BURUNDI BLACK

 

'' BURUNDI BLACK '' is an early 70's FRENCH 45 that has interesting origins and a far reaching influence. The basis of the track was a ' FIELD RECORDING ' taken in BURUNDI, a small independent state in SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. The recording was included on the LP '' MUSIQUE DU BURUNDI '' , issued on the FRENCH OCORA LABEL in 1968. It featured the CHANTING and DRUMMING of the people of THE BUKIRASAZI COMMUNE in CENTRAL BURUNDI. The techniques of playing and drum making are passed down from father to son and the music and performance have been used in ceremonies for hundreds of years 

In 1971 a FRENCH RECORD PRODUCER named CLAUDE FRANCOIS augmented the recording with PIANO, CLAVINET and GUITAR parts for a 7'' SINGLE that was issued on BARCLAY RECORDS under the name '' BURUNDI STEIPENSON BLACK ''. The B-SIDE of the record contained an edited version of the original recording

The recording was picked up by CLUB DJ's and became a CULT RECORD in UNDERGOUND DISCOTHEQUES. It also sold well in a number of countries, including the UK where it reached number 31 in the SINGLES CHART. The RHYTHM OF BURUNDI was now ' out of the bag ' and continued to inspire other WESTERN MUSICIANS in the proceeding years. JONI MITCHELL used the same recording of THE BUKIRASAZI DRUMMERS on a song called '' THE JUNGLE LINE ''. The track was included on her 1975 LP '' THE HISSING OF SUMMER LAWNS '' . Sadly, like CLAUDE  FRANCOIS, she proved to be A SNAKE and claimed sole songwriting credit!

'' BURUNDI BLACK '' also proved to be an influence on POST PUNK music in the UK at the start of the next decade. '' C·30 C·60 C·90 GO '' by BOW WOW WOW and '' KINGS OF THE WILD FRONTIER '' by ADAM AND THE ANTS both utilized BURUNDI STYLE TRIBAL DRUMMING. The former was a minor hit towards the end of '81 { reaching number 34 } and the later climbed to number 2 at the start of the following year. The MUSIC PRESS began to use the term  ' BURUNDI BEAT ' and a new arrangement of '' BURUNDI BLACK '' was created by JEAN PHILIPPE ILIESCO with the help of DJ RUSTY EGAN, giving the sound new life on the dancefloor 

The BURUNDI DRUMMERS never received a penny from the SAMPLING of their playing or the CULTERAL APPROPRIATION of their sound and only began to benefit when they were brought to the UK for the first WORLD OF MUSIC, ARTS AND DANCE FESTIVAL in 1982. They displayed their skill and tradition to an enraptured audience and have since conducted TOURS AROUND THE WORLD, recorded THREE ALBUMS and appeared in WERNER HERZOG'S film FITZCARRALDO 

LINK FOR DRUMMERS OF BURUNDI