ Merlon ft. Mondli Ngcobo
7. Cameroon: Calee by 'chipukizi' Daphne
8. Tanzania + Nigeria: 911 by Krizbeatz x Harmonize x Yemi Alade
9. Nigeria: Yeba by Kiss Daniel
10. Kenya: Tonight by Band Beca x Petra

Click here to proceed to AfroPop Jam Session 2 ~ Friday Edition
Click here to proceed to AfroPop Jam Session 3 ~ Friday Edition

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

East Africa's Top 25 Happiest Songs of 2014 ~ #TheYamboSelection

INTRODUCTION

Happiness is a state of mind, a feeling - with feelers to the 'outside'. Outside becomes what things we allow it to become, and what things we have no control over and so impose themselves. Happiness and Love? They are twins. Twins, which, sometimes, alas, we find in mortal combat.

Good music: In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Duke Orsino utters these immortal words: "If music be the food of life, play on; / Give
me excess of it ..." Good music is at once a convergence of happiness - happy feelings - and its source. Happy songs make people happy, happy people arguably happier, and less sad sad people - and even, perhaps, happy; if they're not too deep into their own sadness. They breed happiness through the joyfulness of the words in the song and the soulfulness of the song in the words, the melody in the tunes, the liveliness of the body-language and suppleness of the assembled 'bodies', the harmony of the charged instruments, the pulsating visuals of the video, and the warmth of the stage upon which everything, and everything else, is set.

There is magic in the happy song, then. The song that makes people happy has magical power over 'em. So, oh my goodness, does the song that makes people truly sad. There are times, if I may digress, that I have thought (sensed would be too strong a word) that truly throbbing drumbeat among the prayerful carries within it the voice of God in its surreal, surround beat, as it's heard among the gathered, and as it cascades across the land - and even among the landless and the faithless.

So good music, howsoever it is delivered, has the powers -- howsoever we c these powers. But, I ask: Why is it that music videos that elicit the most happiness seem generally to have a street motif?

MEASURING HAPPINESS

Can happiness be measured? That's a question for another day.

BUT READ THIS IN THE MEANTIME: World Happiness Report 2015

DO ALSO READ: "The Happiness Contagion" that I posted on December 9, 2008

HERE, THEN, ARE EAST AFRICA'S TOP 25 HAPPIEST SONGS OF 2014
[Click on a Song's title to watch the video]
[For the selection criteria used in creating this list, go to the bottom of this post]

25. Baramushaka by Knowless (2014)

24. Barua Ya Dunia by Elani (2014):

23. Sugua Gaga by Shaa (2014):

22. Chuna Buzi by Shilole (2014):

21. Mfalme wa Mapenzi by Sanaipei [Sana] (2014):

20. Go Down Low by Palasso ft. Sheebah (2014):

19. Kanyaboya by Messen Selecta (2014):

18. Butterfly by Nameless (2014):

17. Bum Bum by Diamond Platnumz ft. Iyanya (2014):

16. Show by Victoria Kimani (2014):

15. Coco Baby by Waje ft. Diamond Platnumz (2014):

14. Koolio by Stella Mwangi (2014):

13. Nimempata by Pam Daffa ft. Mesen Selecta (2014):
[Video now unavailable]

12. Chapa Nyingine by Chege ft. Gift (2014):

11. Njoo by Shaa ft. Redsan (2014):

10. Mdogo Mdogo by Diamond Platnumz (2014):

9. Mfalme by MwanaFA ft. G. Nako Warawa (2014):
Epic ~ MY

8. Nikikutazama by H_ART THE BAND (2014):

7. Dabby Gololi by Emma Jalamo (2014):
The 2016 edition is much longer and more detailed

6. Wale Wale by Jose Chameleone (2014):

5. KooKoo by Elani (2014):

4. Prokoto by Victoria Kimani ft. Ommy Dimploz x Diamond Platnumz (2014):

3. Sura Yako by Sauti Sol (2014):

2. Be Happy By Eddy Kenzo (2014):

1. Ole Themba by Linah (2014):

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++

SELECTION/INCLUSION CRITERIA

To Qualify for inclusion in this list, a song Was required to meet The Following criteria:
1. Released as music video in 2014. Broadly in any of these genres: Pop, RnB, Hip-Hop, Reggae
2 Available via YouTube or Otherwise available online
3. Predominantly sung by an artiste or artistes from Africa, PARTICULARLY Sub-Saharan Africa
4. Regularly played on one or more of Africa's leading music channels: Afro Pop and HipTV Music, in particular (they pay sustained attention to their African audience); Sound City, MTV Base and Trace Urban (all three of whose fare is significantly more diffuse).
5. Have a discernible "happiness" (or sunny) content/slant in terms of the following mix of considerations: beat, language (verbal or body), lyrics, melody, visuals (dance routines, 'stage sets' and video quality), voice (and audio quality) and use of vocal and technical instruments
6. Broad sensitivity to sub-regional tastes and artists' bases of operation (East, West, Central or Southern)
7. Gender: Minimum of 1/3 Rule, if short-listed songs make this possible.

East Africa's Top 15 Happiest Songs of 2014 ~ #TheYamboSelection

INTRODUCTION

Happiness is a state of mind, a feeling - with feelers to the 'outside'. Outside becomes what things we allow it to become, and what things we have no control over and so impose themselves. Happiness and Love? They are twins. Twins, which, sometimes, alas, we find in mortal combat.

Good music: In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Duke Orsino utters these immortal words: "If music be the food of life, play on; / Give
me excess of it ..." Good music is at once a convergence of happiness - happy feelings - and its source. Happy songs make people happy, happy people arguably happier, and less sad sad people - and even, perhaps, happy; if they're not too deep into their own sadness. They breed happiness through the joyfulness of the words in the song and the soulfulness of the song in the words, the melody in the tunes, the liveliness of the body-language and suppleness of the assembled 'bodies', the harmony of the charged instruments, the pulsating visuals of the video, and the warmth of the stage upon which everything, and everything else, is set.

There is magic in the happy song, then. The song that makes people happy has magical power over 'em. So, oh my goodness, does the song that makes people truly sad.

There are times, if I may digress, that I have thought (sensed would be too strong a word) that truly throbbing drumbeat among the prayerful carries within it the voice of God in its surreal, surround beat, as it's heard among the gathered, and as it cascades across the land - and even among the landless and the faithless.
So good music, howsoever it is delivered, has the powers -- howsoever we c these powers. But, I ask: Why is it that music videos that elicit the most happiness seem generally to have a street motif?

MEASURING HAPPINESS

Can happiness be measured? That's a question for another day.

BUT READ THIS IN THE MEANTIME: World Happiness Report 2015

DO ALSO READ: "The Happiness Contagion" that I posted on December 9, 2008

HERE, THEN, ARE EAST AFRICA'S TOP 15 HAPPIEST SONGS OF 2014
[Click on a Song's title to watch the video]
[For the selection criteria used in creating this list, go to the bottom of this post]

15. Coco Baby by Waje ft. Diamond Platnumz (2014):

14. Koolio by Stella Mwangi (2014):

13. Nimempata by Pam Daffa ft. Mesen Selecta (2014):
[Video now unavailable]

12. Chapa Nyingine by Chege ft. Gift (2014):

11. Njoo by Shaa ft. Redsan (2014):

10. Mdogo Mdogo by Diamond Platnumz (2014):

9. Mfalme by MwanaFA ft. G. Nako Warawa (2014):
Epic ~ MY

8. Nikikutazama by H_ART THE BAND (2014):

7. Dabby Gololi by Emma Jalamo (2014):
The 2016 edition is much longer and more detailed

6. Wale Wale by Jose Chameleone (2014):

5. KooKoo by Elani (2014):

4. Prokoto by Victoria Kimani ft. Ommy Dimploz x Diamond Platnumz (2014):

3. Sura Yako by Sauti Sol (2014):

2. Be Happy By Eddy Kenzo (2014):

1. Ole Themba by Linah (2014):

CONCEPT: Desertification

Desertification: This is a long-term process brought about and sustained primarily by climate change. It occurs gradually in the form of a retreat of forest cover and grasslands in the wake of significantly diminished rains as well as the depletion of ground water. The causal factors in desertification are widely documented in scientific research. One thing is certain, however: the great deserts of the world -- such as the Sahara, the Gobi and the Middle East deserts -- are not the products of "the human hand". And yet "the human hand" has now become a crucial driver in the spread of deserts.

A well-known characteristic of deserts is the almost invariable absence of vegetation and animal life. So deforestation is inescapably built into our conception of deserts. This is certainly so in contemporary conversations about what we see happening, and what the media report.

Besides deforestation and the historical ebb and flow of climate change, however, three forms of "poor land use", as Reed (1992: 115) suggests, can also trigger (or exacerbate) desertification. These triggers or exacerbators, she tells us, are: overcultivation, overgrazing and "poor irrigation practices".

But she 'forgets', here, two equally crucial ones: (a) the rapid growth of human populations increasingly resident in sprawling urban centres with a manifestly insatiable thirst for water; and, (b) a rapacious demand for wood as a key input in many things. There is a practically 'unlimited demand' for it in, inter alia, the construction of homes and other kinds of buildings and shelters; meeting our fuel-consumption needs, our demand for furniture and frequent need for caskets to bury the dead; and the manufacture of paper, paper products and packaging material.

Monday, April 09, 2018

CONCEPT: Property Protection

Property Protection: All management activity related to policy, planning, prevention, mitigation, response and/or recovery from emergencies and disasters revolves in very specific and detailed ways around securing human well-being, and the protection of both property and the environment. Property, both private and public, exists in a multiplicity of forms. Furthermore, it ranges very widely in terms of the subjective and/or market valuations of its specific representations. All of these are a legitimate and necessary concern for those formally assigned property protection duties -- and for those who have property to protect.

A cardinal rule for emergency managers and more direct responders is to recognize that whatever the quantity, quality and range of property items that individuals, families and communities have is of some value to them. The same obviously goes for corporate identities. Consequently, the owners must be helped or facilitated, as far as possible, to protect their property against damage or loss before (if possible), during and after an emergency or, even more so, a disaster. Certain broad modalities have been identified for doing this, as the following examples broadly demonstrate:

Mitigation Strategies: These include: (a) insurance, (b) building standards and codes, (c) professional codes of ethics, (d) early-warning systems, (e) manufacturing, packaging and disposal standards, (f) quarantine/isolation capabilities, and, (g) preventive maintenance.

Protection Systems and Hazard-Response Capacities: These include (a) Inspection, surveillance/intelligence and counter-intelligence, (b) armed security, and (c) alarm systems and their various uses.

Facilities at Risk and Related Shutdown, Evacuation/ Relocation and Security Procedures: These facilities include (a) bridges, (b) harbours, (c) power-generation plants and power grids; (d) telecommunication hubs and grids, (e) a variety of 'holding' or 'storage' facilities such as dams, reservoirs, warehouses and silos, (f) hospitals, (g) factories, (h) banks, (i) sports arenas and recreational facilities (j) public buildings and private homes.

Preservation of Records and the Cultural Heritage: Covered here are, inter alia, (a) heritage sites and related historical buildings, (b) cultural centres and museums, (c) data banks or depositories, private/public records and document storage, and related transmission lines.

Sunday, April 08, 2018

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NOTE (Update of June 22, 2018):
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1. Published Blog Posts To-date: 1,200+
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