Discoteca Imaginaria: Afro Psychedelic Funk
02.04.25
Discoteca Imaginaria is an audio docu-series covering the people, places and sounds that have shaped popular music. Each episode transports listeners through history to the greatest club on earth – the disco of our imagination.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The 1960s and 1970s were a time of profound change and unrest across the African continent. As countries achieved long-sought independence from colonial rule, they faced the challenge of building democratic institutions and uniting diverse ethnic communities within borders arbitrarily drawn by colonial powers. During this transformative period, young musicians in nations like Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Togo, Zambia, and Algeria embraced the spirit of revolution and change, birthing a new musical genre that blended traditional African rhythms with Western psychedelic rock and funk. What makes Afro Psychedelic Funk a compelling soundtrack for this historical moment isn’t just the reverb-drenched, fuzzed-out guitar solos or the Eastern influences borrowed from Western psychedelic rock. Instead, it’s the music’s shared narrative of political unrest, its celebration of once-repressed cultural identities, and its bold rejection of colonial rule in the pursuit of peace across the continent.
Tracklist:
NIGERIA War-Head Constriction – Shower of Stone Ofo The Black Company – Allah Wakbarr Sweet Breeze – She My Choice Tirogo – Float Waves – Mother Ofege – It’s Not Easy Jay-U Experience – Baby Rock Blo – Native Doctor GHANA The Psychedelic Aliens – Blofonyobi Wo Atale Pat Thomas & Marijata – Brain Washing Ebo Taylor & The Pelikans – Egya Edu Free Youth – We Can Move BENIN & TOGO Les Sympathics de Porto Novo – A Min We Vo Nou We TP Orchestre Poly-Rythmo – It’s a Vanity Gnonnas Pedro et Ses Dadjes – Dadje Von O Von Non Ferry Djimmy – Love Love ZAMBIA Cosmos Zani – Poverty EyeQ – Making Life out of Music WITCH – Living in the Past Amanaz – Khala My Friend Rikki Ililonga – Sheebeen Queen Oscillations – Kapande Mike Nyoni – My Dear Girl The Peace – Black Power Chrissy Zemby Tembo – Trouble Maker ALGERIA Rachid & Fethi – Utopia RaÏna RaÏ – Sidi Bel Abbes Abranis – Chenar Le Blues Ahmed Malek – Autopsie d’un complot Hourya – Abadane
