Idrissa Soumaoro et l’Éclipse de l’I.J.A. – Fama Allah {1978}

Idrissa Soumaoro teaches blind children music and how to read Braille in Bamako, Mali. In 1978, he released the album Ampsa with his band L’eclipse that features the two blind students Amadou & Mariam. It was never commercially released but given away for free by the Malian association for the blind in Bamako. If that is still not convincing for you, check out their driving, catchy and passionate Psych-Funk in the opening track of the album, Fama Allah.

Thanks to Mississippi Records and Sing a song fighter, the record was finally publicly released in 2015. As far as I know, the 2015 edition is sold out on Vinyl but check Forced Exposure or Shiny Beast for a new batch and find more info on the album on the always reliable Aquarium Drunkard blog. Mississippi Records is actually a record shop in Portland, Oregon and a fine record label that changed its name to Little Axe Records. Check their Bandcamp page for more interesting and unusual music from all over the world.

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