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03-08-2011: Former Maroon Commandos foreman Habel Kifoto died.

On 31 July, Habel Kifoto died alledgedly from heart failure. Habel Kifoto was guitarist, composer, singer and bandleader of the army band Maroon Commandos from the early days in 1970 until his retirement in 2002. Until his death he was the chairman of the Music Copyright Society of Kenya.
The Maroon Commandos were popular for their Kenyan version of rumba, one of their well-known songs is « Charonyi ni Wasi ». The band still exists and is currently lead by David Kombo.

03-08-2011: Influential Guinean guitar hero Kante Manfila died at the age of 65.

On 20 July, Manfila Kanté died in Paris. Manfila, often referred to as Kanté Manfila, born in 1946 in Farabanah, has been an extremely influential guitar player who was one of the first to play the guitar as the balafon.
His worked during several decades with Salif Keita both in the Ambassadeurs as in his later solo work, such as the much acclaimed album « Moffou ». In addition, Manfila made several solo albums, such as « Musicale mandingue », « Tradition », « Ni Kanu » and « N'na niwale ».

14-07-2011: Guinean singer Sekouba Fatako has died.

According to various Guinean press websites, Fula singer Sekouba Fatako Kouyaté has died last Monday (11 July 2011).
Fatako was a popular singer, his songs were loved for their lyrics, and people loved to dance on hit songs as « Sayata Yetho ». May his soul rest in peace.

30-04-2011: Congolese singer of Zaiko fame Bimi Ombale died on 29 April.

Bimi Ombale " Biandy ", whose real name is André Bimi Ombale Mwana Wabi had been ill for a while, and he died last Friday in the Ngaliema hospital in the Congolese capital. Bimi Ombale was born in 1952, and started as a drummer with Zaiko Langa Langa as early as in 1969. After a while he became a singer in Zaiko along singers Jossart Nyoka Longo, Evoloko Joker, Papa Wemba, Mavuela Somo, and Efonge Gina. He made fame as composer of various success songs of the band, such as « Elima ngando », « Joliba », « Lisapo », and « Sandra Lina ». Bimi left in 1988 with breakaway Zaiko Familia Dei. He later created Basilique Loningisa and eventually turned to religious music.

25-04-2011: Congolese singer Debaba died in the night from 23 to 24 April.

Debaba El Shahab, whose real name is Claude Dieka Mbaki suffered a cardiovascular accident a few days before, after release from hospital he had a heart attack at home again that turned out to be fatal. Born on 12 October 1961 in Kinshasa, he started singing in Historia Musica with Koffi Olomide, continued in Viva la Musica and subsequently in Choc Stars next to Defao, Ben Nyamabo and Carlyto Lassa. He has recorded a few solo albums. Since the early 90s he turned to religious music.

20-01-2011: Mali's top notch guitar player of the 1980's, Zani Diabaté died.

Zani Diabaté suffered from a stroke on 9 December when entering a studio in Paris. Although rumours were loud that he had died the same day in hospital, he turned out to be in a deep coma, and finally passed away on 4 January 2011. Zani was in the Ballet National du Mali from 1963, then co-founded the Super Djata Band in 1969, together with Alou Fané and Daouda "Flani" Sangaré. He was sometimes labelled as the Jimi Hendrix of Mali and was indeed a guitar wizard. Since a few years he was director of the National Ballet du Mali and played only occasionally.

Picture: Aboubacar Siddikh (March 1999)

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New albums 2012:
04/01: Omar Pene: Ndayaan
14/01: Defao: The Undertaker vol.1
25/01: Koffi Olomide: Abracadabra
03/02: Dora Decca: Belalo

New albums 2011:
04/01: Sidi Touré: Sahel Folk
09/01: Viviane: Wuy Yaayooy
15/01: Maciré Sylla: Talitha
17/02: Boubacar Traoré: Mali Denhou
20/02: Tabu Ley Rochereau: The Voice of Lightness vol.2
27/02: J.B. M'Piana & Wenge BCBG: Soyons sérieux
07/03: Aster Aweke: Checheho
14/04: Magic System: Touté Kalé
27/04: Alpha Blondy: Vision
07/05: Vieux Farka Touré: The Secret
21/05: Roga Roga & Extra Musica: Sorcellerie (Kindoki)
25/05: Sally Nyolo: La nuit à Fébé
01/06: Seun Kuti: From Africa with Fury: Rise
06/06: Mamou Sidibé: Djougouya
08/07: Manu Dibango: Ballad Emotion
07/08: Alpha Yaya Diallo: Immé
06/09: Yeleen: Redemption
25/09: Tinariwen: Tassili
29/09: Werrason: Techno Malewa suite & fin
29/09: Werrason: Primus: Diata Bawu
29/10: Manu Dibango: Afro-Soul Machine
30/10: Boketshu 1er: Bo Kozika Na Kake
06/11: Queen Etémé: Amazing Encounter
17/11: Sonia Carré d'As: N'kanou
22/11: Manu Dibango: Past Present Future
17/12: Sorry Bamba: Volume One (1970-1979)
17/12: Orchestre Le Kanaga: Orchestre Le Kanaga

New albums 2010:
10/01: Angelique Kidjo: Oyo
15/01: Youssou N'Dour: I Bring what I Love
15/01: Lobi Traore: Barra Coura
17/01: Petit Pays: Fiko Fiko
17/01: Monique Seka: Best of Love
17/01: Monique Seka: Best of Afrozouk
24/01: Koffi Olomide: La chicotte à Papa
03/02: Meiway: M20
18/02: Manou Gallo: Lowlin
22/02: Ali & Toumani
05/03: Reddy Amisi: Concert Live
05/03: Felix Wazekwa: Mosapi Liboso
06/03: Felix Wazekwa: Live Olympia
10/03: Youssou N'Dour: Dakar-Kingston
10/03: Youssou N'Dour: Spécial fin d'année 2009
24/03: Defao: Pur encore
26/03: Lokua Kanza: Nkolo
04/04: Doudou Copa: Evolution
08/04: Sergeo Polo: Amour à deux, amour à vie
18/04: Ambassadeurs internationaux feat. Salif Keita: Mandjou / Seydou Bathily
18/04: Ambassadeurs internationaux feat. Salif Keita: Tounkan / Mana Mani
21/04: Samy Diko: Renaissance
07/05: Victor Démé: Hinè Ye Deli Lé La
13/05: Daara J Family: School of Life
14/05: Reddy Amisi: Likelemba
22/05: Youssou N'Dour & Etoile de Dakar: Once Upon A Time in Senegal
04/07: Idrissa Soumaoro: Djitoumou
04/07: Fally Ipupa: Concert au Zénith de Paris
21/07: Papa Wemba: Notre père Rumba
27/07: Fode Baro: Libération
02/08: Baba Maal: African Soul Revolutionary
17/08: Cheikh Lo: Jamm
20/08: Laba Sosseh: Classic Titles
08/09: Diogal Sakho: Urban Spirit
09/09: Vieux Farka Touré: Live
14/09: Lobi Traoré: Rainy Season Blues
15/09: Koffi Olomide: présente Cindy le Coeur
17/09: Felix Wazekwa: Mémoire Ya Nzambe
17/09: Adolphe Dominguez: Suspension
22/09: Tiken Jah Fakoly: African Revolution
02/10: Longue Longue: A bas Judas
05/10: Cherif Mbaw: Sing For Me
06/10: Koffi Olomide: chante Tabu Ley
19/10: Mamady Keita: Hakili
01/11: Sorry Bamba: Dogon Blues
10/11: Femi Kuti: Africa for Africa
15/11: Ali Boulo Santo: Hommage à Bakary
18/11: Aly Keita: Farafinko
20/11: Super Diamono: Classic 80s
24/11: Petit Pays: God Go Pay
01/12: Mah Damba: A l'ombre du grand baobab
12/12: Sayon Bamba: Dougna