Introducing Freak de l’Afrique, Germany’s Afro-house DJ duo

While pop music made in Ghana and Nigeria has found a place in American and British music, music from other parts of Africa is being incorporated into sounds from continental Europe.

As a statement from the German record label Man Recordings puts it: “You wouldn´t associate the techno focussed city [of Berlin] with an African diasporic community nor with the rhythmical magic tracks that currently emerge from countries such as Angola, South Africa or Mozambique … but very well connected group of DJs and party promoters recently put Berlin on the international Afro-house map.”

The DJs have already found a local following with monthly parties tagged The Afro House Experience or Black Paper, which are spearheaded by DJs Mista Wallizz and Cambel Nomi, both of whom have now released their first single as a duo called Freak de l’Afrique. Their single ‘Mama Eh’ is described by its producers as a “club banger" in which "you hear the best of Afro-house clashing with the melodies of UK grime and the grumpy attitude for which Berlin has become internationally known”.

Although recording an official single has happened this year, the DJs' Afro-house fascination began in 2011 when Walizz stumbled upon the sound during a visit to Angola and "immediately fell in love with it" . Although aware of South Africa's dominance in the production of house music on the continent, the duo pitched their tent in Angola. "The Angolan house style is what influences our sound. It is much more based on African drums and tribal vocals as opposed to the style of South African house music," the duo said.

They are also familiar with the fledgling house scene as it exists in Botswana, Namibia and Morocco. And Nigeria, they say, is "a very important market", as they cut their teeth playing Afro-pop before going into Afro-house. They express some admiration for Niniola, a Nigerian act who mixes pop and house.

The DJ pair elected to shoot the video for 'Mama Eh' in Angola, partly because Wallizz is married to an Angolan and also because "the way Angolans dance to house music is unique and powerful." The result is a video featuring a group of dancers dancing in an open area in Luanda. The bright and playful video sees Wallizz try to fit in among the dancers, but he gets ejected, ostensibly because his moves aren't quite up to the Angolan standard.

The official 'Mama Eh' single has received a 26 August relase date, upon which it will be accompanied by two remixes, both helmed by artists based in Africa—DJ X Trio from Luanda and Jowaa from Ghana. In the future, the Freak de l'Afrique will remix Adel Tawil´s 'Eine Welt, eine Heimat' which features Senegalese great Youssou N´Dour and Mohamed Mounir. There are also plans involving more infusions of music from Africa into Europe.

"We´re aiming to bring our soundsystem show to different countries," the DJs said. "At the same time we are also busy creating more Afro-house and Afro-pop events throughout Germany. We'd like to bring the latest trends from the different African music scenes to German nightlife."