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Reviews

Review of Souvenirs

Souvenirs

Emahoy Tsege-Mariam Gebru

Mississippi Records

Rating: ★★★★

The world lost a unique composer with the passing of Emahoy Tsege-Mariam Gebru at the age of 99 last year....

Reviewed in issue April/2024

Review of Joola Jazz

Joola Jazz

IBAAKU

Blanc Manioc

Rating: ★★★★

Eight years since the release of his previous record Alien Cartoon, Senegalese electro-jazz artist IBAAKU has returned with a stunning...

Reviewed in issue April/2024

Review of Esengo

Esengo

London Afrobeat Collective

Canopy Records

Rating: ★★★★

Given that Afrobeat was born out of a creative culture clash – funk meeting highlife for a riotous party –...

Reviewed in issue April/2024

Review of Dieuf-Dieul de Thiès

Dieuf-Dieul de Thiès

Dieuf-Dieul de Thiès

Top of the World

Buda Musique

Rating: ★★★★

After an early run of success, Senegalese eight-piece Dieuf-Dieul de Thiès (Give-Receive) split in 1983, four years into their story....

Reviewed in issue April/2024

Review of Migration

Migration

Okavango African Orchestra

Batuki Music

Rating: ★★★★

There is something evangelical about the Okavango African Orchestra. Comprising African-born musicians living in Toronto and Montréal, their persuasive fusing...

Reviewed in issue April/2024

Review of Mawja

Mawja

Aziza Brahim

Top of the World

Glitterbeat Records

Rating: ★★★★

The Sahrawi refugee camps are situated out in the deserts of southern Algeria, and are home to the victims of...

Reviewed in issue April/2024

Review of Ntoto

Ntoto

Queen Lilas

Vonvon Rekords

Rating: ★★★

Born to Congolese parents, Lilas Lafleur grew up in Paris and as a teenager sang on several albums by her...

Reviewed in issue March/2024

Review of Baraaim El-Louz

Baraaim El-Louz

Koum Tara

Odradek Records

Rating: ★★★★

Led by French pianist and composer Karim Maurice, Lyon-based group Koum Tara’s second album on the Odradek label, Baraaim El-Louz...

Reviewed in issue March/2024

Review of Tears of the Sun

Tears of the Sun

Teni

Platoon

Rating: ★★★

The sophomore album from rising Nigerian star Teni is an Afrobeats-tastic affair in which the artist sings and raps in...

Reviewed in issue March/2024

Review of Afro Jazz Folk Collection Vol 2

Afro Jazz Folk Collection Vol 2

Super Biton de Ségou

Mieruba

Rating: ★★★★

Three years ago, Mieruba – a rarity among crate-digging enterprises in that the label is actually based in West Africa...

Reviewed in issue March/2024

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