VOA慢速英语2015 内罗毕音乐商店再次出售黑胶唱片

AS IT IS 2015-08-27 Nairobi Music Store Sells Vinyl Records Again 内罗毕音乐商店再次出售黑胶唱片

A music store in the Kenyan capital Nairobi was once a popular place for East African musicians to perform. The music they played combined the styles from many African countries. Much of that music was recorded on vinyl records. They lost popularity¹ when CDs and MP3s were invented. But now, vinyl records are regaining² their popularity, and the lost music is once again being heard.

Joselow: “OK, so what have we got here?”

Karim: “This is a Luo band, umm...”

This is Abdul Karim, owner of the Melodica music store in downtown Nairobi. He spoke³ with VOA’s East Africa correspondent⁴ Gabe Joselow, who reported this story.

Mr. Karim’s father opened the store in 1971. Many musicians recorded their music there. They came to the store from throughout⁵ Kenya, Tanzania and Congo. Their music was a mix of styles from those and other East African countries.

“Some of these guys they just learned⁶ enough how to play guitar basically⁷ on their own without any education in that and then they just come up with their own kind of beats and then say ‘All right, we’re going to go and sell a goat and head off into Nairobi and go find a recording⁸ music store,’ and bam they would be at the store entrance playing their guitars, trying to impress. It was really amazing.”

Mr. Karim says the store was crowded with musicians in the 1970s and 80s. He says people stood outside the store and listened to the music that was being played and recorded inside.

But in the 80s people began buying music on cassette⁹ tapes. In the 90s, CDs became popular. Soon, the last factory in Nairobi that made vinyl records closed. Families sold or threw away their record players. The music that had been recorded at Melodica for vinyl was put into storage¹⁰. But vinyl records are starting to become popular again and the music is once again being heard.

James Rugami has been selling vinyl records at the Kenyatta market in the capital since 1989.

“…there were people who thought I was crazy. They would come over and have a look and say ‘What are you keeping these for?’ But today they are coming back and appreciating. I’m so happy because it’s even very, very young people.”

Mr. Rugami says his sales have increased 40 percent over the past two years.

“The day before yesterday, I served two very interesting girls. One told me she came from Canada and the other was from Seattle, Washington¹¹. One was 19 and the other one was 17. They knew what they were looking for.”

He says his customers want African music.

“No question about that. African, especially from guys across the borders -- they’re looking for African, and the older the better.”

Both Mr. Rugami and Mr. Karim say people from throughout the world are contacting them to buy African records. Facebook groups have formed in Kenya, and fans of African music on vinyl records have monthly¹² listening parties.

Mr. Karim is buying new record players -- called “turntables” -- from China to help meet the growing demand. The old music of East Africa is once again being played – and enjoyed.

Words in This Story

vinyl – n. a plastic material that is used to make records and clothing and as a covering for floors, walls and furniture

downtown – n. the main or central part of a city or town; the part of a city or town where there are tall buildings, stores and offices

beats – n. to hit (a drum or other musical instrument) repeatedly¹³ in order to produce music or a signal¹⁴

fan – n. a person who likes and admires someone (such as a famous person) or something (such as a sport or a sports team) in a very enthusiastic way

turntable – n. the part of a record player that turns the record

1 popularity   

n.普及，流行，名望，受欢迎

参考例句：

• The story had an extensive popularity among American readers.这本小说在美国读者中赢得广泛的声望。
• Our product enjoys popularity throughout the world.我们的产品饮誉全球。

2 regaining   

复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地

参考例句：

• She was regaining consciousness now, but the fear was coming with her. 现在她正在恢发她的知觉，但是恐怖也就伴随着来了。
• She said briefly, regaining her will with a click. 她干脆地答道，又马上重新振作起精神来。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 correspondent   

n.记者，通信者；adj.符合的，一致的，相当的

参考例句：

• He volunteered as a correspondent for the war.他自愿担任作报道这次战争的记者。
• The result was correspondent with my wishes.结果与我的愿望是一致的。

5 throughout   

adv.到处，自始至终；prep.遍及，贯穿

参考例句：

• These magazines are sold at bookstores throughout the country.这些杂志在全国各地书店均有发售。
• Guilin is known throughout the world for its scenery.桂林以山水著称于世。

6 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

7 basically   

adv.基本上，从根本上说

参考例句：

• His heart is basically sound.他的心脏基本上健康。
• Basically I agree with your plan.我基本上同意你的计划。

8 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

9 cassette   

n.卡式录音带盒；卡式胶卷盒

参考例句：

• He inserted a cassette into the machine.他把一盒录像带放入机器。
• And let's not forget our cassette player and some tapes.还别忘了带上我们的卡式录音机和一些录音带。

10 storage   

n.存储器，储藏，保管，库存，仓库

参考例句：

• How much will you have to pay the warehouse for storage?你得付多少仓库保管费？
• He is charging a storage battery.他在为蓄电池充电。

11 Washington   

n.华盛顿特区(是美国首都)

参考例句：

• His birthplace is Washington,but he lives in San Francisco.他出生于华盛顿，但住在旧金山。
• They, together with my father,have gone to Washington.他们和我父亲一起去华盛顿了。

12 monthly   

adj.每月的，持续一个月的，每月发生的；adv.每月，按月； n.月刊；(复数）monthlies:月经

参考例句：

• The rent on his apartment was his biggest monthly expense.他的房租是每个月最大的开支。
• The monthly rent is $15,inclusive of light and water.每月租金15美元，包括水电费在内。

13 repeatedly   

adv.重复地，再三地

参考例句：

• The loudspeakers blared the speech repeatedly.扬声器里反复大声地播送那篇演讲。
• He repeatedly beat his foot upon the floor.他反复用脚敲着地板。

14 signal   

n.信号，暗号

参考例句：

• This is a signal failure.这是明显的失败。
• A train must not pass a signal that is at danger.火车切不可越过危险信号。