Music shopping in Africa
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A
Bob Music
In case you hadn't noticed the Bob Marley posters and music throughout the souqs, this store makes the Marrakesh-Jamaica connection even more obvious. Gnaoua musicians are quick to point out the similarity in some rhythmic patterns and tunes, but you can put this ethonomusicology theory to the test yourself: pick up some Gnaoua castanets or a drum in this shop, and try your own Gnaoua rendition of 'Redemption Song'. No matter how badly you play it, you're bound to make their day at Bob Music.
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B
Abdelatif Instruments
Musicians make pilgrimages to the lute-maker's souq to watch beautiful music in the making, and here you can glimpse maâlem (master craftsman) Sidi Abdelatif carving lutes, tambourines, ginbris (two-stringed banjos), and ribabs (single-stringed fiddles). Since you're buying straight from the artisan himself, you can customize yours and get a better deal, too - music to every starving musician's ears.
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Beinkinstadt
On the border of the old District Six, this marvellous emporium of Judaica is run by Michael and Fay Padowich, the third generation of original owners. Inside and out, hardly anything seems to have changed since it first opened in 1903. Good souvenirs include CDs of Jewish music from South Africa, and locally made challah covers and yarmulkes.
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Gnaoua Music Shop
You'll have to duck to avoid banging the drums over the doorway with your head, but you've come to the right place to go Gnaoua and join a jam session. These are the handmade, rustic instruments played in the Djemaa el-Fna, from recycled-metal castanets to goatskins stretched over sturdy frames that can take a real pounding.
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E
Semlali Mohamed
In his tiny shop crammed full of musical instruments, Si Mohamed will show you professional quality ouds, a hennaed goatskin daf (hand-held drum) or a ceramic tam-tam drum. There are gimbris (a type of lute), as well as wooden oboes and Gnaoua castanets.
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F
African Music Store
The range of local music here, including all top jazz, kwaito (a form of township music), dance and trance recordings, can’t be surpassed. You’ll also find DVDs and other souvenirs. The staff are knowledgeable about the music scene.
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G
Coin Des Instruments Musical
Ahmed stocks both decorative and professional musical instruments. A good oud (lute) will set you back around DH1500 to around DH2000. They aso sell ceramic darbuka (goblet drum) and hadjouj(bass lute).
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H
Kohinoor
Kohinoor, in a basement underneath a furniture store, is one of the best sources of ethnic/African music, and sells everything from kwaito to jazz.
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Boeremark
Held by the Pioneer Park Museum in Silverton, this farmers market is full of stalls selling all kinds of organic food, from cheeses to cakes to preserves. Come early as it’s all sold out by 9am.
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Kerewan Sound
Near the main entrance of Albert Market, you'll find Kerewan Sound, Gambia's best place to buy CDs and cassettes, and one of the very few places that sells recordings by Gambian artists.
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Musica Megastore
You’ll find a wide selection of local artists at the Waterfront’s biggest collection of CDs and DVDs. Prices are reasonable.
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Spinalong
This music shop has a great selection of local music CDs, including Oliver Mtukudzi, Thomas Mapfumo, Simon Chimbetu and mbira groups.
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Sawt al-Qahira
Sawt al-Qahira is in an arcade set back from Sharia al-Gomhurriya and stocks the classic crooners on CD.
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Le Comptoire Marocain de Distribution de Disques
For a good selection of traditional Arab and Berber music try Le Comptoire Marocain de Distribution de Disques .
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Disques GAM
For a good selection of traditional Arab and Berber music try Disques GAM.
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Rádio Moçambique
Cassettes and CDs.
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Sono Mondiale
This brilliant little shop has a better selection than some of the music shops in Dakar. It has a good variety of African (and not only Senegalese) music on offer - both on CD and cassette - and, oddly, a quirky vinyl collection of old salsa.
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