Little-known music from ’70s-’80s São Tome and Principe collected on 2xLP

Island sounds off the coast of Gabon in central Africa.

Bongo Joe Records is releasing a new compilation of music from São Tome and Principe called Léve Léve: Sao Tomé & Principe sounds 70s​-​80s, this January.

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A five year project started by DJ Tom B, the compilation takes its name from the islands’ popular ‘léve léve’ phrase, which translates to: ‘take it easy’.

Exploring both the sonic and political development of the islands, the compilation charts São Tome and Principe’s adoption of rhythms from across Africa following the islands’ independence from Portugal in 1975.

Léve Léve: Sao Tomé & Principe sounds 70s​-​80s moves from Os Úntués’ mix of traditional socopé and puita rhythms with European pop sensibilities, and touches of Brazilian instrumentation, to Africa Negra’s sunny, post-independence tune ‘Aninha’, which draws inspiration from Gabon, Zaire and Cameroon, alongside Angolan sembe. 

Head here for more info in advance of its 31st of January release, check out the artwork and tracklist below.

Tracklist:

1. Africa Negra – Mino bô bé quacueda
2. Africa Negra – Aninha
3. Africa Negra – Zimbabwe
4. Pedro Lima – Nga ba compensadora
5. Sangazuza – Cortição
6. Sangazuza – Sun Malé
7. Os Úntuès – Piquina piquina
8. Os Úntuès – Chi bô sá migu di védê
9. Sum Alvarinho – M’konvètá dédo
10. Sum Alvarinho – Tólá Muandgi
11. Conjunto Equador – Meu dy plôcô
12. Conjunto Equador – Madô
13. Tiny das Neves e Conjunto Sol d’Africa – Cladênço padê cluço
14. Pedro Lima e Conjunto Os Leonenses – Esatela licu
15. Conjunto Mindelo – Taji océdo
16. Agrupamento da Ilha – Bô gosa di so txi