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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54591040990605779762017-07-19T04:13:02.319-05:00LikembeJohn firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-65240628549147801752013-04-23T09:20:00.001-05:002013-04-23T09:23:53.492-05:00A Dutiful Wife, An Inconsiderate Husband

Despite his great popularity back in the day, information about the late, great Igbo bard Show Promoter (Nelson Ejinduaka) is as scarce as hens' teeth. All I've been able to unearth is that he was from the city of Orlu in Imo State, spent most of his career in Ikwerreland (near Port Harcourt) and apparently passed on some time in the late '80s. His album Azu Alala (Onyeoma CY Records CYLP 043, 1987) is such an outstanding example of traditional Igbo music that I had to share it!

The title track, "Azu Alala" ("Fish is Scarce & Highly Costly"), concerns an obedient wife and the husband who is oblivious to his family's hardship. A husband gave his wife ten naira to go to the market to buy food for the family. She asked him, "Will ten naira be enough?" but he told her, "Make do with what you have."

She went to the market and spent N5 on gari (cassava meal) and N5 on yam. The money was gone. There was no money for fish, no money to buy oha leaf (greens) or meat.

The wife came home and didn't know what to do. Her children were crying in hunger, "Please give us food." She went to the kitchen to prepare the food. The children ate, and so did she.

In the meantime her husband was down at the restaurant, drinking and living the life of an onye oriri (man about town). He told his friends, "Come home with me. I gave my wife money to prepare food for us." When they arrived home he called out to her to bring out the food she had cooked. The wife began to cry and presented the pitiful repast she had prepared.The man opened the pot to see that there was no fish, no vegetables and no meat. He jumped up and slapped his wife. She cried, "Ego i nyerem ezughi. The money you gave me was not enough to make soup. I managed with what I had to feed our children. Please don't hit me."

The chorus, "Ogiri k'am, jiri shi ofe, azu alala," means "I made the soup with stock.There is no fish."

Show Promoter & his Group - Azu Alala

In "Onye Ma Ihe Echi Gabu (Tomorrow is Pregnant. Who Knows What it will Be?)" Show Promoter sings, "My brother, who knows what tomorrow will bring? My sister, who knows what tomorrow will bring? Everybody pray to God so it will be good for us." He then proceeds to call out various local notables:

Show Promoter & his Group - Onye Ma Ihe Echi Gabu

"Onwu Ashio (The Death of Ashio)" recounts the tragic fate of a man who died in a traffic accident: "Ka mpkuru obi ya nodi nma (May his heart rest in peace). Anyi sikwa ama nnachi, mu na gi bu kwu nwa nne - a go. (We came from one place, you and I, brothers or relatives).Onwu gburu Ashio (The death that killed Ashio). Ashio a hupu la m laa (Ashio left me behind)."

Show Promoter & his Group - Onwu Ashio

Many thanks to my wife Priscilla for translating the lyrics of Azu Alala. You may download it as a zipped file here.

John email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-46487935462070295192013-02-02T21:35:00.000-06:002013-02-03T11:47:11.176-06:00Four Famous Singers

Many many thanks to Andreas Wetter for translating the liner notes of 4 ዝናኞች ሲያዳምጡ በልብዎ ላይ ሰላምና ፍቅር ያገኛሉ - When You Listen to the 4 Famous Singers You Will Find Peace and Love in Your Heart, a really nice cassette issued by Ambassel Music Shop in Ethiopia in 1992.

With the exception of Martha Ashagari, who was featured in a previous post, I've been unable to find out much about these artists, although judging by the number of Youtube videos available online, they're very popular indeed!

የሩቅ ሰው ትዝታ - "Nostalgia for a far person":

Martha Ashagari - Yä-Ruq Säw Təzəta

ነካካኝ - "He Touched Me Somehow" (i.e. We were together and then he left me):

Martha Ashagari - Näkakkaññ

ዳርልን (ባሌ) - "Let Your Child Marry Our Child" - (literally: give your child in marriage for someone of our family, presumably a boy because usually the family of the boy takes the initiative and asks for the girl's hand):

Martha Ashagari & Teshome Asged - Darəllənn (Bale)

እማዋዬው የለኝ - "I Have No One to Share My Thoughts":

Teshome Asged - Emmawayyew Yälläññ

አትለይኝ - "Don't Leave Me":

Teshome Asged - Attəläyyəññ

ሸጋው ተወልዷል - "A Handsome Has Been Born":

Elias Tababbal - Shäggaw Täwäldwall

ከከዳህው በል ተወው - "If He Betrayed You Leave Him Alone":

Bezawork Asfaw - Kä-Käddahəw Bäl Täwəw

ልብህን ታዘብኩት - "I Found Out What Kind of Man You Are":

Bezawork Asfaw - Ləbbəhən Tazzäbkut

ወሬዋን አምጡልኝ - "Bring Me News About Her":

Elias Tababbal - Wärewan Amṭulləññ

የኔ አለም - "My World":

Elias Tababbal - Y'ne Aläm

ትክክለኛ ኦርጅናሉን ብቻ ያዳምጡ (Listen only to a real original recording)

ዜማ (Music, melody): ዘላለም መኩሪያ (Zelealem Mekuriya), ማርታ አሻጋሪ (Martha Ashagari), ኤልያስ ተባበል (Elias Tababbal), ያየህይራድ አላምረው (Yayerad Alamrew)

ግጥም (Lyrics): ይልማ ገ/አብ (Yilma Gebre-Ab), ያየህይራድ አላምረው (Yayerad Alamrew), ዘላለም መኩሪያ (Zelealem Merkuria), ማርታ አሻጋሪ (Martha Ashagari), ኤልያስ ተባበል (Elias Tababbal)

አሳታሚና አከፋፋይ (Produceer and Distributor): አምባሰል ሙዚቃና ቪዲዮ መደብር (Ambassel Music and Video Shop)

Download Four Famous Singers as a zipped file here.

Note: I have included the Ge'ez font provided by Andreas for the benefit of anyone using an Ethiopic-language search engine. However, depending on your browser and its settings, this may be visible to you as gibberish, or may cause your computer/smart phone to run slowly or even crash. If you have the latter problem, please let me know in the comments and I will rectify the situation immediately!

John firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-24835599365996735342013-01-20T19:06:00.000-06:002013-12-25T09:52:42.230-06:00A Double Dose of Dembo

Some years ago Sterns/Earthworks released a CD entitled Roots Rock Guitar Party. I remember thinking at the time: how can you assemble a collection of Zimbabwe's greatest guitarists and not include Leonard Dembo?

I would presume that the only reason Dembo was omitted from this otherwise excellent compilation was a matter of licencing. In the early '90s, he had risen to the pinnacle of the Zimbabwean music scene, only to die prematurely of AIDS in April 1996.

Dembo was born as Kwangwari Gwaindepi in 1959 and gained notice in 1982 as a member of a band called The Outsiders. Disagreements with his band-mates followed, and in 1985 he established Barura Express, which quickly notched a series of hits, notably the 1991 smash "Chitekete," about a young man who wishes to marry a beautiful lady. It is one of the biggest-selling Zimbabwean records of all time and is played at weddings to this day.

The Barura Express cassette The Singles Collection Vol. 2 (Gramma ZC 108) is a singular example of modern African guitar music, notably the opening tune "Zii-Zii," a song about a lover who is far away, whose repetitive motifs evoke a feeling of restrained euphoria:

Leonard Dembo & Barura Express - Zii-Zii

Leonard Dembo & Barura Express - Dudzai

Leonard Dembo & Barura Express - Kodzero

Leonard Dembo & Barura Express - Kukura Hakutane

Leonard Dembo & Barura Express - Gire

Leonard Dembo & Barura Express - Sheri Unodada

Leonard Dembo & Barura Express - Ndipeiwo Pokupotera

The Very Best of Leonard Dembo (Gramma ZC 113), covers some of the same ground, and includes "Chitekete":

Leonard Dembo & Barura Express - Shamwari Yangu Warova

Leonard Dembo & Barura Express - Venenziya

Leonard Dembo & Barura Express - Dudzai

Leonard Dembo & Barura Express - Wada Ne N'anga

Leonard Dembo & Barura Express - Chitekete

Leonard Dembo & Barura Express - Manager

Leonard Dembo & Barura Express - Sharai

Leonard Dembo & Barura Express - Vane Mazita Ngavaremwkedzwe

Leonard Dembo & Barura Express - Kukura Kwedu

Leonard Dembo & Barura Express - Zii-Zii

Leonard Dembo & Barura Express - Dambudzo

Leonard Dembo & Barura Express - Murombo

Leonard Dembo & Barura Express - Kukura Hakutane

Read about the Zimbabwean artwork in this post here.

Update: I have been made aware that several of the tracks in this post are available for download through Itunes. Hence the links to them have been removed.

John email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-55483825702429223762013-01-05T09:06:00.000-06:002013-01-05T09:10:36.621-06:00More Memories of Maneti

A couple of years ago I posted some memorable Muziki wa Dansi, a tribute by Tanzania's Orchestra Vijana Jazz to their departed lead singer Hayati Hemed Maneti. Hayati Maneti (Last Recording) (Ahadi/Flatim AHD (MC) 6018) is another outing dedicated to the great vocalist. The usual caveats regarding recording quality apply:

Orchestra Vijana Jazz - Witi Zangu Mnaninyanyasa

Orchestra Vijana Jazz - Ngapulila No. 2

Orchestra Vijana Jazz - Imani za Uchawi

Orchestra Vijana Jazz - Nyongise (Kihehe)

Orchestra Vijana Jazz - Heshima ya Mtu

Orchestra Vijana Jazz - Siri ya Ndani

Download Hayati Maneti (Last Recording) as a zipped file here. Purely by coincidence, when I logged on this morning I saw that Stefan at WorldService has posted the great Vijana LP Mary Maria here. And if you're looking for still more classic Vijana, Sterns Music's The Koka Koka Sex Battalion: Rumba, Koka Koka & Kamata Sukuma - Music From Tanzania 1975-1980 is highly recommended. The picture at the top of this post is entitled "My Village" and is by a Tanzanian artist named Mkumba. Explore more of his work and that of a number of other excellent East African artists here.

John email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-20558695259720393792013-01-01T00:00:00.000-06:002013-01-01T00:06:30.416-06:00Echoes of Mogadishu Past

Happy New Year! Once again I must apologize for the infrequency of posts here on Likembe. There is no one reason why the spirit hasn't moved me to write more often, but I've made a New Years resolution to step up the pace in 2013. As luck would have it, reader/listener Sanaag has provided us with yet another glimpse at the wonderful Somali music and theater scene of the 1980s. This is a world that has almost disappeared but that, hopefully, may be on the verge of a renaissance with the coming of a measure of stability to Somalia. Sanaag has been an invaluable contributor to Likembe over the years, and I'm happy to announce that he now has his own blog, Tix iyo Tiraab, where this originally appeared. Here's Sanaag:

Libaaxyada Maaweeliska Banaadir (Banaadir Entertainment Lions)was a popular theater troupe founded in the late 70s/early 80s by a group of veteran artists and fledgeling talents. The project was intended to integrate young and old, tradition and modernity - a sort of Scorsese/Levin's "Godfathers and Sons" avant la lettre... but here with the Godmothers and Daughters, too. Besides entertainment, LMB's main goal revolved around the preservation and dissemination of the performing arts heritage of Banaadir, the region comprising Mogadishu and its immediate surroundings. In their, alas, ephemeral existence, they produced about a dozen plays which were highly appreciated nationwide.

This tape carries the soundtrack of the mid-80s play "Xiddigtii Is Xujeysay" ("The Self-Denouncing Star"). In that period, drama productions were staged in theaters and open stadia, and spread on VHS. The play/film scores were, however, rarely released apart on tape. Given the sonic flaws, this k7 is probably a bootleg recorded live outdoors by an audience member - Somalia's number one hobby at the time.

The play was written by Faynuus Sheekh Daahir (left), a renowned theater actress and folk dancer. To the best of my knowledge, this is her only play. Nevertheless, if the material on this tape is anything to go by, she is apparently equally proficient in spinning poetic lyrics (and thought-provoking dialogues). Besides the title of the play, some tracks gladly betray the burlesque tragi-comedy and tackled a number of socio-political issues as well. Songs like "Naga Tag! Kac! Hooyaa? ("Get Lost! Rise Up! Got It?") ) and "Abidkaay Ammaan Ma Sheegin" ("I Never Dish Out [Unjustified] Praise Words") must have flagellated the dictatorial heartbeat into higher and haunted spheres. . .

From memory: The female star (Somalia?) and the male star (Freedom?) are in love with each other while a third protagonist (the dictator?) is moving heaven and earth to drive them apart. Its political significance lies n my opinion in the fact that it and similar mid-80s-dramas preceded and may have partially inspired the second wave of armed opposition groups

All the tracks are sung or poetically recited by Axmed Naaji Sacad, Maxamed Cabdow Saalim and mainly Faadumo Qaasim, a brightly shining star since the '60s who sadly passed away last year. R.I.P !

For each play LMB toured with a different musical ensemble, almost always consisting of traditional and modern instrumentalists. The musical direction of this piece was in the hands of the aforementioned multitalented Axmed Naaji Sacad (below right) whose great '70s band "Shareero" is playing the lead role.

The modern instruments are up front and I, for one, would be content with less Hohner organ and more roars by the local instruments. The music and singing are, however, often based on the notes of time-honoured traditional poetry, dance and music genres. In addition to the readily recognizable modern instruments, anyone who is familiar with Somali culture will also frequently detect in this tape and get tingled - from head to heels - by an impressive array of currently neglected traditional instruments.

Although sparsely used and often overwhelmed by the electric instruments, some local lions are still holding their own. Particularly the reeme (roaring drum), shagal (metal hoe-blades), shunuuf (vegetable ankle rattles), shambal(wooden clappers), malkad (flute), and sumaari (double clarinet) casually manage to swing to the forefront. These precious and endangered instruments are setting the pace by generating distinct rhythms and melodies (see genres below) to send a call to a group of colourfully clad folk dancers who respond with graciously intoxicating and sinuously serpentine movements... gently enticing the spectators (occasionally including Yours Truly) to the dance floor.

Those were the days...!

"Soo Xarakoo" ("Strut Out In Style") Put on your best suit, concoct your magic elixir and present your case for love. Genre: Batar/Botor.

Libaaxyada Maaweeliska Banaadir - Soo Xarakoo

"Adaan Milkigaa Ahee" ("I Am All Yours") A double entendre. (Denunciation of) total submission to a spellbinding "suitor" Genre: Wiglo.

Libaaxyada Maaweeliska Banaadir - Adaan Milkigaa Ahee

"Abidkaay Ammaan Ma Sheegin" ("I Never Dish Out [Unjustified] Praise Words"). Vocalists and instrumentalists exchange compliments while subtly emphasizing that gratuitous praise of the undeserving is nothing but self-deprecation. Genre: Sharax, Saylici

Libaaxyada Maaweeliska Banaadir - Abidkaay Ammaan Ma Sheegin

"Naga Tag! Kac! Hooyaa?" ("Get Lost! Rise Up! Got It?"). Leaves no room for the imagination: The gun salvos, funeral processions, public rage... were in the mid-80s Somalia not yet pervasive but they're already an essential and gruesome part of the tyrannical policies and histrionics. Genre: Geblo shimbir.

Libaaxyada Maaweeliska Banaadir - Naga Tag! Kac! Hooyaa?

"Diinle Kabiiroow" ("Diinle, The Great"). Disappointment in and fury towards the clique that usurps the key to your love/life/rights and a complaint about the chief and his entourage who are greedy, pompous, unreasonable, unjust... and don't listen to the wise elders. Genre: Kabeebey.

Libaaxyada Maaweeliska Banaadir - Diinle Kabiiroow

"Hab I Soo Dheh" ("Jump Into My Arms"). The tragedy of unrequited love: He's hopelessly in love and she's diligently rejecting him. Genre: Walasaqo.

Libaaxyada Maaweeliska Banaadir - Hab I Soo Dheh

"Haan Iyo Haruubkeed" ("Water Container and Its Cover/Milk Vessel and Its Lid") "United we stand! The lovebirds are tired of waiting for the blessing of the self-appointed chargés d'affaires and take matters into their own hands. Genre: Dhaanto.

Libaaxyada Maaweeliska Banaadir - Haan Iyo Haruubkeed

"Waa Habeenkii Dhalashadaadee" ("It's Your Birthnight"). Happy with the decision they made in the last track and the rebirth of their freedom. Genre: Saddexley.

Libaaxyada Maaweeliska Banaadir - Waa Habeenkii Dhalashadaadee

"Kun Qof Iiga Roonoow" ("More Valuable Than a Thousand Persons"). Boundless love. Genre: Niiko.

Libaaxyada Maaweeliska Banaadir - Kun Qof Iiga Roonoow

"Sabraayaa Sedkii Hela" ("Patience Pays Off"). Those who are made for each other (lovers, people and their sovereignty...) always find each other. The two halves become One, no matter how long it takes. Genre: Hirwo.

Libaaxyada Maaweeliska Banaadir - Sabraayaa Sedkii Hela

Enjoy!

PS. I'm not an expert and it's quite possible that my recognition of the multitude of Somali genres is, in some cases, off beat. Many genres ressemble each other and some are as deceptively similar as identical twins. I'd appreciate any corrections and additional info.

PPS. I've the impression a couple of tracks are missing. Anyone?

Download Xiddigtii Is Xujeysay as a zipped file here.

John firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-46108380970310445402012-08-18T16:50:00.001-05:002012-08-18T16:53:59.228-05:00Fighting Biafra

Thanks to a tip from reader/listener Zim Bida, I was able to score from Ebay an almost-mint copy of the elusive LP Igba na Egwu Ndi Biafra Ji na Anu Agha: Drums and Chants of Fighting Biafra by the Biafran Freedom Fighters (Afro Request SRLP 5030, ca. 1968), and for a very reasonable price!

Although I've been looking for this album for some time, I would have to say after listening to it that it is of more historical than musical interest. According to the liner notes, the "Biafran Freedom Fighters" are ". . .from the ranks of young soldiers who have adapted some old Ibo folklore, that are sung at the camp fires. In addition, they are performing present day war songs." The genre is what is considered "traditional" Igbo music for voice and percussion, or "Igbo Blues." These amateur musicians are not generally of the caliber of artistes like Bob Sir Merengue, Morocco Maduka or Area Scatter who have been featured in earlier posts here. Still, as another snapsot of the Biafran war of 1967-70, Igba na Egwu Ndi Biafra Ji na Anu Agha is well worth listening to. Enjoy!

Intro

"I Say You Don't Fear." Okwa imaregu. Ka ayin bawa egu. If you know no fear, then this is the time to prove it:

Biafran Freedom Fighters - Isikwa Inara Egwu

"The Goddess." Nmebo nwo ogara nye. Oyeri Ngwa. We know you are like a goddess, so we expect you to behave like one:

Biafran Freedom Fighters - Oyeri Mayo Ngwa

"Letting Down the Boss." Nye ka yo obusu ma ka no abubu kayo obubu ma. Mbebe nwo ogaranyi kayo bubuma. To let down your boss is really more than killing him:

Biafran Freedom Fighters - Mbebo Nwo Ogaranyi

"Bonny Creek." Tumbi Ibani a quo eruwe ru. Ibani Creek is a very long journey. Let us try our best and paddle hard to the journey's end:

Biafran Freedom Fighters - Tumbi Ibani

Biafran Freedom Fighters - The Nwatan War Drums

"The Colored Animal." Anu turu agwa gwa we eke. Ilema ayan nu zo a nuturu. Agwa gwa we ke. Be on your guard like a colored animal and adjust yourself to the surroundings:

Biafran Freedom Fighters - Anu Turu Agwa Gwa

"Mosquitoes Molest Me." Atita ekwemu ni hie urura nu lo de de. Despite the arduous journey, I cannot sleep because the mosquitoes molest me:

Biafran Freedom Fighters - Atita Ekemwu

"Beloved Biafra Land." Ayin ga do ala nna ayin Biafra. Let us defend our motherland Biafra to the last drop of our blood:

Biafran Freedom Fighters - Ala Biafra

"Elephant Crush." Eyin mba eyin. Use the elephant's strength to crush the enemy:

Biafran Freedom Fighters - Eyin Mba

"Tied Feet and Hands." Sometimes fear ties our feet and hands. So let's go forward resolutely with our leader:

Biafran Freedom Fighters - Aku Ne Ke Aka

"Fight to the End." Eke le ndu uwa lu o gu ka madu. This fight is a struggle to the end. We will win:

Biafran Freedom Fighters - Ekwele Ndu Uwa

"It's Time." Adama luru di na abali. Adama ni ogeru. After all this, it will be yime that Adama marries her fancy:

Biafran Freedom Fighters - Adama's Ogeru

Outro

The translations are from the liner notes of Igba na Egwu Ndi Biafra Ji na Anu Agha. To download it as a zipped file, go here.
John email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-62665396438897332252012-07-29T09:08:00.001-05:002012-08-07T06:04:39.418-05:00Odds and Ends

Taking care of some unfinished business today. . . Many thanks to Ken Chijar Ekezie, who provides us with Part Two of the exceedingly rare "Yokolo" by Docteur Nico and Orchestre African Fiesta Sukisa (above). As far as I know, "Yokolo" has only been available in its entirety as Sides A & B of a single issued and re-issued (Sukisa 501 and Ngoma DNJ 5274) sometime in the late '60s. Part One was included on the Nigerian compilation Music From Zaïre Vol. 3 (Soundpoint SOP 043) which I posted here.

Here is "Yokolo Pt. 2":

Docteur Nico & Orchestre African Fiesta Sukisa - Yokolo Pt. 2

And here are Pts. 1 & 2 joined together:

Docteur Nico & Orchestre African Fiesta Sukisa - Yokolo Pts. 1 & 2

Loyal Likembe reader/listener Sanaag, who has done so much to enlighten us on the Somali music scene of the '70s and '80s, graces us once again with a better pressing of the LP Famous Songs: Hits of the New Era (Radio Mogadishu SBSLP-102, 1973), this time complete with liner notes! You can get it all here. And thanks once again, Sanaag!

Update: Many thanks to African Music Recycler for providing us with a scan of the sleeve for "Yokolo." It gives credit to "Docteur Nico & Orchestre African Fiesta." I'm fairly certain, though, thanks to Alistair Johnston's Docteur Nico Discography, that it is by African Fiesta Sukisa. This was Dr. Nico's band following his split with Rochereau, which gave rise to two orchestras, African Fiesta Sukisa and African Fiesta National.

John email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-80723147143116873302012-07-12T09:54:00.000-05:002012-07-12T21:50:07.153-05:00More Mlimani!

What better to liven up a slow Thursday morning than another dose of Muziki wa Dansi, courtesy of Tanzania's DDC Milmani Park Orchestra? The usual caveats apply to this Flatim Records/Ahadi cassette of Sitokubali Kuwa Mtumwa (AHD(MC)6024): Red hot music, lo-fi sound. Enjoy!

 DDC Mlimani Park Orchestra - Sitokubali Kuwa Mtumwa

DDC Mlimani Park Orchestra - Ukali wa Nyuki

DDC Mlimani Park Orchestra - Safia

DDC Mlimani Park Orchestra - Naomi

DDC Mlimani Park Orchestra - Epuka Jambo Lisilokuhusu No. 2

DDC Mlimani Park Orchestra - Naomba Tuaminiane

Download Sitokubali Kuwa Mtumwa as a zipped file here. More Mlimani songs are available as streaming audio here.

John email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-59046943168691552252012-07-05T05:04:00.000-05:002012-07-05T09:14:39.031-05:00That Old-Time Jùjú Music

Like a lot of people, I got into Nigerian jùjú music in 1982 when King Sunny Adé hit the international scene. In short order Ebenezer Obey, Dele Abiodun and Segun Adewale were introduced to world audiences, with varying degrees of success. Before them, though, I.K. Dairo was the true king of jùjú .

Isaiah Kehinde Dairo (b. January 6, 1931), the son of a carpenter, performed with many of the greats of the Ibadan jùjú scene while working days in a variety of odd jobs. He launched his first professional group, the Morning Star Orchestra, in 1954, changing their name to the Blue Spots in the early '60s. Dairo introduced the accordion to jùjú music and was responsible for many of the innovations, including Latin American and Christian choral influences and the use of various dialects, that are hallmarks of the mature jùjú style.

Dairo and the Blue Spots went into eclipse during the '70s with the ascension of younger stars, but made a comeback in the '80s, achieving international recognition with several CD reissues and new recordings. Ma F'owuro Sere (Ibukun Orisun Iye MOLPS 112, 1987), presented here, is an excellent example of I.K. Dairo's late style (I apologize for a bit of unfortunate "wow" on Side 1, apparently caused by a spindle hole that is slightly off-center).

Dairo died February 7, 1996 of renal failure. His wake-keeping, beginning on April 15, went on for five days and was attended by tens of thousands. In addition all Nigerian musicians refrained from performing during that time and Radio Nigeria played nothing but his music. Truly a fitting tribute to a giant of Nigerian music!

I.K. Dairo & his Blue Spots Band - Ise Aje Ma Le/Eniyan Boni Lara/Ore Mura

I.K. Dairo & his Blue Spots Band - Ba Wa Segun Ota a Mbere/Olorun Oba Kan Na La Npe/Ka Wo Ehin Wo/E Ma F'etu Sere/Ija O Yewa

Download Ma F'owuro Sere as a zipped file here. Information for this post was derived from the liner notes of two excellent recordings, Definitive Dairo (Xenophile XENO 4045, 1997) and I Remember (Music of the World CDC-212, 1991), as well as Christopher Waterman's definitive Jùjú: A Social History and Ethnography of an African Popular Music (University of Chicago Press, 1990). These are all available for purchase or download (just click on the links)!

John firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-67904526691440265892012-06-29T05:21:00.000-05:002012-08-07T06:05:25.176-05:00The School of Verckys

Note: This post was updated and corrected on July 3, 2012.

The rambunctious saxophone stylings of Kiamwuangana Mateta "Verckys" are a hallmark of many of the 1960s recordings of Congo's great Orchestre OK Jazz. Bandleader Luambo Makiadi Franco is said to have much valued his improvisational style and invocations of American-style R&B, a counterpoint to the rest of the band's more sedate sound.Verckys attempted a mutiny in l968 while Franco was away in Europe, enticing several of the band members to join him in forming a new orchestra. When Franco returned he was able to convince most of the defectors to come back, but Verckys, unrepentant, launched Orchestre Vévé in 1969. He later managed the careers of up-and-coming bands like Les Grands Maquisards, Bella-Bella, Lipua-Lipua and Empire Bakuba. There was a distinct Verckys sound or "school" exemplified by these groups, which was influential across Africa as I discuss in this post..

By the early 1980s Verckys had established himself as an emperor of the Zaïrean music scene to rival Franco himself, with his own recording studio, record label, nightclub, pressing facility and a stable of the hottest bands in Kinshasa, including various Zaïko Langa-Langa offshoots and Victoria Eleison.

The 45s I offer here were borrowed from various friends and dubbed onto 10" tape reels back in the '80s. Several years ago I digitized them, along with a number of other recordings in my library. Unfortunately I didn't think to photocopy the labels, but I copied the recording information from them. These were all pressed in the mid-'70s in Kenya.

"Lukani" (Editions Vévé VV213), composed by Tusevo Nejos and released in 1975, elicits warm feelings of nostalgia across Africa, as typified by these comments on YouTube: ". . .:Brings back childhood memories growing up in eastern Nigeria then. Quite fun listening to my elder ones singing along as the music is being played on the popular IBS radio station. Oh Africa, home of good and undiluted music." ". . . Reminds me of the Kampala of the 1970's, when Idi Amin ruled supreme. Remember those bell-bottoms, eh?":

Orchestre Vévé - Lukani Pts 1 & 2

The LP Les Grands Succes de Editions Veve (Sonafric SAS 50039, 1977) features another version of "Engunduka" by Orchestre Engunduka. I'd give the edge, though, to Vévé's interpretation of Sax Matalanza's song (Editions Vévé VV-234-N), which starts out somewhat restrained but quickly succumbs to frenzied guitars and some truly insane sax work:

Orchestre Vévé Internationale - Engunduka Pts 1 & 2

According to Mboka Mosika, Orchestre Kiam was founded in 1974 by Muzola Ngunga. In appreciation for the band's sponsor Kiamwuangana Verckys, who provided its musical instruments, he proposed to name it "Kiam." Orchestre Kiam lacked the distinctive horn section of Vévé and had a radically different style. "Kamiki" (Editions Vévé VV218), which Ngunga composed, was a big hit in 1975. Here the stripped-down guitar sound, scattershot percussion and frantic vocals bring to mind the sound of Orchestre Stukas du Zaïre, a contemporary aggregation:

Orchestre Kiam - Kamiki Pts 1 & 2

Orchestre Bella-Bella was founded in 1969 by the Soki brothers, Emilie Diazenza and Maxime Vangu. When they hooked up with Verckys and his label Editions Vévé this caused a fair amount of disagreement within the band, leading to the departure of a number of members in 1972. The result, though, was the accession to Bella-Bella of several musicians who were to become leading lights of the Kinshasa music scene, including Malembu Tshibau, Shaba Kahamba, Pepe Kalle and Nyboma Mwan'dido. Dissension continued, however, and Emile left to form his own short-lived group, Bella Mambo, only to rejoin a few months later. By 1973, feeling ripped off, the brothers left Editions Vévé, taking the Bella-Bella name but leaving behind their musical instruments, which were owned by Verckys, and a number of musicians including Pepe Kalle and Nyboma, who became the foundation for a new band, Orchestre Lipua-Lipua.

The two Bella-Bella songs here, "Pambi Ndoni" (Bilanga Bl 001) and "Nene"(Editions FrancAfrique EFA 08), were both written by Soki Vangu around 1975 after the break with Verckys. The late '70s were the peak of Bella-Bella's influence, and the group waxed numerous classics including "Tika Ngai Mobali," "Houleux-Houleux" and "Zing Zong." In 1977 Soki Diazenza apparently suffered a nervous breakdown. It was all downhill for Bella-Bella from that point and by 1981 it had effectively disappeared.

Orchestre Bella-Bella - Pambi Ndoni Pts 1 & 2

Orchestre Bella-Bella - Nene Pts 1 & 2

As recounted above, Orchestre Lipua-Lipua was formed by the musicians who stayed with Editions Vévé after the departure of Bella-Bella in 1973. It too suffered its share of defections, notably that of Pepe Kallé, but soon recruited a number of talented musicians, notably rhythm guitarist Vata Mombassa, who became leader with the departure of Nyboma Mwan'dido and several others in 1975 to found Orchestre Les Kamalé. He is responsible for the next two tracks, "Bondo" (ASL ASL 7-2109) and "Lossa" (Editions Vévé VV198):

Orchestre Lipua-Lipua - Bondo Pts 1 & 2

Orchestre Lipua-Lipua - Lossa Pts 1 & 2

Lipua-Lipua winds things up with Tedia Wamu Mbakidi's scorcher "Temperature" (Editions Vévé VV 228N) from 1977. Nzaya Nzayadio's vocals and Santana Mongoley's lead guitar really make this one a standout. Lipua-Lipua would continue on for several years until sputtering out around 1984. Vata Mombassa pursued a solo career, ending up in Abidjan, Ivory Coast where he remains to this day.

Orchestre Lipua-Lipua - Temperature Pts 1 & 2

Download the songs in this post as a zipped file here. For more information on Verckys and his label Editions Vévé, see Alistair Johnston's discography here. The liner notes of Vintage Verckys (Retroafric RETRO 15CD, 2001) were very helpful in researching this post; in addition the blog Classic Ambiance: Franco and Pepe Kalle Flashback is highly recommended. African Rock: The Pop Music of a Continent by Chris Stapleton and Chris May (Obelisk/Dutton, 1990), Congo Colossus: The Life and Legacy of Franco & OK Jazz by Graeme Ewens (Buku Press, 1994) and Rumba on the River by Gary Stewart (Verso, 2004) are all excellent reference books. All of these may be purchased or downloaded by clicking on the links.

John firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-1800938498893467472012-06-25T21:44:00.000-05:002012-07-14T21:19:32.024-05:00Birth of a Nation

If you've been around here a while you'll know that I have a major obsession with the 1967-70 war in Nigeria, when the Eastern Region of that country left to establish the independent nation of Biafra. It was a valiant struggle, but the nascent Republic went down to defeat on January 15, 1970. I suspect not everyone shares my interest, but some do, and for them I'm posting another entry in Likembe's Biafra archive - the hard-to-find LP Biafra: Birth of a Nation (Lyntone LYN 1684), issued by the Biafra Choral Society in London in 1968. This was kindly provided by Craig Taylor, and I thank him for it.

Birth of a Nation is propaganda, and I don't mean this in a pejorative sense. It was issued by the Biafran government in an effort to influence public opinion in the outside world, especially the United Kingdom, main supporter of the Federal Government in Lagos against the secessionists. In 1968, when it was released, the Biafran cause had already for all intents and purposes been lost, although this wouldn't be apparent for some time. Still, it's of considerable interest not only to historians but musically, as it contains some nice highlife tunes. Listened to in sequence the album sounds like something recorded off a shortwave radio broadcast in the wee hours of the morning, history in the making.

On January 15, 1966, Nigeria's First Republic came to an end when Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Northern Premier Amadou Bello and Western Premier Samuel Akintola were overthrown and executed in a military coup. A counter-coup led by Major-General Aguiye-Ironsi, an Igbo from the Eastern Region, managed to re-establish order, but his military government lacked legitimacy in the eyes of many Northerners, who saw it as Igbo-dominated. On July 29 a coup led by Northern officers led to the deaths of hundreds of Eastern officers as well as Ironsi himself, sparking a series of bloody events. In September and October of 1966 Northern Nigeria was swept by a series of pogroms targeting Easterners, leading to the panicky exodus of more than a million people to their ancestral homes.

In a last-ditch effort to save Nigerian unity, a meeting was held in Aburi, Ghana January 4-5, 1967 between leaders of the Federal government in Lagos and a delegation from the Eastern Region led by Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. The resulting Accord provided for restructuring Nigeria on a looser confederal basis, but soon became a dead letter as there was no unanimity regarding its interpretation:

The Aburi Declaration

An Efik song:

The Canaan Brothers - Ukaridem (Independence)

The Eastern Region of Nigeria declared its independence as the sovereign state of Biafra on May 30, 1967. It was recognized diplomatically by only five countries: Gabon, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Zambia and Haiti. In addition it received varying levels of support from Portugal, France, China, South Africa and Israel. Britain and the Soviet Union were solidly on the Federal side, while the U.S. was officially "neutral" but tacitly supported Nigeria:

The Rev. Edmund Ilogu - Declaration of Independence

Biafra's national anthem, "Land of the Rising Sun," is based on the "Finlandia" hymn by Sibelius. The first verse is as follows:

Land of the rising sun, we love and cherish,
Beloved homeland of our brave heroes;
We must defend our lives or we shall perish,
We shall protect our hearts from all our foes;
But if the price is death for all we hold dear,
Then let us die without a shred of fear.
Land of the Rising Sun (Biafra National Anthem)

The Rev. G.E. Igwe - Prayer

Rex Lawsons's Kalabari-language "Ojukwu Imiete, Biafra Bolate" was the subject of several previous posts and some speculation. Uchenna Ikonne has unearthed a copy of this subversive song as a 45 (Nigerphone NX 412, left), ostensibly pressed in Nigeria, of all places! It has also been released under the titles "Odumegwu Ojukwu (Hail Biafra)" and "God Bless Colonel Ojukwu":

Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson and his Biafra Republicans Band - Ojukwu Imiete, Biafra Bolate (Ojukwu Thank You, Biafra has Come to Stay)

In this speech Ojukwu levels a number of accusations against Nigerian head of state Yakubu Gowon, most of which are exaggerated or untrue. Gowon apparently played no role in the July 1966 coup that overthrew Ironsi, nor did he "plot" the pogroms of September and October 1966. There is no doubt that the war against Biafra led to a horrendous loss of lives (over a million by conservative estimates) but as to whether it constituted genocide I refer interested parties to this Wikipedia article:

H.E. Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu - The War of Genocide

British Attitude to Nigeria/Biafra War

An Igbo song:

Abraham Onyenobia - Chukwu Zoba Anyi (God Save Us)

At Independence, approximately 40% of the population of Biafra was composed of non-Igbo "Eastern Minorites," Ijaws, Efiks and others. Fearing "Igbo domination," many of these were ambivalent about secession or even actively supported the Federal cause. However, members of minority groups were represented in the Biafran government throughout the war:

Ika Bassey - The Case of the Minorities in Biafra

H.E. Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu - Launching of the Biafran Currency and Postage Stamps

I.S. Kogbara - Excerpt from H.E.'s Address to Special Consultative Assembly, Addis Ababa

Download Biafra: Birth of a Nation as a zipped file, including liner notes, here.

John firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-11432054202821207162012-06-17T18:37:00.000-05:002012-08-07T06:06:00.308-05:00Real Rumbira Sounds

A major force in the Zimbabwe music scene of the 1980s, the Real Sounds of Africa were in fact founded by a group of Congolese musicians in Zambia in 1975. Moving to Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia under the white-minority government of Ian Smith) in 1978, they became an immediate sensation, releasing their first LP, Harare (Zimbabwe ZML 1015), in 1984.

The foremost Congolese-origin band in Zimbabwe, the Real Sounds forged a unique blend of rumba music and indigenous sounds that they called rumbira. Success followed upon success, and in 1986 the group toured Europe, releasing two albums in the UK, Wende Zako (Cooking Vinyl COOK 004, 1987), and Seven Miles High (Big Records BIG 1, 1989).

I don't know what has become of the Real Sounds, but their music, especially their football songs, continues to be popular to this day. Enjoy Harare!

The Real Sounds - Kapinga

The Real Sounds - Ozweli Ngai Mbanda

The Real Sounds - Baninga

The Real Sounds - Harare

The Real Sounds - Chamunorwa

The Real Sounds - Dynamos Versus Caps (0-0)

Download Harare as a zipped file here.

John email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-44798603660487377862012-06-11T10:08:00.001-05:002012-06-11T10:08:50.516-05:00DDC Mlimani - Nelson Mandela

The subject of many musical accolades over the years, South African liberation fighter (and President from 1994-99) Nelson Mandela receives his due in this cassette (Ahadi/Flatim MSKCAS 512) by Tanzania's immortal DDC Mlimani Park Orchestra. It was released around 1994 but I suspect the material was recorded a few years earlier in the Radio Tanzania studios.

I don't have much to say about this one save that it combines the usual sweet vocals, expert finger-picking and red-hot horns of classic Muziki wa Dansi with the poor recording quality that is the hallmark of most of these Flatim Records releases, usually made from second- and third-generation dubs of the original masters. I am pleased to announce, however (and thanks to Zim Bida for making me aware of it) that a project is underway to digitize and preserve for posterity more than 100,000 hours of recordings like this in the Radio Tanzania archives. You can go to the website of the Tanzania Heritage Project here, listen to some recordings here, and pledge your financial support here. Plans are to release a compilation CD and make a documentary film of the project.

Enjoy Nelson Mandela!

DDC Mlimani Park Orchestra - Nelson Mandela

DDC Mlimani Park Orchestra - Tumetoka Mbali

DDC Mlimani Park Orchestra - Utamaduni

DDC Mlimani Park Orchestra - Kauli Yako Nimeisikia

DDC Mlimani Park Orchestra - Maneno Maneno Ya Nini

DDC Mlimani Park Orchestra - Kupenda Sio Ndoto

Download Nelson Mandela as a zipped file here.

John email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-77598072751841471362012-04-09T03:33:00.000-05:002012-04-09T03:33:00.162-05:00Rest in Peace Jerry Hansen

Jerry Hansen, founder of Ghana's influential Ramblers International Dance Band, passed away in Accra Saturday, April 7th. He was 85. Besides leading the band and composing many of its hit songs, Hansen was a founding member and President of the Musicians Union of Ghana

The Ramblers, the last of Ghana's great "danceband highlife" orchestras, were founded in 1961 when Hansen left King Bruce's Black Beats. Their innovative sounds held them in good stead through the political upheavals of the 1970s and ínto the '80s when the band finally expired thanks to changing tastes and poor economic conditions.

Jerry Hansen was one of the last giants of the classic highlife sound and will be sorely missed. Remember him while listening to Ramblers International (Decca WAPS 334), an album from 1976:

Ramblers International - Akwanuma Hiani

Ramblers International - Dear Si Abotar

Ramblers International - Megye Wo

Ramblers International - Inemesti

Ramblers International - Maye Maye

Ramblers International - Mbre Ofiong

Ramblers International - Awusa Dzi Mi

Ramblers International - Esa Ni Otse Ohie

Ramblers International - Dodzi

Ramblers International - Ao Danye

Ramblers International - Highlife Medley

Download Ramblers International as a zipped file here.

John firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-3809248018020433642012-04-06T12:18:00.000-05:002012-04-06T19:30:05.606-05:00The Alasa of Ibadanland

To an outsider, Lanrewaju Adepoju's Èwì would seem to be just another one of the many Yoruba percussion styles that are so popular in the southwestern corner of Nigeria: Fújì, Wákà, Àpàlà and the like. I've come to find out that èwì, properly understood, is not "music" at all but a chanted form of epic poetry, and that Adepoju is considered one of its greatest practitioners.

This by way of a fascinating essay, "Lanrewaju Adepoju and the Making of Modern Yoruba Poetry," by Oyeniyi Okunoye, which you can read in its entirety here. Okunoye marks the development of modern èwì  around the time of Independence in 1960 and the broadcast of poetry in Western Nigeria. In 1964 Adepoju, who is proud of his status as a "self-made man" despite his lack of a formal education, began reading his poetry on Tiwa n Tiwa, a program on the Western Nigeria Broadcast Service in Ibadan, and went on to produce such programs as Kaaaro o o Jiire? ("Good Morning"), Barika ("Blessing/Greetings") and Ijinji Akewi ("The Poet at Dawn").

Born into a Muslim family, Adepoju dabbled for a time in mystical doctrines, associating with a group called the Servers of Cosmic Light for some years, returning to mainstream Sunni Islam in 1985. Okunoye writes:

Although Adepoju has emphasized the impact of his return to a conservative form of Islam on his poetic imagination, it is projected only superficially within the broader theistic vision that emerges in his work as a whole. With the obvious exception of poems in which he sets out to propagate particular Islamic doctrines, the vision that pervades his work constantly shifts between the Islamic and the ecumenical, blending Christian, Islamic and traditional Yoruba outlooks. This suggests either a split consciousness underlying Adepoju's work or a deliberate strategy aimed at popularity and relevance in a multi-religious society. His "Oriki Olodumare," a work that conceptually integrates Islamic, Christian and traditional Yoruba theistic visions, testifies to this.
The 1993 cassette Ìrònúpìwàdà ("Repentance," Lanrad LALPS 150), which I present here, is apparently one of Adepoju's works in a more "orthodox" Islamic vein. If anyone out there would care to provide a translation of the lyrics, I'm sure we'd all be interested:

Chief Lanrewaju Adepoju - Ìrònúpìwàdà

Chief Lanrewaju Adepoju - Àsà Burúkú

Download Ìrònúpìwàdà as a zipped file here.

John email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-74572160682850700082012-01-01T00:01:00.007-06:002012-06-26T08:34:41.292-05:00Sabar Attack!

Bonne Année! Sixty-six minutes of red-hot Mbalax from Senegal's master of the sabar, Mbaye Dieye Faye, help us kick off the New Year.

Faye was born in 1960 in the Dakar neighborhood of Medina and was a childhood friend of Youssou N'dour. He joined N'dour in the influential Star Band in 1974, leaving with him to form Etoile de Dakar in 1979 and Super Etoile in 1981. Over the years Faye has been a featured percussionist on recordings by Coumba Gawlo Seck, Omar Pene, Ismael Lô and many other notable Senegalese musicians. He founded his own group, Le Sing-Sing Rythme, in 1990, featuring a battery of sabar drums. 1995's Oupoukay (Xippi) was its second release:

Mbaye Dieye Faye & le Sing-Sing Rythme - Ya Moustapha

Mbaye Dieye Faye & le Sing-Sing Rythme - Labane

Mbaye Dieye Faye & le Sing-Sing Rythme - Sing-Sing

Mbaye Dieye Faye & le Sing-Sing Rythme - Soul & Ragga

Mbaye Dieye Faye & le Sing-Sing Rythme - Sapalima

Mbaye Dieye Faye & le Sing-Sing Rythme - Bamba Maodo

Download Oupoukay as a zipped file here.

1996's Tink's Daye Bondé Biir Thiossane (Jololi) was recorded live in Youssou N'dour's Thiossane night club:

Mbaye Dieye Faye & le Sing-Sing Rythme - Tink's

Mbaye Dieye Faye & le Sing-Sing Rythme - Oupoukay

Mbaye Dieye Faye & le Sing-Sing Rythme - Dama Doon Sath Lalo

Mbaye Dieye Faye & le Sing-Sing Rythme - Sapalima

Mbaye Dieye Faye & le Sing-Sing Rythme - Labaane

Mbaye Dieye Faye & le Sing-Sing Rythme - Interlude 1

Mbaye Dieye Faye & le Sing-Sing Rythme - Interlude 2

Mbaye Dieye Faye & le Sing-Sing Rythme - Sabar 1,5 cm

Download Tink's Daye Bondé Biir Thiossane as a zipped file here.

John email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-22572503252856432942011-12-28T12:13:00.003-06:002011-12-28T21:15:50.696-06:00In Praise of "Mami Wata"

For many months now I've put off posting this in an effort to find out more about our featured artist, Bob Sir Merenge. Unfortunately, I can't say I've found out much. I can tell you that he is one of innumerable traditional Igbo musicians who have released recordings, sometimes to great acclaim, sometimes without making any ripples at all. I would say that Merenge's efforts have not gone totally unnoticed (I have a couple more records by him) but haven't drawn much attention outside of a small area of eastern Nigeria (and the Igbo diaspora, of course).

The second thing I can tell you about Bob Sir Merenge is that he is from the town of Uli in southern Anambra State. Uli is a fairly nondescript down on the Onitsha-Owerri Highway, but during the Biafran War (1967-70) the airstrip at Uli was literally a lifeline for the embattled rebel enclave, all sea access to the nascent Biafran republic having been lost early on (the map is from John de St. Jorre's The Nigerian Civil War [Hodder & Stoughton, 1972]):

Anyway, Bob Sir Merenge's album Eze Nwanyi (Okoli Music Co. OFC 4) is about as representative and fine an example of Igbo traditional music as you'll find (in the near future I'll be posting Show Promoter's LP Azu Alala, which is also an excellent example of the genre).

Eze Nwanyi begins with an elegy entitled "Ugbo Ezeh," "The Chief's Lorry." It tells the tale of Asampete, who was married for 20 years but was unable to conceive - the couple had money but no child. When she finally got pregnant Asampete was the object of cruel gossip by the villagers, who whispered that she was either sick or had slept with another man. When she finally gave birth to a daughter, her husband was very disappointed and beat Asampete. Finally she took her daughter and went to live with her mother.

Asampete's daughter grew up to be very beautiful, but one day the villagers came running to inform Asampete that she had been struck and killed by one of the fleet of trucks owned by the village chief. The chief told her to wait until the lorries came back from Asaba to see which one killed her daughter. Asampete wailed that she had no husband and now had no daughter. She went with a rope to the tree to hang herself but one of the villages stopped her. Asampete asked God how He could let this happen:

Bob Sir Merenge & his Igbo Cultural Singers - Ugbo Ezeh

I wouldn't be surprised if "Ugbo Ezeh" was based on a true story, as are many songs of this type. The song, along with the others on Eze Nwanyi, also ably displays the various instruments in the arsenal of Igbo music: the opi (horn), the ogene (twin bell), udu (pottery drum), ekwe (slit drum), ashakala (beaded gourd), and samba (square drum).

"Ude Ndi Egwu" also concerns people who wish to become parents. A woman is praying to God to give her a child while she is still young. The singer expresses that while many wish for children, those who already have them often complain of the trouble they bring:

Bob Sir Merenge & his Igbo Cultural Singers - Ude Ndi Egwu

The title track, "Eze Nwanye," relates the "Mami Wata" legend, which, in different forms, can be found throughout Africa and the diaspora. The invocation at the beginning of the song states, "Ekene kene eze nwanyi," "Greetings to the Queen, our mother, the mother of the waters." The song further asks for her divine protection: "Great praise to the Queen, the one who lives in the ocean, the most beautiful, the lady of all ladies, we are asking for your protection sailing on oshimiri (the deep sea). When you bless us we will have a good life."

The choruses, "Onye o gaziri orie" and "Uwa e, uwa bu ogaziere onye orie" mean, respectively, "Whoever gets the blessing enjoys life" and "If you are blessed you will enjoy this world."

Bob Sir Merenge & his Igbo Cultural Singers - Eze Nwanyi

"Onwu Bu Onye Ilo" ("Death is the Enemy in this World") is a standard praise song, a tribute to those who have passed on. At the beginning a man is crying, and his comrades console him, saying "Uwa anyi no aburo nbe anyi," "This world is not our home." The singer recites the names of the fallen, preceded by the phrase "Onwu gburu ogaranya" ("Death killed a great man") and followed by the chorus "Amaghi m onye irom" ("I don't know my enemy"):

Bob Sir Merenge & his Igbo Cultural Singers - Onwu Bu Onye Ilo

Download Eze Nwanyi as a zipped file here. Many thanks to my wife Priscilla for interpreting these songs.

John email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-45916421040849184762011-10-13T02:02:00.001-05:002011-10-13T02:02:00.455-05:00Adventures in Angularity

I hate to say this, but it's been ages since Ebenezer Obey has waxed anything worth listening to. For the last twenty years he's been devoting himself to spreading the Gospel, only occasionally setting foot in a studio to record something of a religious nature. Not that I'm putting that sort of thing down, of course. It's just that I miss the days when the Chief Commander was on the cutting edge of jùjú music, notably with a series of LPs in the early '80s that combined deep Yoruba roots music and funky R&B influences.

I'm going to post the 1980 LP Current Affairs here (Decca DWAPS 488, released in the UK as Oti OTI 488), not because it's my favorite of these recordings (that honor goes to Eyi Yato, also released in 1980, which I'll probably make available in the future) but because more than any other record it displays the brilliant blend of Yoruba harmonies, off-beat blue notes and discordant, "angular" sounds that defines the '80s Obey style. As an illustration of what I mean, check out the passage in "Oba Sijuade" that begins at the 6:35 mark:

Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey & his Inter-Reformers Band - Oba Sijuade

"Oba Sijuade" comemmorates the coronation in 1980 of Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade as the Ooni of Ifè, one of the foremost traditional leaders of the Yoruba people. Legend has it that at the site of the present-day city of Ile-Ifè the supreme being Olódùmarè directed the creation of the world. The god Obàtálá created human beings out of clay, while the god Oduduwa became the first leader of the Yoruba nation. It is said that all of the succeeding Oonis are direct descendents of Oduduwa. In his 1969 release On the Town (Decca WAPS 28), Obey also paid tribute to then-prince Sijuade.

The great Ibadan Flood Disaster of 1980, in which the Ogunpa River overflowed, killing at least 100 people and laying a good part of the city waste, is commemorated on side 2 of Current Affairs. It is ironic that on August 26 of this year, five days short of the 31st anniversary of that calamity, and despite many years of attempts to channelize the Ogunpa, the river overwhelmed its banks again, exacting a similar toll in lives and property:

Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey & his Inter-Reformers Band - Ogunpa Flood Disaster

Download Current Affairs as a zipped file here. In the course of researching this post, I was saddened to read of the death on August 23 of Juliana Olaide Obey-Fabiyi, Ebenezer Obey's wife of 48 years. I'm sure everyone reading this will join me in offering Mr. Obey their deepest condolences.

John firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-22827652482525791552011-10-09T14:23:00.012-05:002011-10-10T18:07:39.648-05:00A Heads Up

Kudos to Siemon Allen at the always-worthwhile Electric Jive blog for Miriam Makeba - Tracks Less Travelled (1958-98), a fascinating overview of the work of the great South African diva. There are plenty of audio rarities here and lots of little-known facts. Altogether a must-read and must-listen, and highly recommended!John email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-7509600726644263952011-10-06T19:43:00.000-05:002012-08-07T06:06:26.401-05:00Smooth as Butter

Congo music doesn't get much smoother and more elegant than Bumba Massa's 1982 outing L'Argent et la Femme (Star Musique SMP6017), recorded in Togo with the participation of Bopol Mansiamina, Syran Mbenza and Lokassa ya Mbongo, among others. When I posted Bumba's 1983 LP Dovi earlier this year, I promised this one would be coming your way also. Enjoy!

Bumba Massa - L'Argent et la Femme

Bumba Massa - Africa Music

Bumba Massa - Confession

Bumba Massa - Mbanda Akoma Television

Download L'Argent et la Femme as a zipped file here.

John firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-61444107819106765842011-10-01T15:55:00.000-05:002011-10-01T15:57:00.145-05:00Cameroon Fever Vol. 1

Ken Abrams does it again with Cameroon Fever Vol. 1, a tasty collection of tracks from that country, mostly from the golden '80s, when Makossa, Makassy, Tchamassi and Bikutsi ruled.

A few notes about some of the artists here: Besides being a prolific artist in his own right, Isidore Tamwo in the '80s was the producer of Sam Fan Thomas, who achieved world fame with his smash "African Typic Collection," among others. Andre-Marie Tala popularized the Tchamassi rhythm and won a court case against James Brown for plagiarizing his hit "Hot Koki." Betuel Enola is better known as a backup singer for the likes of Manu Dibango and Lapiro de Mbanga, but she did make at least one solo recording, Propriete Privée, from which the song "Oa" is taken. The Golden Sounds, led by Jean Paul Zé Bella, are arguably one of the most influential African groups of all time, thanks to their 1986 smash "Zangalewa," better known as "Waka Waka," whose serpentine history is discussed by Uchenna Ikonne here.

Johnny Tezano acheived fame in the '80s with a synthesis of Camerounian and Congolese music that he called Ma-kwassa, while Ebanda Manfred is best known as the author of the song "Ami," made famous by Bebe Manga (and which you can download here). Jean Bikoko Aladin, who passed away last year, was one of the founders of modern Camerounian music, who popularized the Assiko style in the early '60s.

1. Emancipée Mariama - Isidore Tamwo

2. Celle Qui T'A Aime - Andre-Marie Tala

3. Oa - Betuel Enola

4. Maladie Difficile - Golden Sounds

5. Bobe Na Bongo - Cella Stella

6. S.O.S Mon Coeur - Marcel Tjahe

7. Balong - Maurice Njoume

8. Carreau Magique - Johnny Tezano

9. Baby Na Mamy Na - Ebanda Manfred

10. Humanisme African - Tonye Jackson

11. A Yiga Tchome - Jean Bikoko Aladin Et L'Assiko Rigueur

12. Pane Pane - Georges Seba

13. Mengabo Wo Dze - Alao Javis

Download Cameroon Fever Vol. 1 here. And explore Ken Abrams's artwork here.

John firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-17380922426007651382011-09-14T08:29:00.002-05:002011-09-14T21:35:51.818-05:00From the Banks of the Oubangui River

The music of the Central African Republic is little-known. There are some excellent recordings of traditional music on the Ocora label (Empire Centrafricain: Musique Gbáyá/Chants à Penser [558 524, 1977] is a standout), but its "modern" artists are often overlooked in favor of those of the CAR's neighbors, Cameroun and the two Congos.

Some may have wondered if there is a serious music "scene" in the CAR at all, but as recounted in a fascinating post in Matt Lavoie's African Music Treasures blog, indeed there has been since 1954, when Prosper Mayélé founded Tropical Jazz, which became the house band at Bangui's Le Rex club. As is the tendency in African music, Tropical Jazz spawned splits and sub-splits, giving rise to Orchestre Centraficain, Vibro Jazz and Tropical Fiesta. A group called Zokela, founded in 1981, in 1999 split into four different Zokela permutations. For samples of music from several of the groups I've mentioned, I would refer you to Matt's well-researched article.

It has not been my practice to post more recent, commercially-available recordings on Likembe, but as it apparently has long been out of print, I am making available here RCA: Centrafrica Compil (Déclic 50 608, 1997), which is a pretty good overview of the Central African music scene, at least as it existed in the late '90s. I regret that I can't give you any information about the musicians. As you might expect, the sound owes a lot to Congo music, but there are plenty of uniquely Central African touches (take note especially of Francis Gon's "Caresse de Î Les"). Enjoy!

Musiki - Magalina

Super Stars - Molamogui

Melo Divine - Géné

Mobanza Ley - Troumba Lô

Jezu Lokota - Mama Ateka

Ouaka Stars - Ma Yvonna

Mayele - Wo Ti Mo Bè Mo

Canon Star - M.P.S.

Petit Tchadien - Pauvreté

Centro Mix - Sanza Nostalgie

Zokela - Injection

Francis Gon - Caresse des Î Les

Africa Musica - Tout Se Paye Ici Bas

Download RCA: Centrafrica Compil as a zipped file here. I suspect that some of the tracks on this CD were mislabeled. If someone has information about the correct track-listing, let me know and I'll make a correction.

Enjoy this video by Canon Star, one of the groups featured on Centrafrica Compil:

John firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-26811230508313525452011-09-07T18:18:00.001-05:002011-09-07T18:18:59.529-05:00l'ANPAC Presente Vol. 3

Some sweet sounds conclude our presentation of the three-volume series l'ANPAC Presente with Volume 3 (AN 400 3, 1984). Like musicians on Volumes One and Two, Pierre Claver Zeng Ebome, who performs "Eyala," has been active in Gabonese politics for many years, holding various posts in the government of President Omar Bongo as well as being elected to Parliament. Norbert Epandja, who gives us the lovely "N'oublie Jamais," has been involved in politics of a different sort, as president of the Musicians' Union of Gabon. I can tell you nothing about the other talented musicians here. Enjoy l'ANPAC Presente Vol. 3!

Pierre-Claver Zeng Ebome - Eyala

Angèle Revignet - Iyanoayile

Santo Backita - Idja

Julien Nziengui Mouelle - Julien Mwana

Norbert Epandja - N'oublie Jamais

Download l'ANPAC Presente Vol. 3 as a zipped file here.

John email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-6164438621595494262011-09-04T10:27:00.005-05:002011-09-06T19:21:14.467-05:00l'ANPAC Presente Vol. 2

Back in the '80s the three volume collection of Gabonese music l'ANPAC Presente was frequently on our turntable and, dubbed onto C90 cassettes, our auto sound system. Continuing Likembe's presentation of this interesting series, l'ANPAC Presente Vol. 2 (ANPAC AN 400 2, 1984) features a couple of songs that are among our all-time favorites.

Mack Joss is the only musician here known to me, and all I can tell you is that he's been on the Gabonese music scene for a while - at least since the 1970s. "Mounombi" here is a really nice adaptation of Gabonese folklore, as is "Motobetheyi," performed by Pierre Emboni, who in addition to his musical efforts, was a leader of one of Gabon's political parties and Minister of Youth and Sports in the late '90s. "Souviens Toi" by Yvon Dawens is a nice song in the Congo-Cameroun musical continuum, but the real standout of this LP is Obiang Okane's "Dokira," which incorporates the mvet, a traditional musical instrument of the Fang people of Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and southern Cameroun. I hope you'll enjoy l'ANPAC Presente Vol. 2 as much as I do:

Mack Joss - Mounombi

Pierre Emboni - Motobetheyi

Yvon Dawens - Souviens Toi

Obiang Okane - Dokira

Download l'ANPAC Presente Vol. 2 as a zipped file here. For those interested in learning more about the mvet, featured in "Dokira," I would recommend Francis Bebey's magisterial African Music: A People's Art (Lawrence Hill & Co., 1975), and also the LP Gabon: Chantres du Quotidien/Chantres de l'Epopee (Ocora 558 515, 1981). The mvet plays a role in traditional Fang society very similar to that of the kora among the Mandinka peoples of West Africa, as an accompaniment to epic ballads, the performance of which is said to last all night. From Gabon: Chantres du Quotidien/Chantres de l'Epopee, here is an extract from one of those performances, performed by Akwé Obiang (pictured below):

Akwé Obiang - Chant Épique du Mvet (Fragment)

John email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-5459104099060577976.post-20859527041090761532011-09-02T23:58:00.003-05:002011-09-07T18:27:30.789-05:00l'ANPAC Presente: Vol. 1

The small country of Gabon has never loomed large in the African music scene, although artists like Pierre Akendengue and Oliver N'goma have certainly made their mark. Back in the 1980s, though, the Libreville radio station Africa No. 1 and its powerful signal ruled the African airwaves, and along with Gabon's first modern recording studio, Mademba, founded around the same time, brought increased attention to musicians from the country.

Africa No. 1 was the inspiration of Gabonese President-for-life Omar Bongo, who apparently sought to use his country's oil wealth to raise its prestige in the world. Another Bongo initiative, l'Agence National de Promotion Artistique et Culturelle (ANPAC), in 1984 issued a three-volume series of recordings, l'ANPAC Presente, showcasing a number of popular musicians of the decade.

I can't tell you much about the musicians on Vol. 1 (ANPAC AN 400 1), presented here, or on Vols. 2 and 3, which will follow shortly. Hilarion Nguema, the best known of these, founded Orchestre Afro-Success in the early '80s and scored a number of hits, notably 1988's Crise Economique. The Wikipedia entry for Jean-Boniface Assélé describes a politician and brother-in-law of Omar Bongo, but makes no mention of a musical career, which leads me to question if they are indeed the same person (see update below). The other artists draw a complete blank on Google.

I think you will agree with me that these mellow sounds have congruences with the music of Congo and Cameroun, with some unique local touches. Enjoy!

Hilarion Nguema - Collé, Collé

Marcel Djabioh - Mwa Nkala

Jean-Boniface Asssélé - Joie de Vivre

Itsiembu Bi-Mbin - Monde Nouveau

Jo-Man Anguilet - Iwengi Sono

Download l'ANPAC Presente Vol. 1 as a zipped file here. There's an interesting coda to the story of Africa No. 1. The radio station left the airwaves for a number of weeks earlier this year, apparently a result of the political crisis and civil war in Libya. Libyan Jamahiriya Broadcasting was a 52% shareholder, and when Libya's assets were frozen, the station was unable to pay its bills. You can read the story here and here.

My apologies for Likembe's three-month hiatus, by the way. A lot of personal issues intervened, but I hope to keep things going on a more regular basis from now on.

Update: Thanks to commenter Peter for confirming that the Jean-Boniface Assélé of this LP and the one described in Wikipedia are indeed one and the same.

John email@example.com


text:
Fresno County Sheriff's Department, Fresno California
Excerpted from the website description:
- The Fresno County Sheriff's Department is a full Service Law Enforcement Agency with a long proud history and tradition of providing professional law enforcement service to the people of Fresno County. The varied law enforcement services include both metropolitan and rural policing. The agency serves a total population of approximately 195,000 residents, which includes contracted police services for the cities of Mendota, Orange Cove, and San Joaquin. The Sheriff's Department patrols more than 6,000 square miles of central California with a diversity of terrain that varies from open farm lands of the western county to rugged mountain peaks of over 11,000 feet to the east in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The agencies 1000+ employees are dedicated to the investigation, prevention and suppression of criminal offenses. The agency provides Bailiffs and Court Security to 47 courtrooms countywide. Court Services Personnel move approximately 67,500 inmates to and from the courts on an annual bases. The Sheriff's Department operates four detention facilities that house and care for an average daily population of 2150 inmates. The Sheriff's Department delivers field services to county residents from four rural substations. Some of the field service programs that the department provides include Patrol, Air Support Unit (helicopters), Mounted Horse Unit, Canine Unit, Bike Unit, and Boating Enforcement Unit. Additionally, the Sheriff's Department provides numerous community programs through Crime Prevention and Youth Services programs.
Additional Information
Related Domains
External Links
- 9
- Air Support
- Areas
- Auto Theft
- Boating Enforcement
- Bureaus
- Central California
- Civil
- Corrections
- Crime
- Deputy
- Detective
- Employment
- Forensic
- Forensic Laboratory
- Forensic Services
- Fresno
- Fresno County
- Fresno County Law Enforcement
- Fresno County Sheriff
- Fresno County Sheriff's Department
- Fresno Jail
- Helicopter
- History
- Horse
- Inmate
- Inmates
- Jail
- Law Enforcement
- Megan's Law
- Mounted
- Mounted Horse
- Officer
- Police Services
- Press Release
- Press Releases
- Rescue
- Search
- Sheriff History
- Special Teams

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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text:
The competition watchdog has warned that the major supermarkets and petrol retailers are in its sights as it lobbies for increased powers to combat any misuse of their market clout. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is focusing on price-sharing arrangements among petrol retailers and supermarket suppliers who say they are being squeezed by the major chains. "If we judge that there is behaviour out there that should be against the act but for various reasons isn't, then I think we have an obligation to stand up and say so," ACCC chairman
More than 1100 people and 400 companies were nabbed by the Australian Tax Office for cheating over their tax and superannuation obligations in the first nine months of the 2012 tax year. The rate of action is on track to eclipse the previous year, when the tax office clocked up 1567 prosecutions. This year, 30 people have been convicted of serious tax crime offences; they landed jail sentences from two months to nine years. The group includes one man prosecuted under Project Wickenby and imprisoned for two years for falsely claiming interest deductions on a $275,000 fraudulent loan, and another who received more than four years' jail for trying to obtain $540,000-plus of GST refunds.
The Australian Financial Review


text:
Arthritis & Rheumatism, Volume 60,
October 2009 Abstract Supplement
The 2009 ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting
Philadelphia October 16-21, 2009.
Active Immunization with IFN Kinoid Induces Polyclonal Antibodies That Neutralize IFN From Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients
Mathian1, Alexis, Amoura1, Zahir, Adam2, Estelle, Colaone2, Fabien, Hoekman3, Marco F.M., Vandepapeliere2, Pierre, Haroche1, Julien
Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital, Paris, France
NEOVACS SA, Paris, France
Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
Department of Internal Medicine, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
Department of Virology, Saint-Vincent de Paul Hospital, Paris, France
Passive administration of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) has been shown to be effective for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, but its therapeutic use is limited by the immunogenicity of the antibodies. Additionally, several cytokines such as interferon-alpha (IFNa), the key cytokine implicated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), have different subtypes, which make very difficult and unlikely their neutralization by a single mAb. The Kinoid® immunization process developed by Neovacs is a novel approach that targets cytokines by inducing natural polyclonal antibody response and circumvents the induction of the anti-mAbs response. Kinoids® are heterocomplexes made by conjugating the targeted cytokine to a carrier protein such as the keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH).
In the current study, FVB human IFNa2b transgenic mice were immunized with IFNa2b Kinoid (IFN-K) formulated in ISA51 adjuvant (SEPPIC). Control mice were immunized with inactivated IFNa2b emulsified in ISA51. This inactivated IFNa2b control was manufactured the same way as IFN-K but in absence of KLH.
Only mice immunized with IFN-K generated neutralizing antibodies against IFNa2b.Furthermore, these antibodies neutralized all the 13 human IFNa subtypes, as assessed by the compendial Madin Darby bovine kidney-vesicular stomatitis virus infection assay. When the assay was performed with sera from SLE patients as a source of IFNa, the protective IFNa activity was neutralized by these polyclonal antibodies. However, the antibodies induced by IFN-K immunization neutralize neither IFNb nor IFNg. In vitro stimulation with native human IFNa2b of splenocytes from IFN-K immunized mice did not induce a cellular response, whereas it did with IFN-K and KLH antigens.
Our study shows that in mice tolerant to human IFNa2b:
Active immunization with IFN-K induces polyclonal antibodies that specifically neutralize all subtypes of human IFNa,
Active immunization with IFN-K breaks B-cell but not T-cell tolerance to IFNa thus demonstrating the safety of the product,
Polyclonal antibodies produced by active immunization with IFN-K are able to neutralize human IFNa present in sera from SLE patients,
The IFNa2b-kinoid vaccine is a promising new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of SLE.
To cite this abstract, please use the following information:
Mathian, Alexis, Amoura, Zahir, Adam, Estelle, Colaone, Fabien, Hoekman, Marco F.M., Vandepapeliere, Pierre, et al; Active Immunization with IFN Kinoid Induces Polyclonal Antibodies That Neutralize IFN From Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients [abstract]. Arthritis Rheum 2009;60 Suppl 10 :1050
DOI: 10.1002/art.26127


text:
Rumored he's dating Justin Timberlake's girlfriend following the charity trek in Tanzania, Lupe Fiasco responds to it by explaining that they are only close friends.
Rapper Lupe Fiasco has laughed off rumors he struck up a romance with Jessica Biel after the pair climbed Mount Kilimanjaro earlier this month, January 2010. Fiasco was linked to the actress, the girlfriend of pop star Justin Timberlake, after the charity trek to the top of the Tanzanian peak.
But while he counts Biel as a close friend, he is adamant their relationship is strictly platonic. He tells MTV, "She's a very lovely person. I do consider her a friend. She's very dope (cool), (a) very capable young woman. Very smart. But we are not dating or romantically intertwined in any way. But she's good peoples (sic)."
He adds, "It is what it is. Nobody really called me on it. I've seen it out in the world. But nah, she's good peoples. She definitely surprised me as far as how good and honest of a person she is. I do rock with her."


text:
Selected Date:
Daily Devotions
Daily Devotions Podcast
Truth In Real Life
Truth In Real Life Podcast
"This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working." (Isaiah 28:29)
Have you ever heard someone called a "workaholic"? What is a workaholic, anyway? It is a nickname given to people who work all the time. In the morning, all they can think about is working. At noontime, you have to remind them to eat lunch because they get so caught up in their work! And it is hard for them to go home and relax in the evenings, because all they seem to be able to think about is work. Work, work, work! Some people really do just love to work.
For most of us, though, work is not very lovable. When we think of fun things to do, working is not at the top of the "fun things to do" list. We are tempted to be lazy and stay away from work completely! We have to "work" to make ourselves even want to work!
God is not like us. He is not at all lazy, but He does not have to be a workaholic, either, in order to get done everything He gets done. God is sovereign. He is omnipotent ("om-NIH-po-tent," all-powerful), omniscient ("om-NISH-ent," all-knowing), and omnipresent ("om-nih-PREZ-ent," all-present). So whatever He decides to do, He just does it, and He does it with the best possible quality! God's works are all excellent. Deuteronomy 3:24 – "O LORD GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might."
Because He is Who He is, the LORD's works have to be excellent. He is God. Since Jesus is God, He did many wonderful works (including supernatural miracles) while He lived on Earth. And He did so many wonderful things that only a "few" of them could be fit into the Bible. The disciple John wrote, "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written" (see John 21:25).
God created the universe. God redeems sinners from their sin. God cares for His people. God deserves honor for all He is and all He does.
Now here is an important question to think about: If God is able to do anything, and if He is willing to glorify Himself by doing great works, do you think He might be able and willing to help you in your need?
We can trust in the excellent works of the LORD Jehovah.
My Response: » Do I remember that God is all-powerful, all-wise, and all-present? » How is God working in my life today?
"I know whom I have believed."
Daniel Webster Whittle was born in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, on November 22, 1840. Born to a very godly mother, Daniel Whittle learned about God at a young age. He grew up learning Bible stories and Scripture verses, but he struggled with whether or not to give his life to Christ.
At age 21, Daniel served in the military during the Civil War. In 1861 he enlisted as a second lieutenant and left to fight for one year.
"Major Whittle," as he would come to be known, was injured in the Civil War and lost his right arm – so he returned home. While in the war hospital, he wanted something to read. He picked up a New Testament to fill his time. While he was reading it, a nurse approached him and asked him to speak to another soldier who was dying. Daniel declined, but the nurse pressed him further. Daniel tells this story:
"I dropped on my knees and held the boy's hand in mine. In a few broken words I confessed my sins and asked Christ to forgive me. When I arose from my knees, he was dead. A look of peace had come over his troubled face, and I cannot but believe that God, Who used him to bring me to the Savior, used me to lead him to trust Christ's precious blood and find pardon. I hope to meet him in heaven."
Shortly after this experience, Daniel Whittle met another man who would influence his life deeply. He met D.L. Moody – the famous evangelist. Mr. Moody recognized that Daniel had musical gifts and encouraged him to join him in his work. Daniel agreed. Over the years, he wrote over 200 hymns, including "The Banner of the Cross," "There Shall Be Showers of Blessing," and "Moment by Moment."
How are you using the gifts and spiritual heritage that God has given you? God gives us chances every day to witness. Are you witnessing?
1 Peter 3:15 – But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.
Christ (the "Anointed One")
Matthew 1:16 – "And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ."
No. Titus 2:14 – "[Jesus] Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."
"Evangelism" comes from the Greek-based word evangel, which means "good news" in English. To "evangelize" is to tell the Gospel message of Jesus Christ to those who do not yet know or understand God's plan of salvation. Evangelism is part of one of the most important teachings that Jesus gave the believers. Matthew 28:19-20 – "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."
© Copyright Kids 4 Truth International. All Rights Reserved.


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All trace of Ulmo's urging Earendel to undertake the voyage to Valinor has disappeared (see S$17 note 3); but it is over the wolf's back (all at once he was sure that than cold and hard, Rosecrans remained on the line of Murfreesborough and Nashville. Ispan was not stupid, only awestruck, and Falion about of a thief than the man from a stop as abruptly as if it had struck a steel wall.Dvdrip do filme encontro as escuras dublado rmvb filme encontro explosivo dublado completo encontro explosivo dublado dvdrip avi
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Get an update on changes of the IACR web-page here. For questions, contact newsletter (at) iacr.org. You can also receive updates via:
To receive your credentials via mail again, please click here.
You can also access the full news archive.
Further sources to find out about changes are CryptoDB, ePrint RSS, ePrint Web, Event calender (iCal).
The candidate should have solid background in mathematics, computer science, electrical engineering or a related field, and a keen interest to apply theory to practice to make a practical impact. The stipend is Ł14,790 per year. However, the full amount is for EU students only; for non-EU students, please contact feng.hao (at) ncl.ac.uk for inquiries.
Application deadline: 14 August 2011 (until the position is filled).


text:
On 2/27/06, Charles Scott <cscott at gaslightmedia dot com> wrote:
> I've been beating my head against this for a while and finding no
> answers. We have a number of m0n0wall AP's using Soekris boards with Senao
> 2511CD Plus EXT2 cards. Just about everything we try connects fine.
> However, I ended up with a new Compaq Presario V2555us with XP that has a
> Broadcom b/g card in it and the silly thing just won't connect (associate
> - not a DHCP problem). It connects to everything else without any
> problems.
Yep, and good luck getting it to work. About 75% of b/g or a/b/g
cards I've tried will *not* associate with FreeBSD 4.11's hostap no
matter what you do. Sometimes messing with the mode settings, power
save settings, updating firmware or drivers on the laptop might help
(all those on the laptop, nothing you can do with the m0n0wall side).
But I'd say chances are very, very good that it just won't work.
which is why this FAQ reads as it does:


text:
26So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. 27What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. 28Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30And even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Enter another bible reference:
v 2.2.7
10 February 2011


text:
Published: August 6, 2013 - 12:47 PM | Updated: August 7, 2013 - 04:27 PM
Diebold is offering early retirement to 1,200 U.S. employees and freezing pensions as it restructures after losing money in its second quarter and lowering its outlook for the remainder of the year.
Diebold on Tuesday reported it lost $98.6 million, or $1.55 a share, on revenue of $707.1 million for the second quarter ending June 30. That compares to a profit of $25.3 million, or 39 cents per share, on revenue of $743.2 million a year ago.
Shares in the $3 billion Green maker of automated teller machines and security systems fell $1.73, or 5.2 percent, to $31.31. Shares are up 4.3 percent, including dividends, since Jan. 1 and are up 0.4 percent from a year ago.
"Clearly the results we announced today are not in line with our capabilities and potential as a company," Andy Mattes, president and chief executive officer, said in a statement. "... To get more competitive in the marketplace and back on a winning trajectory, we will focus on achieving an appropriate cost structure and investing in the systems and processes necessary to support sustainable growth. This is where the majority of our time and effort will be focused in the near term. Much of our success lies within our control."
Mattes, 52, a former Hewlett-Packard and Siemens executive, was hired as Diebold's CEO in early June.
The company said it expects to have adjusted earnings per share of $1.30 to $1.40 for 2013, with full year revenue down 5 percent to 7 percent from 2012. Using generally accepted accounting principles, Diebold said it expects to lose $1.10 to $1.60 per share this year.
The company said that because it needs to invest in its global service systems, information technology infrastructure and financial shared services to support growth, "earnings will continue to be under pressure in the near term as it makes these necessary investments."
Mattes said the overhaul of its information technology infrastructure will lay the foundation for solid growth and performance.
"This requires heavy lifting," he told analysts in a conference call. "The journey will last at least two to three years. ... However, it will enable us to drive continued productivity enhancement to position us for long-term growth."
Diebold previously announced it was seeking to save $100 million to $150 million by the end of 2015. It announced today the company has already identified $150 million in targeted savings to be completed by the end of 2014.
The company said a pension freeze and voluntary early retirements are part of its efforts to get more aggressive with cost savings.
The pension freeze affects about 3,000 U.S. employees who joined the company prior to July 1, 2003. That is also the date when Diebold stopped offering defined benefit plans for new employees. The freeze does not affect current retirees, who will continue to receive their pensions, a company spokesman said.
Freezing the pension plans will save Diebold about $30 million per year and reduce its underfunded status from $150 million at the end of 2012 to $50 million at the end of 2013, the company said. The company said it has no plans to make voluntary payments to the pension plan for the foreseeable future.
Diebold expects to take a second-half charge of $40 million to $70 million this year to cover pension and severance costs, depending on how many people take voluntary early retirement. The early retirement program is expected to save Diebold $15 million to $25 million annually, again depending on how many people decide to retire.
Diebold at the start of 2013 had about 7,000 U.S. employees, including about 1,900 in the greater Akron area. Current headcount in the United States is about 6,700 people.
The company said it does not know how many people will voluntarily retire but said the industry average for these programs show 25 percent to 45 percent of eligible people typically accept. If all 1,200 eligible people voluntarily retire — Diebold calls that highly unlikely — that would amount to a 17.9 percent reduction in Diebold's workforce based on 6,700 current employees. About 350 local Diebold employees will be eligible for the voluntary retirement program.
Bradley Richardson, executive vice president and chief financial officer, told analysts that Diebold will repatriate $250 million in cash from outside the United States to pay down domestic debt and enhance liquidity.
Diebold also has an agreement in principle to pay $48 million to the United States to settle an ongoing investigation with the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission, Richardson said. In addition, Diebold also has a tentative agreement to pay $30 million to settle a class-action lawsuit based on the company's 2008 financial restatement, he said.
Jim Mackinnon can be reached at 330-996-3544 or email@example.com.


text:
Tweets from @TBHomeTeam/writers
MORE from our HomeTeam writers.
Tue. January 14, 2014 | Rodney Page | Email
Keith Harrington may have renewed some interest from college coaches after Saturday's Blue-Grey All-American Bowl. The running back scored four touchdowns and gained more than 300 total yards to help lead the South to a 47-44 double overtime win and was named the game's most valuable player.
But it's too late to keep Harrington in the area. He committed to Washington State in May and he's sticking with that commitment. In fact, Harrington is headed to Pullman, Wash., on Thursday to take an official visit, his first trip to the school.
"I'm still going to Washington State," Harrington said. "I like the offense they run. I'll be a slot receiver. I'm not looking at any other schools."
Harrington, who chose the Cougars over Arizona, Massachusetts, Florida International, Marshall, Ball State and Northern Illinois, was one of the few bright spots for Northeast this season. Prior to the season eight of his teammates transferred to other schools. A foot injury kept him out of preseason workouts and the preseason game.
When he finally got healthy, Harrington found himself surrounded by young and inexperienced players. The Vikings went 1-9 and didn't score until the fifth game of the season.
In the Blue-Grey game, Harrington had a chance to prove what he could do with and against other top players.
'"It was great being out there with all those other top recruits," Harrington said. "I'm at 100 percent right now and I just wanted to show what I could do."


text:
After a decade of decline, an abandoned church finds its meaning
Inside the former Immaculate Conception Church at the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Edward Street, where the last Mass was held on a midsummer Sunday in 2005, a dozen squares of plywood paneling hang on the walls in place of the stations of the cross.
Slivers of blue sky are visible through holes in the church's roof, through which water has trickled into the building for years on either side of the empty sanctuary, warping its wooden columns and causing the plaster to flake away like dry skin. Polycarbonate panels cover many of the remaining stained glass windows, though most of the church's chandeliers and wooden pews remain perfectly intact.
Given the deplorable state of Buffalo's many disused churches, the structurally sound Immaculate Conception is in remarkably good shape. Which is why Dennis Maher, a Buffalo architect, artist and teacher whose work reorganizes the detritus of Buffalo's past into radical visions of its future, purchased it earlier this week for $35,000.
He plans to convert it into a living laboratory for artistic and architectural experimentation, a place he calls "A Center for the Urban Imaginary" designed to nurture the city's collective imagination.
Assembly House 150, as Maher is retitling the former church, will house classroom space for students, a gallery and studio where artists and tradespeople will collaborate on architectural and artistic projects and a for-profit design and building studio that will help foster a new crop of buildings in the city.
The repair of the building also will be central to Maher's project.
"I'm really interested in engaging with the repair of the building as an artistic process," Maher said, adding that he has invited the Buffalo tradespeople he worked with for a recent exhibition in the Albright-Knox Art Gallery to work in the new space. "Over time, what I'm imagining is that the place will start to accrue these interventions and installations ... One of the things that is very important to me is that this presents the opportunity to have a more public site, to have people come and to do projects of a larger scale and to involve university students."
Assembly House is an extension of his ongoing Fargo House project, Maher's home and studio on the West Side that he has turned into a fascinating living sculpture. As word gets out about his Fargo House project, Maher is getting more and more requests from arts educators and others who want to tour the space. The church, he said, will allow more of the public to view and participate in the work.
"I have a really strong interest in collective projects. By that I mean projects that involve different hands in the mix, multiple authors," Maher said. "I see myself more as a director or facilitator rather than as a kind of top-down orchestrator. I'm interested in understanding more about what other people's ideas and interests are and in trying to create synergies among like-minded groups of people. I see myself as a kind of a synapse. That's what I want to be."
The immediate issue facing the project is the repair of the church's slate roof, a project Maher is undertaking with the help of contractor Chris Ziolkowski, who worked with him during his Albright-Knox residency. Beyond that, Maher characterized the water damage as largely cosmetic and said it is likely to remain exposed as evidence of how the building has changed over time.
"If you look at that, you might say wow, that looks really challenging to repair," Maher said. "I would respond, that's a cosmetic thing, and it doesn't even need to be repaired as much as it needs to be exposed, shored up, attended to, in ways that aren't necessarily the ways we would approach development projects."
In addition to the educational prospects of Assembly House 150, the project also represents a happy achievement in the local preservation movement. For a constellation of complex reasons, from stringent church regulations to historic preservation standards and new building codes, old churches are notoriously difficult and expensive to successfully repurpose.
Maher was able to clinch this property with the help of local real estate agent J-M Reed, a fellow artist and a behind-the-scenes leader in the Buffalo preservation movement. After years of potential buyers and plans that turned out to be unfeasible, Reed convinced the owner of the church and its adjoining rectory to split up the parcels and sell them individually. On the strength of his idea, Maher was able to get the property at a steal.
"Honestly, it's one of my prouder moments in real estate," Reed said. "These buildings are so tough, and everybody blogs about them and rants and raves. It is really complicated to figure out how to deal with them, whether it's a church or whatever. How do you make this space actually viable and not just say we're going to 'preserve' it."
Maher's plans for the church are in some ways as grandiose as those of its original builders, who saw the building as a tribute to a higher power. In his view and that of his collaborators, Assembly House 150 is not only a meeting place for educators, students, artists, thinkers and builders, but a living temple to the human imagination.
What will replace those plywood panels where the stations of the cross once hung will have more to do with architecture and artistry than ecclesiastical narratives. In a city full of crumbling churches, Maher's project has the potential to be a national model for progress.
email: email@example.com


text:
Leading the fight against cystic fibrosis, the Indiana Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will host the ninth annual Lutheran Health Network Wine Opener presented by the Mary Cross Tippmann Foundation at Historic Lincoln Tower Lobby on November 17, 2012. There will be a VIP reception from 5:30-7:00 p.m. with entertainment provided by Kyrou's Music Stuido. The main event will take place from 7:00-10:00 p.m.
"Anyone 21 years or older wishing to positively impact the lives of individuals affected by cystic fibrosis is encouraged to attend," said Lanette Nelson, Development Manager for the Indiana Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. "With nearly 90 cents of every dollar raised going to support research, patrons will have a fabulous time sampling a variety of wine and appetizers while supporting a very worthy cause."
The event features a wide array of delectable wines, many from the world's best known areas. In addition to sampling beverages, guests will also be able to delight in tasty cuisine from several area restaurants. Current participating vendors are Cap n' Cork, Casa Ristorante, Club Soda, DeBrand Fine Chocolates, Blondies Cookies, Bandido's, Geoglein's Catering and the Olive Twist! All guests will have the opportunity to mix and mingle among the fabulous silent auction and also enjoy the instant wine cellar.
To purchase tickets, call (317) 202-9210 or visit: Indiana.cff.org/ftwaynewine. VIP tickets are $250 ($180 is tax-deductible) and main event tickets are $55 ($27 is tax-deductible) with all proceeds benefiting the Indiana Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. All food and drink are included in the ticket price. Event may sell out.
Generous thanks to our current sponsors: Lutheran Health Network, Mary Cross Tippmann Foundation, Cap n' Cork, Pizza Hut of Fort Wayne, Kodiak Enterprises, and The Waynedale News.
The Waynedale News Staff
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