Reviews

Sarawoga

Oliver Mtukudzi

Dedicated to his son Sam, who died in a tragic car accident, the Zimbabwean veteran’s latest album opens with the...

Reviewed in issue June/2013

The Rough Guide to African Disco

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Bursting out of 70s America, with a white-suited Travolta at the helm, disco called the world to dance. Its funk,...

Reviewed in issue June/2013

Talé

Salif Keita

Baaba Maal did it with 2009's Television. Amadou & Mariam followed last year with Folila. Now Salif Keita has joined...

Reviewed in issue Apr/May/2013

Teranga! Senegal

VARIOUS ARTISTS

That Senegal has an acoustic singer-songwriter scene (as opposed to a traditional music scene) has been apparent for at least...

Reviewed in issue Apr/May/2013

Sur la Route des Caravanes

Les Tambours de Brazza

The group’s name suggests they are a drum and dance ensemble. But Les Tambours de Brazza are much more than...

Reviewed in issue Apr/May/2013

Wakukaya

Ashimba

This is another fine example of how Scandinavian musicians are collaborating with African musicians in professional studio conditions and producing...

Reviewed in issue Apr/May/2013

Ebo Taylor

Ebo Taylor

A leading innovator, musician, arranger and early collaborator with Fela Kuti, CK Mann and Pat Thomas (to name but a...

Reviewed in issue Apr/May/2013

Exile

Nuru Kane

He calls his style ‘Baye Fall Gnawa’. But the religious music of the Baye Fall (a Senegalese Islamic sect) and...

Reviewed in issue Apr/May/2013

The Best of the Black President 2

Fela Kuti

This is consistently great music: a sublime mix of jazz, funk and a dreamy groove. Fela Kuti created a whole...

Reviewed in issue Apr/May/2013

Heads

Osibisa

As a rock-obssessed teenager, I bought Osibisa’s self-titled debut album on its release in 1971 and its follow-up, Woyaya. I...

Reviewed in issue Apr/May/2013