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African Rhythms

by Oneness of Juju

/
  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    1. AFRICAN RHYTHMS
    2. KAZI
    3. FUNKY WOOD
    4. TARISHI
    5. MASHARIKI
    6. CHANTS
    7. DON’T GIVE UP
    8. INCOGNITO
    9. POO TOO
    10. LIBERATION DUES
    11. AFRICAN RHYTHMS (45 VERSION PARTS 1 & 2)
    12. AFROBEAT

    Includes unlimited streaming of African Rhythms via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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    Purchasable with gift card

      £12 GBP or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £13 GBP  or more

     

  • African Rhythms (2LP)
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    A1 African Rhythms 07:17
    A2 Kazi 04:20
    A3 Funky Wood 01:18
    A4 Tarishi 03:51
    A5 Mashariki 03:25

    B1 Chants 01:14
    B2 Don’t Give Up 05:41
    B3 Incognito 08:12
    B4 Poo Too 03:43
    B5 Liberation Dues 04:36

    Includes unlimited streaming of African Rhythms via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

1.
2.
Kazi 04:20
3.
Funky Wood 01:18
4.
Tarishi 03:51
5.
Mashariki 03:25
6.
Chants 01:14
7.
8.
Incognito 08:12
9.
Poo Too 03:43
10.
11.
12.
Afrobeat 03:57

about

Strut present a brand new edition of Oneness of Juju’s Afro-jazz classic ‘African Rhythms’, originally released on Black Fire in 1975 and first reissued on Strut in 2002.

For bandleader James “Plunky” Branch, ‘African Rhythms’ marked a significant return to his home town of Richmond, Virginia after a politically charged five years based on the East and West coasts. His personal journey had taken him from activism at Columbia University to San Francisco where Zulu musician Ndikho Xaba used theatre to “resurrect” Afro-Americans with a new African identity. The first incarnation of Plunky’s band, Juju, drew attention to the struggle in South Africa under apartheid, layering heavy Afro rhythms under uncompromising avant garde jazz.

Back in Richmond, Plunky tapped into the mid-Atlantic preference for Southern R&B and gospel: “Juju had always been blues-based and it was a natural progression to add R&B and dance rhythms. It didn’t change our message.”

Produced by Jimmy Gray of Black Fire Records, the new sessions included the title track (“We wanted a song to dance to with a message – ‘you are dancing to African rhythms’”), the positive message of ‘Don’t Give Up’ and political commentary on ‘Liberation Dues’.

Originally just a regional hit on the East coast and in Washington DC specifically, the album gradually spread, influencing the nascent DC go-go scene. The UK revived the album during the rare groove era of the late ‘80s and the title track has since become a soul-jazz favourite worldwide.

Remastered from the original sessions and featuring rare photos and extensive liner notes, this new repress also features Part 1 and Part 2 of the original 45 version of ‘African Rhythms’ and the previously unheard ‘Afrobeat’, recently unearthed from the original tapes.

credits

released September 21, 2018

2018, Strut Records

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about

Oneness of Juju Richmond, Virginia

Plunky & Oneness of Juju is the name of a rhythm & blues-African-jazz-funk band from Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A. The group, originally known as Juju, was founded in San Francisco in 1971 and has continued to evolve for over 30 years, performing and recording with changes in personnel and under different group names, but always led by J. Plunky Branch. ... more

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