African
Afrobeat to desert blues and everything the continent sent out into the world — African vinyl, new and used, at Wax Trax.
African Vinyl Records
Africa didn't make one sound, it made hundreds, and a lot of them rewired the rest of the planet on the way out. Fela Kuti and Tony Allen built Afrobeat into a weapon; Franco and the soukous players turned Congolese rumba into something that never stops moving; Ethiopia gave us the smoky, off-kilter jazz the Éthiopiques series spent decades digging back up; and the Tuareg desert blues of Tinariwen and Mdou Moctar made guitar music sound brand new again. We stock the reissues that put this stuff back in print alongside the originals when we can find them.
What You'll Find Here
Afrobeat, highlife, soukous and Congolese rumba, Ethio-jazz, juju, and Saharan desert blues — on LP, plus the occasional 7-inch. Heavy on the reissue labels doing the archival work (think the crate-digger comps that made half these names known outside their home countries). If you're starting cold, ask us — this is a section that rewards a conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I start with African vinyl?
Honestly? Fela Kuti's Expensive Shit or anything from the Éthiopiques series. Both are gateways that open onto entire worlds. After that you're off the map, which is the fun part.
Is this just Afrobeat?
Not even close. Afrobeat is one room in a very big house — highlife, soukous, Ethio-jazz, and desert blues all live here too.