Reviews

Best Of

Ismaël Lô

There was a time, back in the 90s, when it seemed that Ismaël Lô was destined to become one of...

Reviewed in issue October/2015

In Conclusion

Amadou Balaké

In the latter part of his life the singer Amadou Balaké, who passed away in August 2014, was a prominent...

Reviewed in issue October/2015

Oa Na Mba

Sam’M

Trained at Paris’ Conservatory of Music, guitarist Samuel Mbappe – Sam’M – hails from Douala in Cameroon. He grew up...

Reviewed in issue October/2015

Nostalgic Moments

The Soil

The sepia-tinted cover shots and period costumes provide a visual counterpart to the title of this album, the second by...

Reviewed in issue October/2015

Amonafi

Daby Touré

Right from the opening track, ‘Woyoyoye’, a slice of the Afro-pop perfection Daby Touré is known for, it is clear...

Reviewed in issue October/2015

Vangaza!

Brian Chilala & Ngoma Zasu

Zambia lies geographically between Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo and is one of the musically less prolific countries...

Reviewed in issue October/2015

Food Chain

London Afrobeat Collective

London Afrobeat Collective are a ten-piece ensemble that bring a taste of Lagos to the UK's capital. Their new album...

Reviewed in issue Aug/Sep/2015

Monoswezi Yanga

Monoswezi

This is the second album from a remarkable collaboration between African and Scandinavian musicians. The name Monoswezi is an amalgamation...

Reviewed in issue Aug/Sep/2015

I Speak Luganda

Joel Sebunjo

The endongo is an eight-stringed lyre from the area around the Great Lakes in East Africa. Joel Sebunjo has performed...

Reviewed in issue Aug/Sep/2015

1973-1980

Amara Touré

Born in Guinea-Conakry, singer and percussionist Amara Touré wandered peripatetically across West African music for 20 or so years –...

Reviewed in issue Aug/Sep/2015