Sterns Music

Home
Sterns Music

African and Brazilian record label since 1983. First British record label to release recordings by Salif Keita, Youssou N'Dour, and Franco & OK Jazz.

Dedicated to bringing to the world the sublime music of Africa and its diaspora.

21/05/2025

Wednesday tune

Unatingisha Kibiriti (You're Shaking The Matchbox) by Vijana Jazz Band from The Koka Koka S*x Battalion – Rumba, Koka Koka & Kamata Sukuma - Music From Tanzania 1975-1980

So, the story goes that on the second of January 1975, a group of musicians walked into Hi-Fi Studio in Nairobi, Kenya, after a long drive from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where they were well known as the Vijana Jazz Band. They were pulling a fast one on their label who wouldn't release any new records until the Vijana Jazz singles already on the shelves back in Tanzania were sufficiently depleted. Full of youthful talent, the musicians didn't feel like waiting to get their new songs out, so they recorded six tracks in Nairobi under the name The Koka Koka S*x Battalion - koka koka being a popular dance style of the day and heard chorused many times in the sebene of today's chosen track.

In 2011 we were blessed by A.I. Records Kenya Limited (the owners of the recordings) and under the expert guidance of Douglas Paterson to bring to the world these fabulous 6 recordings as well as some of Vijana Jazz Band's other hits on the above named compilation to celebrate a precious time in East African rumba.

Now added to the Wednesday music playlist

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2jssqzzDIFnyPsiFqC0MfY?si=OSEVACgeSL-aIfeWXythtg&pi=O4tHB3DZSJC-Z

14/05/2025

Wednesday tune

Marcelo Tozangana from Vintage Verckys by Verckys & L’Orchestre Vévé

It’s been noted more than once that before the comparatively recent rise of DJ led labels releasing older, sometimes overlooked material from Africa, there was a label that in the CD age and before, had already made this their mission: RetroAfric.

The track here is from their 15th release in 2001, “Vintage Verckys” and is a composition by Sinatra Saak-Saakul a.k.a. ‘Max Sinatra”, who later formed Trio Madjesi. Apart from its general high energy performance, the recording features some distinctive guitar work presumably by Danila (sometimes spelt Danyla) and storming sax, no doubt by Kiamuangana Mateta Verckys himself.

Now added to the playlist

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2jssqzzDIFnyPsiFqC0MfY?si=bUDL42IrS1ShZnPTTGYf8g&pi=k1COrAmSQKC0Z

07/05/2025

Wednesday tune

Ne Refuse Pas by Rigo Star from Rigo - “Star”

First solo album from one of the most prolific and accomplished guitarists and arrangers of Congolese soukous in the latter half of the last century. Recorded 1985 in the Ivory Coast, these relaxed and easy-going studio sessions showcase the skill and empathy of the musicians - all at the top of their game - as they lock into place the patterns that drive the dancers. Includes Kanda Bongo Man on vocals alongside Rigo ... though at this point he was known as “Ringo Star”!

Now added to the Wednesday Music playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2jssqzzDIFnyPsiFqC0MfY?si=jmybisssR4-m7LyJGXWzYA&pi=igd2NbW5RmGvr

23/04/2025

Wednesday tune

Nanso Oben (Skin Cancer) from Kumase Band by Kumase Band feat. Kwabena Oduro Kwarteng

Following on from last weeks post from Hi-Life International’s 1985 album ’Na Wa For You’, we bring things right up to date with Kwabena Oduro Kwarteng’s latest venture, the Kumase Band, and some comments on the use of skin lightening creams in his song “Nanso Eben (Skin Cancer)”.

40 years on and Kwabena is still working hard, still unfraid of controversy. Here’s power to you!

Now added to the playlist

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2jssqzzDIFnyPsiFqC0MfY?si=RRPJmN5ERiqcvy83l9YQOQ&pi=JIzohrVZSzqLe

16/04/2025

Wednesday tune

Na Wa For You by Hi-Life International from the album Na Wa For You

While rummaging through the Sterns vaults recently, we realised we had the original analogue masters for the two albums Hi-Life International recorded for Sterns back in the 1980s: 'Music To Wake The Dead' in '83, and 'Na Wa For You' in ’85. Never released on CD, they’d slipped through the net and escaped digital release. However that was soon remedied. A trip to FX Copyroom for some specialised tape baking and transfer, and it was a joy to hear just how fresh and energetic they still sound.

The track that seems to be picking up the plays is “Awo De Me” from ’Na Wa For You’, but here we feature the opening and title track from the same album. Led by Kwabena Oduro-Kwarteng on guitar, more than ably assisted by Herman Asafo-Agyei on bass and with Frank Kenner on sax and Stu Hamer on trumpet, not forgetting the inimitable Kofi Adu on drums, the core group was a formidable performing unit that wowed UK and European audiences between 1983 and 1986.

With distinctive cover art by Ankobra it’s good to have them back, and both albums are now available across all digital services.

Now added to the playlist

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2jssqzzDIFnyPsiFqC0MfY?si=SEVIof2DSeuXMzauCTvvRQ&pi=oxSO6T_ISMyJR

09/04/2025

Wednesday tune

Mouhamadou Bamba by Orchestra Baobab featuring Thione Seck on lead vocals from the Sterns compilation Bamba

It was 10 years almost to the day that we committed to posting a track every week to highlight a different group or artist across decades of ground breaking popular musical production throughout the African continent and it's Diaspora, very much the remit of the Sterns Africa imprint.

From Dakar to Addis and Oran to Cape Town, and not simply drawing from the healthy Sterns' archive, we often promote the vast catalogues of labels like Syllart Records, RetroAfric, Earthworks, AI Records (Kenya) and Triple Earth. Plus artist owned archives who we assist in managing the catalogue - Sam Mangwana and Verkys et al.

So, this week let's enjoy again this moody titan of genre bending genius from the most perfectly formed version of Baobab that producer Ibrahima Sylla could have been blessed with in his Dakar studio circa 1980, which was one of the very first tracks we chose to post in 2015.

Now added to the Wednesday Music playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2jssqzzDIFnyPsiFqC0MfY

02/04/2025

Wednesday tune

Adidas Kiesse by Papa Wemba & Viva La Musica from the Sterns' compilation Mwana Molokai - The First Twenty Years

This is one of Wemba's many perfect pop moments where he enlists his super power of call and response with a churos (consisting here of Fafa De Molokai, Lidjo Kwempa, Luciana, Reddy Amissi and Stino) as powerful as his response.

Written from the perspective of a woman, Wemba originally released Adidas Kiesse on 1990's Biloko Ya Moto, and now it resides alongside many other glorious tracks, including a standout version of Esclave, on the above Sterns compilation. Those who intend to enjoy the track to the end will be rewarded with a sublime sebene.

Now added to the playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2jssqzzDIFnyPsiFqC0MfY

19/03/2025

Wednesday tune

Tala Merci Bapesaka Na Mbwa by Franco and Simaro Massiya Lutumba available on The Very Best Of Poète Simaro Massiya Lutumba Volume 4

Today would have been the 87th birthday of Le Poet, Vice President of TPOK Jazz and for over two decades till the end of Franco's life, one of his chief collaborators and song writers, Simaro Massiya Lutumba.

Today's chosen tune is like a gift to celebrate not only Simaro's genius but here also is Madilu System's luxurious lead vocals, Simaro and Franco's guitars and the full complement of a late career TPOK Jazz with proper horn section still in place.

Simaro of course would out live both Franco and Madilu by many years, passing away the elder statesman of classic rumba in 2019.

Now added to the Wednesday Music playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2jssqzzDIFnyPsiFqC0MfY

12/03/2025

Wednesday tune

Nina from Moyibi by Pépé Kallé and Nyboma

From a stylish late 1980s Ibrahima Sylla produced collab between the Kallé who truly deserved to be called 'Grand' (but of course that is reserved for another Congolese rumba giant) and one of the artists that has clocked up and appeared on more Sterns releases than anyone else we can think of, Nyboma Mwan'dido,

If you take into account the output of Kékélé, Les Quatre Étoiles, cameos with Africando and our compilation of his early work, Nyboma & Kamale Dynamique, not to mention his solid and unique tenor gracing many Sterns and associated releases by Syran Mbenza, Wuta Mayi, Mbilia Bel, Mose Fan Fan, Samba Mapangala and Madilu System, and this is just scratching the surface of Nyboma's vast and marvellous career, with today's choice deservedly on over a million listens on Spotify.

Now added to the Wednesday Music playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2jssqzzDIFnyPsiFqC0MfY

Laurent Nyboma Mwan Dido

05/03/2025

Wednesday tune

Kara Noreyni from Noreyni by Kiné Lam

As the esteemed ‘Queen of Mbalax’, Kiné Lam’s full-throated vocal takes no prisoners. Voted Senegal's best female vocalist three times, she was the first woman singer to form her own band and the first to sing in the "mbalax" style. This excellent album was recorded in Paris in 1995 with some of the city's then hottest sessioneers augmenting her own formidable group. Special mention to the musical polymath Manu Lima on keyboards, Cheikh Tidiane Tall for his arrangements and backing vocalist 'Chuck Berry Mboup', just because.

Now added to the playlist

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2jssqzzDIFnyPsiFqC0MfY?si=R-V5_vYTQuOPYb3eWqdgbA&pi=j6K0VqfiRfee0

26/02/2025

Wednesday tune

Tonton Charles from Oléli Oléli by Youlou Mabiala

The sudden vacuum that arose on the death of Franco in 1989 caused much confusion, and seven years later that confusion was still apparent as various groupings of musicians continued to earn their keep, while at the same time trying to honour their mentor. Of the various units that sought to take on the TPOK mantle, that led by Franco’s son-in-law, Youlou Mabiala, had a very strong claim.

However it’s worth noting that on this 1996 Brazzaville recording - here available digitally for the first time - apart from Youlou himself, none of the musicians had any discernible and direct connection with the mighty TPOK Jazz, or indeed with Franco. But so what? The music and grooves are fabulous and when your 1st guitarist is named “Six Mille Six Cents Volts”, and your 2nd is “Hobiska Rocky”, what’s not to like?

Now added to the playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2jssqzzDIFnyPsiFqC0MfY?si=iF2yDTfOmEG28AK2ccA

19/02/2025

Wednesday tune

Souffrance from the album Les 4 Étoiles by Les 4 Étoiles

Stepping up the pace, was there ever a more joyful ’supergroup’ than Les 4 Étoiles? Though indeed sometimes they were 5, 6 or even 7, as various members stepped forward to take the limelight. In this case, it’s Dally Kimoko on lead guitar who gets to shine while Guy Nsange bubbles away on bass.

But essentially Les 4 Étoiles were Nyboma, Bopol, Wuta-Mayi and Syran Mbenza with, on this 1995 release and alongside Dally Kimoko and Guy Nsange as above, Likinga Redo and Carlito adding their voices to those of Nyboma and Wuta-Mayi.

There was always a relaxed confidence to the Étoiles. They were massively popular and at the top of their game, and they must have known it. But if there was ever an ego clash, it never made it into the grooves of their recordings. Just supreme and professional musicianship which propelled their fans onto the dance floor.

Now added to the playlist

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2jssqzzDIFnyPsiFqC0MfY?

Address

Website

https://sternsmusic.bandcamp.com/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Sterns+weblink

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Sterns Music posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Sterns Music:

Shortcuts

Address
Alerts
Contact The Business
Claim ownership or report listing
Want your business to be the top-listed Media Company?

Country:

City: