Krismasi: Christmas Songs From Africa 1968-1982: White on Red Inkplosion Vinyl LP

Pre-Order Item. Release Date Subject to Change.
Label: Strut 
Release Date: 30th October

Music and Christmas, it's joy on top of joy with slatherings of feel good festive gravy, however, we've hit Charlie Brown, Wham, Slade, A Christmas Gift, James Brown and all the excellent trimmings pretty hard EVERY YEAR. So it's always a Christmas miracle when some new festive bangers find their way onto the turntable. Of course this being a gift from Strut, they fill their sack with a selection of the best African xmas tunes from 1968-1982 with hits of highlife, Nigerian pop, Afro-funk and more. 

It’s that time of year again! Are your copies of “Now! That’s What I Call l Christmas” and “A Motown Christmas” finaly feeling worn out? Strut has the ideal antidote this year, as we dive into the world of festive records made by African artists spanning the late 1960s to the 1980s with our new Krismasi: Christmas Sounds From Africa compilation.

Taking in music from across the continent from Nigeria and Ghana to South Africa and Zimbabwe, Krismasi draws from a wide range of sounds from fun novelty records and spur-of-the-moment jams to spiritual and gospel favourites. Featured artists include Ghanian great Kwadwo Donkoh with a meditative highlife praise song from his much-loved Christmas Africana album. Elsewhere, pop star turned pastor, Jerry Boifraind, has some fun with a song celebrating seeing friends at Christmas and Nigerian pop favourite Martha Ulaeto features with the lilting lead track from her own Christmas Africana release. We pick out some choice Central and East African sounds with Kakai Kilonzo’s bri liant Kilimambogo Brothers Band and Congolese legend Baba Gaston’s Orchestra Baba National capturing the joy of the festive season. We stop off in Zim for a rare Dorothy Masuka acoustic piece and one of the country’s great musicians post-independence, Paul “Dr. Love” Matavire with ‘Christmas Yaswedera’ (‘Christmas Is Near’). Township jazz star Reggie Msomi appears with a joyous township instrumental and, fina ly, we couldn’t release a Christmas co lection without some carols. Here we include here a great version of ‘Mary’s Boy Child’ by UK-based Nigerian highlife musician Flash Dominci and a hi-octane funky medley of favourite festive hymns by Ghana’s Oscar Suley.

The compilation is the first in-depth co lection of rare African Christmas recordings, uncovering a rich and often overlooked chapter of the continent's musical history. Krismasi is available on Red & White Inkplosion Vinyl LP and CD. Vinyl restoration is by Colin Young at See Why Audio, mastering is by Frank Merritt at The Carvery, and the album features striking new artwork by Liam Large.

A1. Martha Ulaeto – Keresimesi Odun De (Christmas Has Come)
A2. Jerry Boifraind & The Natto Band – Christmas Friends
A3. Kwadwo Donkoh & His Abokyi Parts Of Ghana – Afe Aso Ama Makae Masem (New Year Come E Make Me Remember My Matter)
B1. Ackim Simukonda – Umwana Wa Chipondo Chandi
B2. Dorothy Masuka – Happy Christmas
B3. Les Kilimambogo Brothers Band – Shangilia Christmas
B4. Flash Domincii & The Supersonics – Amodekunrin Ti Maria (Mary’s Boy Child)
B5. Houghas Sorowonko – The Soul Of Christmas