Balani Show Super Hits: Electronic Street Parties from Mali

Balani Show Super Hits is a compilation of popular music played at street parties in Mali. Drawing from across the past decade of Balani Shows, from innovators to contemporary stars of the scene, these are some of the Malian compositions in heavy rotation.

Colloquially known as "Balani Show," these street parties began in the late 90s in the capital city of Bamako. Unable to afford Balafon musicians, DJs brought large sound systems and cassettes of pre-recorded music - both traditional Balafon music, as well as Kuduro and Coupé Decalé. As cassettes were replaced with CDJs, DJs began to incorporate their own remixes. Today, "Balani Show" continues to evolve. The parties have spawned an entirely new genre of music known as "Balani Show" or "Ambience", composed by bedroom djs, remixers, rappers, and dance groups, creating high energy dance music.

Balani Show typifies urban music. It's formed in the city and founded on trans-global influences. It's a modern music built on new technologies, a phenomena that thrives on piracy. But like the Balani Show parties, it too pays homage to an ancient tradition. It reveals a different narrative of the old vs new – and suggests that maybe the only way to preserve something is by reinventing it, by keeping it modern and relevant in a faster world.

Tracklisting

A1 –DJ Balani Bala 
A2 –Kaba Blon Furu Djougou 
A3 –DJ Bamanan Goni Bala 
A4 –Meleke* Et MC Waraba Tassaba 
A5 –DJ Bamanan Gnoukobala 
B1 –Kaba Blon Dekou Dekou 
B2 –DJ Sandji Bacoungana 
B3 –Adama Yalomba Bozo 
B4 –Mamelon Koumba Frifri 
B5 –DJ Balani Balani Sanga