Nana Afrika is an Afrobeat ode to African Women Warriors / Freedom Fighters guided by traditional African wisdom.
*Ida B. Wells Barnett (N. Am), Dandara dos Palmares (Brazil), Nehanda Charwe Nyakasikana (Zimbabwe), Yaa Asantewaa (Ghana), Nzingha (Kongo-Angola), Araminta Harriet Tubman (N. Am.), Nanny (Jamaica).
Nana Afrika features spoken word by LA born activist, Sandra Izsadore. Izsadore played a critical role in Afrobeat’s develop as she introduced Fela Kuti to revolutionary Black consciousness, including the ideologies of Malcolm X, Angela Davis, H. Rap Brown, Stokely Carmichael, Huey Newton, Frantz Fanon and other revolutionary thinkers She delivered the lead vocals on Fela’s 1976 hit “Upside Down”; a tune Mausiki Scales and the Common Ground Collective perform in their live sets regularly.
We are the destination
And the path of life
We Dream of fish
And Babies arrive
Ancestors say
Life is a cosmos
Not chaos
I should journey by Day
Rest in the night
Never stand in one place
Just Follow the light
I Listened
And kept movin’
I listened and kept groovin’
I Followed the light
Only to see
my shadows fall far behind me
In this life we must stay in motion
Often times we must improvise
Mama’s wise
Her words my daily bread
Endless insight
For the journey ahead
The days will pass,
Get your mind right
Do the inside work.
No place to hide
The Way to the future is open
Focused attention, Hurston
See the locs
Set in cornrows
Know our names
Hear our Soul
We right here
and in distant lands
Afrikans,
Born into blues
Already bein’ sung
Holdin’ on
Never fully forgettin’
Tha Mother tongue
Wood already touched by fire
Is easily set alight
The ram goes headfirst
Into the fight
Just when you've seen it all
there's more to see
just when you’ve done it all
there's more to do
we all 1st cousins,
once, twice removed
Life unravels in phases
Play your sacred role
Take your places
Who's got next
to receive these uttered texts
Mouth to ear
I've heard and I have kept
Nana taught me to
Thank the farmer
to her face
Thank the diviner
When I walk away
Spend more time in the garden
Hands and feet in Soil
Feel the breeze
Keep on Plantin’ Seeds
So
Blacksmith,
Oh Blacksmith
Forge our bells
In the shape
Of the kite-bird’s tail
Mortars and pestles keep the groove
We move
To fulfill an ancient pact
Between drum and dance
Flowin’ lava,
We know, We will 4ever flow
more life, more movement, more life
more life, more movement, more life
more life, more movement, more life
more life, more movement, more life
Play the bell
with the baby on her back
Agogo
...Gather round while I teach you the story of Nanny of the Maroons.
credits
from Nana Afrika,
track released February 9, 2023
Personnel:
Sandra Izsadore, spoken word
Ọyanikẹ Miller, spoken word
Mia Lewis (Giohnah), vocals
Milkah Sadiki-Yisrael, vocals
Shawna Floyd, vocals
Talibah Mbonisi, outro spoken word
Mausiki Scales, Electric piano, whistles, talking drum, agogo bell, clave (music, lyrics & arrangement)
Quinn Mason, Tenor saxophone solo
Eugene IV, Alto saxophone, additional keys
DeWayne Martin, Baritone saxophone
Charles “LC” Williams, Trombone for ThaCizzle Music
Alex Jones, Guitar
Xavier Jones, Bass
Ahsa Ahla, Congas, percussion
Produced by Mausiki Scales & Daz-I-Kue.
Recorded, Mixed & Mastered by Darren Benjamin /Daz-I-Kue (4 I-Kue Production, Atlanta/Nashville)
Additional recording by Steve Waide at Itchy Brain Recording Studio
Artwork & Layout: Larmarrous Shirley
Mausiki Scales & his band Common Ground Collective have been a staple on the Atlanta scene since the late 90s. With their
influence of African sounds like Afrobeat and Hi-Life mixed in with Funk, Blues, Jazz and other Black musical traditions brings an unique irresistible dance filled soundscape.
"WestWest Africa" (July 2020)...more
A live session from the new king of Afrobeat, the four songs here present Seun Kuti at his raucous, thrilling best. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 11, 2019
