Cameroon music reviews

Manu Dibango,has always been the insperational singer after his sensational album "negropolitaine" i dind not expext him to create such an inspiring african jazz. I would say this id an album of a life time like his all albums, he just conquered my heart. In fact i believe that at my age i am the biggest Manu Dibango fan from Mozambique. PS My is English is not that good, not my fisrt language i tried my best

This is the album that introduced me to Manu Dibango. I have loved it since the first time I listened to it. It doesn't matter to me what anyone else might think; this music puts a smile on my face and always will. If you find Soul Makossa or any of his older albums interesting, then you should give this one a try.

For all fans of music,diversity and saxophone,listen CD, take a trip, discover Cameroon tradition trough this Cd...Excellent job by the greatest....M.D

After listening to Journey Between, I went straight back to the store and purchased Baka Beyond's other two CD's. I've never done that before in about 35 years of buying 45's, LP's, 8-tracks, cassettes and CD's. The African beat will quickly move into your core and the instrumentation, slightly understated and teasing, will have you wanting more. You could dance to this using steps that will come from your body of their own accord, or just listen. But you can't sit still. You might not be able to imagine how well African and Celtic sounds work together until you hear this. But perhaps more than the beat or the instruments are the vocals. If you've ever heard female vocals better than these, give me call. Get a CD for yourself, one for your best friend and one for the next gift. You can't miss.

This recording was first released in 1969. The music has jazz flavor, but strongest tones are pure rhythm. Manu Dibango is a world renowned musician. It is difficult to express the excellence of this recording using mere words. My only regret about the CD is that it lacks the musicians' photo from the original LP - but the music is still right there.

This recording was first released in 1969. The music has jazz flavor, but strongest tones are pure rhythm. Manu Dibango is a world renowned musician. It is difficult to express the excellence of this recording using mere words. My only regret about the CD is that it lacks the musicians' photo from the original LP - but the music is still right there.

The first song, Me Bowa Ya by Mekongo from Cameroun, is a mid-tempo number with a bubbly beat and an enchanting mix of African and French vocals. The main lyric is in the African language and the chorus is in French, and it works so well.

Massoua Mo by Eba Aka Jerome from Ivory Coast is next, and this one has a long instrumental intro before the male vocal enters the mix. This single vocal is boosted by a chorus of many voices in certain parts while the string instruments become ever more engaging. Quite a stunner!

The next country is Upper Volta: the song Dounougnan by Kambou Clement has a lilting texture, intricate instrumental interplay and a soulful vocal with a spiritual undertone. Bo Mbanda by Pablo from Zaire is a beautiful melodious ballad full of yearning with absolutely breathtaking guitar parts and interesting vocal twists and turns.

The style changes drastically with Jalo by Etoile de Dakar from Senegal. This is a slow, mournful dirge with a Middle Eastern feel, soulful vocals and instrumentation dominated by what sounds like an organ. It sounds like a prayer set to music and is most compelling and memorable. The album concludes with Moboma, an uplifting slice of vocal pop by Menga Mokombi from Congo.

These unforgettable songs are all tuneful, catchy and rhythmically gripping. They demonstrate the opulent richness and variety of the African pop music of the early 1980s. I also strongly recommend Sounds d'Afrique vol. 2 for more of these wonderful African sounds from the early 1980s.

Bought this in 1981 when it first came out and still haven't found an afro compilation that tops it. With a mainly soukous focus and to my mind better than Sound D'Afrique 2 this was THE album that introduced African sounds to the english speaking world. I'm looking to get this on cd if at all possible as my vinyl version is all but worn out.

If you find a copy buy it!

This opulent album opens with Dede Priscilla by Lea Lignanzi from Central Africa Republic, a most rhythmic and hypnotic lilting number with French exhortations to dance scattered in between the lovely sounds of the African language. The next number is by Mensy from Cameroun, somewhat more subdued than the previous, but equally hypnotic and engaging in its rhythmic textures.

Bolingo Mobesu by Vonga Aye from Zaire is a real sizzler with its soulful female vocal, male backing vocals and pulsating beats. Absolutely brilliant and ideal for the dancefloor. The next country is Mali, whence comes Menebo Nden by Moussa Doumbia. This one opens with wailing a capella vocals before the buoyant rhythms come in. It also contains the most beautiful instrumental flourishes and has an overall Middle Eastern flavour, especially in the vocal patterns.

The melodious Madeleina by Pablo Lubadika Porthos from Zaire is next, a flowing love ballad with a bittersweet feel. Then comes Jeff Louna from Congo with Paulina Mineure, a mid-tempo number that sounds the closest to a Western pop ballad. The album concludes with Yoyoyo by Asi Kapela from Zaire. Halfway through there is an interesting rhythmic break before all the instruments return in full force.

Every track on this gorgeous compilation is a pleasure to listen to. The songs are tuneful and most are highly uplifting and joyful. Please also investigate Volume I of Sounds d'Afrique, although I personally like this album more. Together these two albums demonstrate the richness and variety of African pop music in the early 1980s.

I am so glad to find this again. My vinyl version got broken in a move. This is wonderful upbeat music that will make you feel good to be alive. I love it when I find a lost treasure like this.

This album, and its companion album Sound D'Afrique vol.1, are great compilations of early African pop - mostly, but not exclusively, Soukous. Originally put out by Island records in the early 80's, this infectious dance music has vocals of great expressive feeling along with snappy horn sections and churning rhythms (as well as the intertwinning guitar parts we have come to expect from this music. Dare ya not to dance!

If it's pure tribal beats intersected with vocals you seek, take a listen to Brice Wassy's BALENGU VILLAGE.
�This is the music of West Cameroon: and who better to demonstrate its range than Wassy, who grew up as a boy surrounded by traditional village rhythms, picking out his own on handmade instruments.

This is African Jazz-the sound of Balengu Village, West Cameroon, through the ears of an Afro-Parisian in London. Brought to you by Brice Wassy, the drumming heartbeat of Salif Keita (Soro, Koyan), Manu Dibango, Talking Heads, Toure Kunda, Jean-Luc Ponty, Miriam Makeba, Graham Haynes, Francis Bebey, Joe Zawinul, David Murray, Wally Badarou... This is a highly personal record, recorded in Wassy's hometown in Cameroon, with additional recording and mixing in Paris. I feel the only honest way to evaluate a recording is by how many times you play them. I'm sure Balengu Village was my most played CD in my collection last year. Favorite track: Manga Blues.

i actually found out about Manu from reading the insert for one of my Les Nubians cds. They introduced him as an "african jazz legend" so i just had to find out if he was worthy of this title and believe me,he is. Considering the dismal state of current rap and R&B i was ready for something different and got it. songs 1 and 5 have a james brown flavor to them. Baobob sunset, my favorite song, makes me feel like i am listening to coltrane has his seductive horn travels down an african river on a moonlit night. song number 8 reminds me of those old school house parties where traditional soca and roots reggae intertwine and mingle in ecstacy as the DJ blasts them through the speakers. and finally my other favorite song (sorry i dont have the names right now) is number ten. this song has a tito puentes vibe to it. although i used all of these musical references to describe this one artist, believe me when i say that he is unique and worthy in his own right. I have added him to the list of my other favorite african musicans which include the late and great Fela Kuti, and the incomparable band orchestra baobob. I hope this review has helped.

The very upbeat sensual title track in it's original form is enough to get the CD..the rest of the tracks are first-rate with its mix of somewhat Western influenced African rhythms,funk,dance in a unique sound that is Makossa Music.This is a pricey import new but worth it.
The remastering and CD art are very good and CD length maxed out so one can see how influential Manu was on the development of later day Dance,Disco etc. all with a Continental European feel from a Cameroonian blowing a cool and mean horn. The elegant side of Euro-Trash.

This cd is an early African dance classic. The title track soul makossa was a hit worldwide, spawning some 40 cover version. This is hot funky afro-soul eith punchy drums, and wild sax. This is without a doubt one of Dibango's best.