Ferry Djimmy & His Dji-Kins – Egbemi Black

( Benin , 1971 , Pathé / Pathé Marconi )

posted on 24 / 05 / 2026

Following this former post, I’d like to share with you for today “Egbemi Black” an epic raw Afro Punk Garage Soul Funk from Benin, taken from the 1st single recorded in 1971 by mysterious Ferry Djimmy (Jean Maurille Ogoudjobi), an obscure Beninese musician born in 1939, who started his musical career in the late 50s as a singer in Cotonou’s (Beninese economic capital) cabarets, nightclubs & bar, being in parallel a schoolteacher & a boxer.

He moved in the late 60s to Paris (France) and became a policeman and bodyguard in his free time for some French politicians for famous politicians as former French President Jacques Chirac. He recorded during this period his first singles (as the one presented here), released on the mythical French record label “Pathé Marconi“.

He returned in Benin in 1972, and founded a few times later his own record label “Revolution Records” (inspired by country’s Marxist-Leninist leader Matthieu Kerekou), releasing on it in 1975 his sole album (“Rhythm Revolution”, probably Benin’s most wanted album of the genre nowadays), and toured with legendary musicians from West Africa (Fela Kuti, Orlando Julius, Geraldo Pino, King Sunny Ade, …).

He died in Cotonou in 1996 at the age of 57.

Heavy double-sider, invisible nowadays with this self-released cover designed for Beninese market only, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

Ferry Djimmy & His Dji-Kins – Egbemi Black (Benin, 1971, Pathe Marconi)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/HfY6mWSR8kQ

Check also my Soundcloud for exclusive mixes & selections : https://soundcloud.com/armand_de_preseau

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Feel free to support my action to preserve musical heritage & buy my vinyl & digital reissues here : https://nangabokorecords.bandcamp.com

Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical rediscovery !

Armand de Preseau

Bovick & L'Orchestre African Fiesta – Loin Du Desespoir

( Democratic Republic of Congo , 1970s , African )

posted on 17 / 05 / 2026

Following this former article, I’d like to share with “Loin Du Desespoir” (“Far from Despair” in French), an uplifting killer Afro Garage Soul Jerk Funk Organ from Democratic Republic of the Congo with fresh guitar riffs & raw grunt, taken from one of the numerous singles recorded in the 70s by the Congolese composer & singer Bovick Bondo Gala, backed here by the mythical band “Orchestre African Fiesta” founded in the early 60s by the legendary musicians Nicolas “Dr Nico” Kasanda & Tabu Ley Rochereau.

This single was released on the mythical French record label “African” founded in 1966 and specialized in Congolese music releases from big & lesser known local figures from the 60s to the 70s era (mostly Rumba music, but including a few gems like that one !).

One of the very few Congolese jerk tracks from that era, always a killer when I play it in club & my tropical DJ radio shows – Enjoy !

Bovick & L’Orchestre African Fiesta – Loin du desespoir (Democratic Republic of Congo, 1970s, African)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/S0z8_P17_mc

Check also my Soundcloud for exclusive mixes & selections : https://soundcloud.com/armand_de_preseau

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Feel free to support my action to preserve musical heritage & buy my vinyl & digital reissues here : https://nangabokorecords.bandcamp.com

Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical rediscovery !

Armand de Preseau

Vyckoss Ekondo – Mbea

( Gabon , 1977 , Pathé Marconi / Pathe-Marconi EMI )

posted on 15 / 03 / 2026

Following to this former article, I’d like to share with you for today “Mbea“, an explosive Psychedelic Afro Funk Soul Jerk track from Gabon, taken from the Gabonese musician & composer Vyckos Ekondo and released on the mythical French record label “Pathé Marconi“.

Invisible & super hard to find nowadays, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

Vyckoss Ekondo – Mbea (Gabon, 1977, Pathé Marconi)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/F9AEerASnlI

Check also my Soundcloud for exclusive mixes & selections : https://soundcloud.com/armand_de_preseau

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical rediscovery !

Armand de Preseau

Abi Siblini – Hey J

( Lebanon , 1970s , ASC )

posted on 08 / 03 / 2026

For today, I’d like to share with you “Hey J“, a psychedelic bouncy Surf Mod Soul Funk track from Lebanon, taken from the sole single recorded & self-released in the early 70s by the Lebanese drummer, keyboardist, guitarist and trumpeter Abi Siblini, who shortly moved in Norway after, where he’s still living today.

Abi Siblini used to play with “Northern Wind” band, a resident group of hotel & restaurants from Tripoli City (North Lebanon), along with Rene Bandali (from the famous Bandali family) on keyboards, Marwan Khoury & Roland Moawad on guitar & Samir on bass, Habib Bayakly & Zaki Mounajjid.

He’s still touring today, as a part of the band Night Swift with other great Lebanese musicians as Alain Ajouri, Hani Siblini & bass maestro Abboud Saadi who used to play with Ziad Rahbani or Force band (check my former article here for more about him).

Really hard to find double-sider, hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

Abi Siblini – Hey J (Lebanon, 1970s, ASC)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/y8WrNbaEpYw

Check also my Soundcloud for exclusive mixes & selections : https://soundcloud.com/armand_de_preseau

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical rediscovery !

Armand de Preseau

Abdou El Omari – Ourika / اوريكا

( Morocco , 1975 , Disques Gam / Gam )

posted on 10 / 05 / 2025

For today, I wanted to share with you “Ourika” (“اوريكا” in Arabic language, that could be readed as “Eurêka !“), a bewitching 70s Psychedelic Synth Pop Mod Instrumental track from Morocco, taken from the first release (and sole vinyl release) of the underground mythical moroccan musician, composer, keyboardist and producer Abdou El Omari (عبده العماري) considered by many as a musical pioneer, who managed to merge modern musical styles with traditional Moroccan music.

This LP, considered by many as one of the hardest to find Moroccon record, was reissued a few years ago but excluding that song, so I’m really happy to share it with you today in its full length original version, as a musical testimony of the past & in tribute to awesome Abdou El Omari‘s work.

Hope you’ll like it – Enjoy !

Abdou El Omari – Ourika (Morocco, 1975, Disques GAM) / عبده العماري- اوريكا

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/LAh_Opr63tI

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

Rayissa Meguerdichian – Mer Yerevan

( Armenia , 1970s , Araz )

posted on 05 / 01 / 2025

 

For today, I wanted to share with you “Mer Yerevan” (“Մեր Երեվան” in Armenian), an uptempo dope Freakbeat Mod Jerk Soul Surf track, recorded in the 70s in Beirut (Lebanon) by the Lebanese Armenian composer & singer Rayissa Meguerdichian (“Ռաիսա Մկրտչյան” in Armenian).

Unfortunately no infos about the backing musicians who play on the album, so any infos are welcome.

Another great example of how prolific the 70s Armenian musical scene was, managing to merge folk roots with Pop Rock influences – Hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Rayissa Meguerdichian – Mer Yerevan (Armenia, 1970s) / Ռաիսա Մկրտչյան – Մեր Երեվան

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/ERN7r7z7FJo

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you next week for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

Roger Damawuzan – Xede Nge

( Togo , 1970s , Disques Aziza )

posted on 01 / 09 / 2024

For today, I wanted to share with you “Xede Nge“, a beautiful deep melancholic Afro Soul Jazz Ballad with gorgeous acoustic guitar parts, first recording of the mythical Togolese composer & musician Roger Damawuzan, taken from the only compilation of the in demand Togolese/Congolese/Beninse label “Disques Aziza“, pressed in Ghana and intended to promote the first releases of some artists of the label.

Composed by Vincent Agbodo, this song was initially released as the A-Side of the first single recorded in Nigeria by Roger and out on Gerard Akueson‘s label “Akue“, with his famous Afro Jerk Garage track “Wait For Me” on the B-Side, that I’ll post a bit later !).

Cherry on the cake : this amazing cover art – Enjoy !

Roger Damawuzan – Xede Nge (Togo, 1970s, Disques Aziza)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/cyR0r-CSChQ

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you on next Wednesday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

Mavi Işıklar – Johnny Be Goode

( Turkey , 1966 , Odeon )

posted on 21 / 07 / 2024

For today, I wanted to share with you “Johnny Be Goode“, the timeless Surf Rock classic track recorded in 1957 by the American legend “Chuck Berry“, covered here in a version recorded in 1966 by the Turkish beat cover/band “Mavi Işıklar” (“Blue Lights” in Turkish langage), founded in 1964 and disbanded in 1970.

The band, considered as “Turkish Beatles” because of their appearances, was composed from 1962 to 1966 with :

Nejat Toksoy : Vocals ;

Zamir Manisa : Drums ;

Çetin Yavuzdoğan : Bass guitar ;

Metin Yavuzdoğan : Piano, Keyboards ;

Cihat Günay : Guitar ;

Cute jukebox single edition, found during a recent record digging trip in Turkey – Really hard to find single nowadays, hope you’ll like it, enjoy !

Mavi Işıklar – Johnny Be Goode (Turkey, 1966, Odeon)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/Ekoa3bZHJYk

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you on next Wednesday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

Orchestre The Soul Kids – Lolo Soul

( Democratic Republic Of The Congo , 1960s , Ngoma )

posted on 09 / 06 / 2024

Following this former article, I wanted to share with you for today “Lolo Soul“, an uplifting dope Afro Soul Funk Mod track, recorded in the 60s by the Congolese band « The Soul Kids » from Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), who released a few singles and one album of French covers of American & French Soul, Funk & Rnb standards of that time on the legendary congolese record label ” Ngoma“, strongly influenced by the American heroes of that era such as the kings James Brown, Otis Redding & Wilson Pickett – Enjoy !

Orchestre “The Soul Kids” – Lolo Soul (Democratic Republic Of The #congo, 1960s, Ngoma)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/SjmtrBDAhZI

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Sunday, see you on next Wednesday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

Bahta Gebre Hiwot – Tessassategn Eko

( Ethiopia , 1973 , Amha Records )

posted on 09 / 04 / 2024

 

For today, I wanted to share with you “Tessassategn Eko“, an sweet Ethio Soul Jazz track with Jerk flavors, taken from the 1st single recorded in 1973 by the Ethiopian composer & singer Bahta Gebre Hiwot, with the help from Gebreab Tefera (words) & Girma Beyene (musical arrangements).

It was released in 1973 on “Amha Records“, prominent & legendary record label owned by Amha Eshete and that released 103 Ethiopian singles and 10 albums between 1969 & 1975, including some by mythical musiciansMahmoud Ahmed or Mulatu Astatke.

Those Ethio gems are getting harder & harder to find, especially in such clean condition, hope you’ll enjoy it !

Bahta Gebre Hiwot – Tessassategn Eko (Ethiopia, 1973, Amha Records)

You can also listen to this song on my Youtube Channel here : https://youtu.be/s8HIgg4luLo

Follow me on Instagram too for more exclusive contents : https://www.instagram.com/armand_de_preseau/

Have a nice Wednesday, see you on next Sunday for another musical (re)discovery !

Armand de Preseau

African Grooves

A Time & Space Journey in the African & West Indies Countries