KUSINI: MANU DIBANGO PRIVATE AFRO FUNK OST LP EX SHRINK

$ 321

$ 321 Sold For

May 6, 2009 Sold Date

Apr 29, 2009 Start Date

$ 10 Start price

12 Number Of Bids

USA Country Of Seller

eBay Auctioned at

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Description

Artist: MANU DIBANGO

Title: COUNTDOWN AT KUSINI

Label: DST TELECOMMUNICATIONS (LPK 1001)

Released: 1976

Cover: EX in shrink (slight wear on corner)

Record: EX (slightly crackly press/scuffs nap)

Description: Like new original (& only) pressing of the soundtrack to "Countdown At Kusini", performed by Manu Dibango, and privately released by the Delta Sigma Theta sorority in 1976. This is number 972, and was only available at the preview for Kusini, held in Seattle on August 6, 1975. Musically it's killer afro-funk in Dibango's "Africadelic" style, & solid all the way through...check out a clip:

Aside from the music, the back story is pretty fascinating: Kusini was co-produced by DST sister Ruby Dee & her husband Ossie Davis, who also starred. Founded at Howard College in 1913, Delta Sigma Theta is the world's largest black sorority, boasting over 250,000 members. At the time it was being shot, Dee assumed that if her sorority sisters came out to support Kusini after it's release, it would provide funding for more films, and a truly independent black voice in cinema established. But the combination of this financial self-reliance and the film's provocative subject matter led to the mysterious theft of equipment and film, and doomed Kusini to obscurity. "Countdown At Kusini" was named number 32 on the list of "The 50 Most Influential Black Films", as compiled by Venise Berry (University of Iowa associate professor of Journalism and Mass Communication), & S. Torriano Berry (an associate professor in Film at Howard University).

"This drama, financed by DST Communications, a subsidiary of Delta Sigma Theta, the world's largest black sorority, centers around the revolutionary leader of a fictionalized African nation, Fahari. He is being hunted by a mercenary hired by a big corporation disgruntled by the rebel's policies because they are cutting into the company's profits. The film features a notable soundtrack by Manu Dibango, an African musician." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

"Manu Dibango is one of the original fathers of the Afro-funk scene. His huge worldwide hit 'Soul Makossa' paved the way for artists such as Fela Kuti and Hugh Masekela. This rare soundtrack was produced in tiny quantities for the premiere of the obscure Ossie Davis movie in Seattle in August 1975. Each album is individually numbered, and signed by the cast. It's a superb blend of African rhythms, jazz, and a heavy dose of space jazz and funk. There are too many good tracks to mention, from uptempo dancefloor cuts to slower mellow numbers, all featuring Manu's superb sax playing."- blaxploitation.com

Good luck & check out my other auctions for more rare vinyl!!

GRADING:

All records are play graded conservatively - I have never had a record returned due to bad grading (and I'd like to keep it that way).

NEAR MINT (NM): Otherwise mint but has one or two tiny flaws that do not affect play. Covers should be close to perfect, with minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident. A Near Mint cover might have slight ring-wear, minor denting to a corner, or unobtrusive writing on the cover, but should look close to new.

EXCELLENT (EX): Not quite NM, but better than VG+.

VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+): The record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. Not too far from perfect. On a disc, there may be light paper scuffs from sliding in and out of a sleeve or some of the original luster may be lost. A slight scratch that did not affect play would be acceptably VG+ for most collectors.

VERY GOOD (VG): Record displays visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster, light surface scratches, groove wear and spindle trails. Some audible surface noise. Cover has heavy ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains.

VERY GOOD MINUS (VG-): Vinyl may have numerous scratches including heavy scratches that will tick, heavy surface noise. A VG- cover might have large seam splits, tears, writing on the cover that obscures the artwork. I usually don't list records in this condition unless it is an extremely rare title.

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GRADING ABBREVIATIONS:

bc: bent corner

cc: cut corner

coh: cut out hole

cw: cover wear

H20: water damage

nap: not affecting play

obc: on back cover (as in "wobc"=writing on back cover)

oc: on cover

ol: on label

re: reissue

rw: ring wear