Ahmed
‘Babadi’ Mohamed was originally a native of the tiny island of Comoros. For the last
34 years he has lived & played his music on Mayotte, another island near Comoros. Since he
was very young, Babadi was interested in music. He was inspired by his idols
Manu Dibango & Alpha Blondy, & so took up a career in reggae.
Babadi
came on the scene in 1997 with socially conscious lyrics & a staunch defense
of modern M'godro traditional songs of the Comoros.
His third album, "Resistance" made him a
permanent fixture on the scene Mahoran. His
music combines M'godro with a African reggae. It is propelled by an insistent
percussion inspired by Central African kwassa, tinted with Seggae Mauritius (seggae is a fusion genre of sega, the
traditional music of the Mascarene Islands, & reggae) & filled with lyrical melodies typical of Mahoran.
On
his first release, Chigoma Ya Léo, the
music lies somewhere between tradition (chigoma or traditional wedding ceremony
songs) & modernity (Ya Léo).
On Résistance,
the brass instruments, the voices, & the percussion invite us to a festive
Mgodro while mixing with the warm rhythms of African reggae music. Babadi’s
desire is to contribute to the resistance against political hypocrisy that
deceives the people, whether in Mayotte or
anywhere else where the negative effects of ‘globalization’ are imposed.
“The situation in
society is degrading day after day and the politicians are there, like the cat,
to frighten the mouse, in order to quiet their voices and instill
submissiveness,” says Babadi, a singer & guitarist
of the new generation of African reggae.
Babadi - Chigoma Ya Léo,
1997.
decryption code in comments
Tracklist -
Freedom
Maore
Mr Boina
Coco
Diya
Africa
Chigoma
Fight
Oumani
Babadi - Résistance, Tamamuzak, 2000.
decryption code in comments
Tracklist –
Résistance
Duwa
Sa Devise
Taxi Brousse
Mnafiqui
Maraguissi
Ribanga
Anti-Fachos
Fulani
Nissuriya
Vola Mena
Gourmand
Jah Love
Babadi – Le Chat et la Souris (The Cat & the Mouse), Tamamuzak 2002.
decryption code in comments
Tracklist –
Comores Unit
Rikiya Ar Ari
Happy Days
Kaya Survive
Reggae Vibration
Ali Baba et les 7 Voleurs
Reggae Aspirine
Tranga
Code Noir
L'Appel
Oeil pour Oeil
Le Chat et la Souris
Mlozi
Enjoy,
NØ
Chigoma Ya Léo
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Résistance
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Le Chat et la Souris
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