Description
Jo Tongo's ultra-rare 1982 release, where Afro disco-funk and reggae vividly intertwine, is being reissued for the first time.
Jo Tongo, a Cameroonian artist known for his steadfast protest against colonialism and absurdity and for masterpieces such as "Sa Discossa," created the album "Those Flowers" by blending disco-funk and reggae.
Featuring the same musicians as the masterpiece "Sa Discossa," this work places disco-funk and reggae on one side of the record each, reflecting Western musical influences more strongly. "People Need Peace" and "We Human Beings," imbued with the rebellious spirit of a man who paid a price in his career for his convictions, feature ominous synthesizers reminiscent of military aircraft. On the other hand, the album also includes warm, heartfelt songs such as "Ain't No Man Like A Real Friend," which sings of friendship and trust, and the title track, "Those Flowers," which weaves together love and kindness. This highly anticipated vinyl reissue features a thick jacket and has undergone restoration, mastering, and cutting by Frederic Stader.
A1. Those Flowers
A2. People Need Peace
A3. Funky Feeling
B1. Ain't No Man Like A Real Friend
B2. Sun Belongs To All The World
B3. We Human Beings
Following the acclaimed reissue of Sa Discossa earlier this year, Jo Tongo's third solo album Those Flowers returns to the spotlight.
Originally released just a year and a half after Sa Discossa, this 1982 gem came out on the small Context label and, in Tongo's own words, the two records are "like twins." Recorded with many of the same musicians, Those Flowers continues the vibrant fusion of disco-funk and reggae - this time dedicating one side to each, leaning slightly more into his Western influences.
But there's more than groove beneath the surface. Tracks like "People Need Peace" and "We Human Beings" channel his enduring themes of resistance, identity, and freedom. The synthesizer at the beginning of the song mimics the ominous drone of warplanes, and lyrics speak directly to global struggles - reminders that his music is both deeply personal and powerfully political. "I paid for these ideals in my career," Tongo reflects, alluding to the personal costs of his outspoken stance against colonialism and injustice.
Still, Those Flowers carries joy at its heart. Songs like "Ain't No Man Like A Real Friend" celebrate trust and loyalty, while the title track offers a tender ode to love and kindness - "picking flowers from the soul," as Tongo puts it. These songs reveal the inner world of a man who has always viewed music as a mirror of life.
This reissue marks the second installment in the African Edge series from The Outer Edge label. Fully restored and remastered, Those Flowers is now set to bloom again - another vital chapter in the legacy of Jo Tongo.
VITAL SALES POINTS:
- First ever reissue of sought after Afro Disco-Funk / Reggae LP
- Fully Licenced
- Thick 350 g picture sleeve with hype sticker
- Mastered & cut by Frederic Stader
