Ceddo (Bande Originale du Film) cover

Ceddo (Bande Originale du Film)

Released

It might be the disco and afro-funk of his biggest hits that made Manu Dibango a household name, but diving into his catalog shows just how broad-ranging his style could be, especially if you take into account all of his work as a composer and arranger (like on this lovely record by Congolese musician Franklin Boukaka). Just a cursory listen brings up reggae, soul, jazz, even rap. Ceddo, the soundtrack to the 1977 film by Senegalese director Ousmane Sembène, is looser, more atmospheric than the tight, almost poliziesco style funk of the library music on African Voodoo. “La Boisson” just marches along at the same pace for two minutes, but is a testament to Dibango’s ability to build ambience by tweaking a few subtle elements. “Morabout” traverses a whole plethora of different scenes and moods, haunting at times, menacing and jubilant elsewhere. 

Megan Iacobini de Fazio

Suggestions
Wede Harer Guzo cover

Wede Harer Guzo

Hailu Mergia, Dahlak Band
Winelight cover

Winelight

Grover Washington Jr.
Harlem Bush Music: Uhuru cover

Harlem Bush Music: Uhuru

Gary Bartz NTU Troop
Bichos cover

Bichos

Raúl Monsalve y los Forajidos
Atom Flower's cover

Atom Flower's

Gino Marinacci
Meow cover

Meow

Maistah Aphrica
Magical Shepherd cover

Magical Shepherd

Miroslav Vitous
Works II - TV/Inst. cover

Works II - TV/Inst.

Ryuichi Sakamoto
Soul Village cover

Soul Village

Walter Bishop Jr.