Africa music reviews

This is a great CD of Alemayehu's (the Ethiopian Elvis) greatest works of his seasoned musical career. The old authentic Ethiopian melodies are composed with mixed symphonyish, jazzy, rich musical extrvaganza. With his powerful bass voice, his vibrant and jubliant immersion in his performance is apparent in his songs. He offers his beatuful versions of Tizita and Ambassel (classis Ethiopian melodies). My favorite is however, Marign Biyeshalo with poetic rhymes ('Kodaye tegefo yihunilish chama'- peel my skin off and make a shoe out it for her). I recommend it to anyone who loves the original Ethiopian melodies and appreciates its composition with 21 century instruments.

PS: Watch out for the saxophone solos.

Adeba is an excellent and lively album. Baya Somibo, Miwa and the title track Adeba will have you out of your chair and dancing rythmically.

She does a wonderful job of slowing things down with her silky soft tunes, Hela and Senga. Pull a loved one close and enjoy these beats.

The track Anou will remind you of the Tanzanian Chakacha or Ethiopian style beat. Shake that thing.

This is a must have CD for a connoisseur of contemporary African dance beats.

When I saw Alpha Yaya in concert, I decided I had to buy his CD. I did and I'm very glad with this release. The tracks provide the listener with a pleasing blend of traditional and modern West African melodies. Get ready to hit the replay button on this title.

When this album burst into the spanish media was one of the best solo debut of any artist from pop groups of Mexico. Ilse came from Flans the mexican version of Bananarama, but more fun and real. When Ilse took some years to shake off the teeny booper persona, she returned with this album that IMO is one of the best conceptual records in spanish. AFRICA was that, an african-pop-oriented album with superb beats and clever lyrics, this is underrated in this years, but by the early 90's Ilse was just in the right track for stardom, WE WE is funky, BATONGA is mystic, HABLAME is mellow, AFRICA is inspirational, SERPIENTE is for dancing, an amazing album a must have to any POP lover. Ilse took a couple of years before returning to the scene with SUAVECITO, that album didn't match the boldness of AFRICA, but still makes ILSE a mysterious artist that should have been bigger.

Hi, i enjoyed this cd so much, i love her she is the best, i like her rithm ans her voice, "wewe" is the best as well as "Batanga" you have to listen to this Cd...Julio

i originally got interested in the cd from watching the accompaning pbs video series ... the music is great as is the documentary ... a nice sampler across african music from Geoffrey Oryema to Wrasse Man

I host African students and friends for dance parties and everyone loves this one! It has a good variety of rhythms and tempos as well as some of the best African and Haitian musicians. I highly recommend it!!

Great dancing, moving, excercising music. There's a long, live techno-tribal jam with Maryam Mursal that is extraordinary. This CD was stolen from my vehicle and I'm replacing it. It's a gem.

Perhaps the best look at how African music has shaped American music since Columbia's exceptional "Story of the Blues" collection (which has yet to become avaialble on CD). From snateria to vudu to gospel from Belize to blues, this one has it all. Don't hesitiate. Buy it now.

This CD is worth the money if you are intrigued by world culture and you like good underground Hiphop. If you know any kind of French, that's also a plus; but I don't, and I think it's great anyway. The liner notes give you the gist of what each song is about. All in all, I would say West African rap as represented here is superior to what you're hearing on the radio in America. And it's real. No bling-bling, no gansta junk. It's raw and awesome. Makes me wish I was there. I want to find more.

The Congolese peoples (of the former Zaire) have for decades been universally admired for their sweet voices, tantalizing dance moves, and creative rhythmic music. Tabu Ley and group display all this in this astounding collection primarily sung in the Lingala language. It is a collection of hits that, among other things, display personl affection, the love for Africa, and above al a love for music and singing. The long-running Tabu Ley is one of the famous tradition of Congolese singers that have included persons like Lwanzo Luambo Makiadi Franco. This is an album I have listened to, over and over again, for years since it came out. You are guaranteed to love it and never put it down, as you appreciate the strength and creativity of African music!! Enjoy, Enjoy!!