Maitre Gazonga & L'International Challal - 1984 - Les Jaloux Saboteurs

   Born May 27, 1948 in Am-Timan, capital of the Salamat region in the southeast of Chad , Ahamat Saleh Rougalta known as “Hamed Gazonga” or “Master Gazonga” has been playing football since his childhood (goalkeeper ) then athletics before moving to Ndjamena where he survives with odd jobs.

In 1968, at the age of 20, he decided to take up music and make it his career. He then joined city groups before founding the orchestra L'International Challal, with which he toured throughout the country, going from village to village to broadcast his music and please. In these rural areas marked by poverty and which he knows well, Master Gazonga asks farmers who do not have financial means to pay their entry tickets with foodstuffs (millet, peanuts, rice, sorghum, rice, fish). dried, chickens, eggs, beans, etc.). Thus, he can resell them on the markets of the capital Ndjamena and pay his musicians. His numerous tours in all regions of the country will make L'International Challal one of the most popular groups in Chad.

In 1984, Maître Gazonga moved to Abidjan ( Ivory Coast ) where he rubbed shoulders with various artists and recorded “Les Jaloux Saboteurs” at the JBZ studio, the flagship title of his first album which immediately became a huge success. Drawing inspiration from his life in exile, he recounts the difficulties encountered by a foreigner living far from his country, the jealousies of the natives who deny him his modest success and the experience that a foreigner always faces.

Despite this popularity, he decided to return home where he released cassettes. In 1986, his famous title “Les Jaloux Saboteurs” was part of the soundtrack of the film “Black Mic Mac” by Thomas Gillou and Cheikh Doucouré, with Jacques Villeret and Isaac de Bankolé as star actors.

One of the most popular singers in his country, Maître Gazonga died on April 1, 2006 at the National General Reference Hospital (HGRN) in Ndjamena, Chad , following sudden and violent headaches. This unfortunate event occurring on April Fool's Day (April 1), his public did not initially believe in his disappearance.

TRACKLIST:

A1 Les Jaloux Saboteurs

A2 Koysse

B1 Fatoumata Kante

B2 Kelina

Credits:

Bass Guitar – Niamké Louis

Chorus – Rastayou, Saleh (2)

Congas [Tumba] – Karim Ayinla*

Drums – Téoquer Léon

Guitar [Accompanying] – Mamboué Maurice

Guitar [Solo] – Ningayo Issa

Saxophone [Tenor] – Beugré Edouard

Trumpet – Kabiné Traoré*

Vocals – Hamed Gazonga*

Recorded At – JBZ Recording Studio, Abidjan

Distributed By – Celluloid

Produced For – AS Records

Gjurmët - 1984 - Gjurmët

 Gjurmët - 1984 - Gjurmët

Gjurmët (trans. The Traces) was a Yugoslav new wave band formed in Pristina. The band is notable for being one of the first Yugoslav rock bands formed by Kosovo Albanians and the first new wave band from SAP Kosovo. Gjurmët was formed and led by Migjen Kelmendi (vocals, rhythm guitar). The band released only one self-titled album before disbanding in 1986. The band made three one-off reunions, in 1988, 2015 and 2019. 

The band was formed in 1980 by Migjen Kelmendi (vocals, rhythm guitar), the son of the writer and journalist Ramiz Kelmendi, inspired by the expansion of the Yugoslav new wave scene. The lineup also included Armando Gjini (piano, synthesizer), Tomor Kurshumliu (vocals, bass guitar), Gazmend Hasbahta (lead guitar), Petrit Riza (drums) and Bekim Dyla (lead guitar). During the same year, the band recorded their first song, being the first new wave song recorded in SAP Kosovo.

In 1982 the band recorded the song "Karrigat" ("Chair"), which Radio Television of Pristina refused to play due to its political-related lyrics. Afterwards the band recorded "Mikrofoni" ("Microphones"), which also had political lyrics but was accepted by Radio Television of Pristina. In 1984 Armando Gjini joined the band as the keyboardist. During the same year, the band recorded the material for their debut album, which was released the following year as a self-titled album. The reason for the delay was the controversial album cover, which featured dancers performing the traditional Albanian "eagle dance", making the shape of a double-headed eagle with their posture. Eventually, the album was released by Radio Television of Pristina, on compact cassette only, featuring the band's photo on the front cover; in the image, Kelmendi is looking at his wrist watch as a comment on the release delay. The album featured a combination of new wave, post-punk, reggae rock and folk music.

In 1986, the band disbanded due to Migjen Kelmendi having been called for his mandatory service in the Yugoslav army. In 1988 the members of the band got back together, only to record one more song as a nod to their home city, "Heroi i Qytetit Pa Lum" ("Hero of the City without a River").

Gjurmët LP, second album of the band Gjurmët released in 2002. Kelmendi became a journalist and was head of editing for the program Contacto on Radio Television of Pristina (1988-1990), executive producer of Victoria Television of New York (1996) and of the Programme Albanian Satellite (1997-1999), and director of television of Radio Television of Kosovo (2000-2001). He was also the founder of the weekly magazine Epoca (1991) and of the literary magazine MM (1996), and is currently editor of the weekly newspaper Java, which he founded in 2001. He has written four books, including To Change The World: A Short History of The Traces, about his musical career. Kurshumliu got a degree in economy and worked as a counselor in the Executive Council of Kosovo. During the 1989 abolition of the autonomy of the Province of Kosovo, he was fired from his job and moved to London. Riza got a degree in law and continued his career after the dissolution of Gjurmët as a drummer for the band Haliband. Dyla got a degree in architecture. After the rise of Slobodan Milošević to power, he moved to Switzerland, residing in Geneva and working as a designer. Gjini continued his musical career as a composer, and after Milošević's rise to power moved to Croatia.

In 2002, a compilation album LP, featuring a collection of material the band had recorded in the course of the 1980s, was released. The album upon release also featured Migjen Kelmendi's book Gjurmët LP. In 2022 the album was made available at the Internet Archive.

The band reunited in 2015 to perform a concert in Palace of Congresses in Tirana, Albania, on December 29. The concert featured several guest singers from Albania and Kosovo, including the rapper MC Kresha, who, the day before the concert, released the song "Era", recorded in collaboration with Gjurmët. After the 2015 reunion, Gjurmët reunited once again in 2019 and made a concert in the Palace of Youth and Sports in Pristina, on June 12. The money from the concert went to the Prenk Jakova School of Music in honor of its 70th anniversary. Gjurmët also received the Key of Pristina for the concert by the mayor of the city, Shpend Ahmeti.

TRACKLIST:

A1 Kur Dielli Perendon

A2 Ne Tren Për Perzeren

A3 Të Vallëzojmë

A4 Një Grusht Qershi

A5 Kënga Ime E Pakënduar

B1 Njeriu Dhe Kulla

B2 Rrezet Thehen Në Sytë E Tu Të Zez

B3 Era

B4 Të Shtrirë Mbi Kanape

Credits

Migjen Kelmendi – vocals, rhythm guitar

Armando Gjini – piano, synthesizer

Tomor Kurshumliu – vocals, bass guitar

Gazmend Hasbahta - lead guitar

Petrit Riza – drums

Bekim Dyla – lead guitar

Sanguma - Papua Nuova Guinea (1984) 

We start our trip from the second biggest island in the world: Papua New Guinea! 

Papua New Guinea has more languages than any other country, with over 820 indigenous languages, representing 12% of the world's total, but most have fewer than 1,000 speakers. With an average of only 7,000 speakers per language, Papua New Guinea has a greater density of languages than any other nation on earth except Vanuatu. 

Sanguma band

It is estimated that more than one thousand cultural groups exist in Papua New Guinea. Because of this diversity, many styles of cultural expression have emerged. Each group has created its own expressive forms in art, dance, weaponry, costumes,  and of course music. This incredible richness is well represented by the Sanguma band.

Sanguma (ie, "black magic") is an ensemble formed at the National Art School of Port Moresby in 1977 and was among the first Papuan groups to perform abroad. Combining traditional instruments with western ones they give us a whirlwind mix between jazz-rock, local folk and progressive rock.

Their first omonimous album is from 1978, then they released Sanguma 2 in 79 and two live album in 1980.

This album called "Papua New Guinea" is from 1984, released in New Zealand, contains reinterpretation of songs previousle released.

Interesting links about Sangums:

https://malumnalu.blogspot.com/2011/12/tony-subam-and-legend-of-sanguma-band.html

http://yumistori.blogspot.com/2013/04/subam-sanguma-and-sounds-of-80s.html

TRACKLIST

A1 - Garden Song

A2 - Namilai

A3 - Sugu Kupma

A4 - Woma

B1 - Crystal Rapids

B2 - Welcome To The House

B3 - Sosi Sosi

Produced by Terence O'Neill-Joyce.

Group members: Leonard Talatus, lead guitar ; Raymond Hakena, drums ; Apa Saun, bass guitar ; Soru Tony Subam, saxophone, flute ; Tom Agai, trumpet, flugelhorn ; Paul Yabo, trumpet, syntehesiser, piano ; Sebastian Miyoni, vocals ; Buruka Tau, vocals, synthesiser, piano

Publisher: Auckland, N.Z. : Ode, p1984.