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Reviews

Review of Braquage de Pouvoir

Braquage de Pouvoir

Tiken Jah Fakoly

Chapter Two

Rating: ★★★

A quarter of a century on since he emerged from Ivory Coast with his spectacular international debut Mangercratie, Tiken Jan...

Reviewed in issue January/February/2023

Review of Funky Pangolin

Funky Pangolin

Kyekyeku & Super Opong Stars

Blue Hedgehog

Rating: ★★★

The Ghanaian guitarist Kyekyeku – pronounced Tche-tche-kou – formed the Ghanalogue Highlife project in Accra a decade or so ago, although his...

Reviewed in issue January/February/2023

Review of Kel Tinariwen

Kel Tinariwen

Tinariwen

Wedge

Rating: ★★★

You know Tinariwen. Hypnotic Touareg assouf music from bluesy electric guitars, slithering out of Saharan sand-encrusted amps and accompanied by...

Reviewed in issue January/February/2023

Review of Balka Sound

Balka Sound

Balka Sound

Top of the World

Strut

Rating: ★★★★

A rare vinyl copy of Balka Sound’s 1984 album Afro Musik Creation is currently on offer at $275 on the...

Reviewed in issue January/February/2023

Review of Ukubonga

Ukubonga

Lorraine Klaasen & Mongezi Ntaka

Justin Time Records

Rating: ★★★

It was astonishing how quickly the resistance music of the townships – The Indestructible Beat of Soweto, as it was memorably...

Reviewed in issue January/February/2023

Review of Yoruba Odyssey

Yoruba Odyssey

Adédèjì

Top of the World

One World

Rating: ★★★★

In recent years Nigerian music has become synonymous with the globalised Afrobeats of the likes of Burna Boy and Wizkid....

Reviewed in issue January/February/2023

Review of Afro Funk

Afro Funk

TP Orchestre Poly-Rythmo

Acid Jazz

Rating: ★★★★

When the former French colony of Dahomey gained its independence in 1960, it launched a surge of artistic creativity in...

Reviewed in issue January/February/2023

Review of Hope

Hope

Soweto Gospel Choir

Shanachie Entertainments

Rating: ★★★

Soweto Gospel Choir have hit on a winning formula that has brought them three Grammys and performances before president Obama...

Reviewed in issue December/2022

Review of $/He Who Feeds You…Owns You

$/He Who Feeds You…Owns You

The Brother Moves On

Native Rebel Recordings

Rating: ★★★★

In a terrific transition from the protest music of their last album, Tolika Mtoliki, The Brother Moves On's fourth record...

Reviewed in issue December/2022

Review of Badinyaa Kumoo

Badinyaa Kumoo

Sona Jobarteh

Top of the World

African Guild Records

Rating: ★★★★★

Long respected as the first internationally successful female kora player, it is more than a decade since Sona Jobarteh's last...

Reviewed in issue December/2022

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