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unusual facts about Zap Mama


Breath Control: The History of the Human Beat Box

Musician Zap Mama opens up the idea that human beat boxing is an art form practiced all over the world and has been refined by many different cultures.


Kélétigui Diabaté

He reunited with Salif Keita in 1989, performing on Keita's album Ko-Yan, and appeared on albums by many other musicians, including Zap Mama, Ketama and Bonnie Raitt.

Morgan Fisher

He became a TV commercial music songwriter, including songs written or arranged for Cat Power, Karin Krog, Jose Feliciano, Zap Mama and Swing Out Sister.

Sila and the Afrofunk Experience

Hailed as one of the Top 5 Afropop albums of the year by NPR, "Black President" won the 2009 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding World Music Album (over better-known artists like Zap Mama and Omou Sangare).

Vincent Kenis

He produced the first album by a cappella band Zap Mama, and several albums by Balkan Gypsy bands Taraf de Haïdouks and Kocani Orkestar, while also being involved in the sonic design of many Crammed releases, including albums by Tuxedomoon, Cibelle, Zuco 103, as well as the label's purely electronic output during the 1990s (such as the Freezone compilations).


see also

Poetry Man

In 1997, Zap Mama, an African-Belgium based group, delivered a version on their album, Seven which included a dialog of sorts with Spearhead's Michael Franti playing the Poetry Man himself.