Zimbabwe music reviews

In my college days,I had an acquaintance from New Orleans who prided himself on his vast Otis Redding collection.In the meantime,I discovered Oliver Mtukudzi,Zimbabwe's Otis Redding.Bonnie Raitt rightly equates liking him with liking chocolate in her intro to this CD--people don't know exactly why.

This CD is filled with powerful songs.It's great to be able to read the lyrics if you're interested.The music is still enchanting&bluesy without knowing what the words are.

Oliver Mtukudzi's singing is earthy,rough,yet comforting.His backup singers are almost a gospel choir.I'm not a big fan of the blues,yet if this counts as blues music,then I'm a fan.This album is PERFECT.I can't name a single track worth skipping."Tuku Music" is a wonderful intro to Oliver Mtukudzi's spectacular music.

This album was so powerful that I went out and purchased everything I could of "Tuku Music" and just loved it. The translated words of all of Mtukudzi's songs are so powerful and so beautiful. It is "message music" with a bluesy theme. Mtukudzi's gruff voice is in the tradition of great blues singers from John Lee Hooker to Leadbelly. There are few records that you can listen to from beginning to end without getting tired. Here's one that you'll do that with, time and time again.

This CD has a calming effect on me whenever I hear it. I feel like I am sitting in Zimbabwe drinking whawha. One or two songs do get a bit repetitive... but on the whole its great. I wish I could understand the lyrics, because apparantly his songs focus on social and economic issues.

i listened to this while pregnant, then while nursing. now we listen to it at bedtime, and sometimes in the car. the music is so beautiful and soothing, it's one of my favorites in any category.

This is a great CD and I often listen to it without my child around. I've even played it when we have company and they comment on it being good. The music on this CD is very similar to some of the African influenced music on Graceland. Other CDs in the series are as good.

I received this cd as a gift from a friend for my 5 month old daughter. We listen to it every night as part of our bedtime ritual. She loves it and I probably enjoy it at least as much. A very nice alternative to the routine lullaby cd's out there!

who has the ability to play anything and make you respect it and him. This guy is a thinking musician. I'm listening to it now respecting the drummer Lex Humphries too.

Yusef's ability to offer a perfectly executed musical note, one that resonates to the depths of your soul, is in itself evidence of the Creator's handiwork. His offering on this recording is sheer beauty.
When Yusef plays a simple melody, he makes each note, each phrse speak volumes. When he plays "out", he is not like most who sound like they're searching for something: he found it. He knows what he's doing.
A truly civilized nation would recognize him as a national treasure.

If you are going to buy a Yusef Lateef album, this is the one to get. It blends an amazing sense of experimentation with the cool, structured sound that Lateef knows like the back of his hand.

All the solos are amazing, in particular Lateef's. Among the more memorable songs are the two love themes, "Snafu", and "Blues For The Orient", although perhaps the freshest and catchiest track is "The Plum Blossom," a smooth, beautiful introduction to the album highlighted by Barry Harris' gorgeous piano language, tabla-like percussion, and Lateef in all his glory.

Upon first listen, Eastern Sounds may seem to be a little bit too much of an exoticization for Lateef to mold well - but the album grows on listeners like nothing else he has done.

While "Tuku Music" is earthy,this album is lighter in tone.This is joyful;some hear Carribean influences in it,such as soukous.

"Paivepo" does mention darker themes of AIDS,but it also uses lighthearted parables to teach lessons.Mtukudzi's singing is as beautiful&powerful as ever."Paivepo" isn't a sophomore slump compared to "Tuku Music";it's only different.Oliver Mtukudzi's albums are worth collecting;there's not a single weak song in them.

This album is just great. Tuku "Samanyanga" has produced a masterpiece which is both a informative and highly danceable. Toita madiro is a beuatiful remake of one of Tuku's earlier songs and everyone is dancing to this piece of ingeniuty. A remake of Dzandimomotera should be able to scale the same heights. This surely is a great buy.

Ini ndiri wekuZimbabwe, mwana we Harare. I would like to say that Oliver Mtukudzi outdid himself on this one. If at all you ever doubted Oliver's capabilities, just one taste of this masterpiece will have you vouching fror him hands down. Big up Tuku. To my boy Sput in S.A. I love you!!!!

While one of Oliver Mtukudzi's tunes would fit in beautifully on an African mix CD, this collection doesn't show a lot of range musically. Basically, every tune is a four bar verse progression followed by a four bar chorus progression, with the same melodic riffs repeated over and over again. They're nice riffs, but it's hard to tell one tune from the next.

But... his lyrics are supposedly very good, though I suspect most listeners won't be fluent in any of the African languages he sings in. The liner notes do explain the song lyrics in narrative form, not word-for-word (which would probably lose the meaning, anyway).

I guess it depends on what you're looking for... this is worth a couple of spins, but something like one of the Rough Guide's country-by-country anthologies or a more dynamic group like the Sweet Talks or Tinariwen have more enduring value.

By far one of my favorite CDs. Very upbeat, thought provoking CD. Keep it up Oliver, makagona apa mukoma.

This album contains joyful music that will have you toe tapping and humming along. Even after countless playtime in my car and at home the songs still sound fresh from the upbeat and optimistic soul of his music; plus his respect for family and fellow humans comes through in the lyrics. Its a shame that artists like Mtukudzi do not get more exposure in a crowded space of trashy music.

A beautiful, happy collection indeed.

Putumayo is a great vehicle for touring the world -- you can do it from the comfort of your own home by way of some incredible music. This particular disc is an enchanting and rhythmic look at Africa and its many different musical styles. According to the accompanying and extremely informative booklet, Africa is home to over 50 countries, 1,000 different languages, and 3,000 different tribes. That would make this disc a brief glimpse of all Africa has to offer in the music world, even though it is a very comprehensive sampling - ten songs from seven different countries.

Many cultures have influenced the music of Africa over the years, adding to a rich diversity of both music and the instruments with which to play music. The music found here is as beautiful and untamable as the African landscape - showing the strong unbreakable spirit of a strong, enduring, and culturally rich people. As well as containing two previously unreleased tracks of known artists, this disc also contains music of people that have never been heard outside of their marketing areas before. A bona fide treasure to care for and enjoy.

Fundo Di Matu is sung in Crioulo, which is a blend of African languages local to the Guinea Bissau and Portuguese, which is the main language of Guinea Bissau. Manuel Leal Emidio Costa, or Manecas Costa, first released this song on his album of the same name in 1999. Fundo Di Matu means Deep in the Forest and the rhythms of this piece will have you swaying and moving to the music before you realize what has happened, as Manecas' emotion laden lyrics dance around the melody.

Les Go is local slang along the Ivory Coast for "The Girls." This group is fronted by not one, but three young women who are a part of something so much larger - the L'Ensemble Koteba d'Abidjan. The famed dance/ theatre/ music company which was established in the city of Abidjan in order to preserve the Mandingo culture. The director of this school brought the three girls together, and now they mix their cultural music with popular Western music to bring about their own unique and most definitely unique sound. The lyrics of this piece are in Bambara, the language of Mali. In this track can be heard the n'goni (a four stringed lute-like instrument), Malian flutes, drums, and even some modern studio effects. The end result is a stunning and flavourful almost pop sounding track.

Ke Cu Minino Na Tchora is another interesting piece with a definite Reggae influence. The lyrics are completely at odds with the upbeat, chipper melody. The electric guitar has a bit of a spotlight, dancing all about the drum beat and bringing a smile - until you read the lyrics, that is. The Criolu lyrics describe the pain and suffering which comes with war, and focuses on the children thus affected. Bidinte has a strong love for music, according to the liner notes he even changed his religion to Catholic so that he could play the priests guitar! Incredible spirit and drive are combined with some serious talent where this young man is concerned. I hope to hear more of his work in time.

Not only is this a great way to expose yourself to African music, it is a great dance disc. The rhythms are very strong and lend themselves well to such strenuous activity. All of the artists featured on this disc are talented and have something worthwhile to say - this is music with meaning and a deep regard for life.

Review Original Posted at LinearReflections.com

While people associate Africa with drumming,this album leans to the acoustic side.Putumayo excels in exploring world acoustic music,and this album is a shining example.Each song is perfect,haunting.

Manecas Costa sings of a long-lost love;Seydu sings of the plight of children during wartime.Les Go is a powerful trio of women from the Ivory Coast.Oliver Mtukudzi of Zimbabwe,who is on many Putumayo albums,has a beautiful song about the sustaining power of spirituality.Augusto Cego from Cape Verde sings of the melancholy of the sea.Aura Msimang sings powerfully of a mother's loss.Adama Yalomba sings about helping the less fortunate accompanied by an unobtrusive electronic beat;I wish I could find more of his music.Habib Koite sings about the problems caused by polygamy when wives fight;it's not the glossy version of polygamy presented on HBO's "Big Love",but the atrocious nature of it in Mali.Koite doesn't sugarcoat it.

This is a powerful album.Despite its heavy themes of hunger,war&polygamy,its music is relaxing&uplifting.

Putumayo does it again! Beautiful musical voyage of Africa with some haunting melodies. This is an enchanting album ...something you need to add to your I-Pod ASAP! My favorites are Raki by Oliver Mtukudzi and Sinama Denw by Habib Koite.

An excellent Thomas Mapfumo disc. His music is different from that of the Bhundu Boys or the Four Brothers, as it is calmer (for lack of a better word). Track 12, Shumba, is one I found to be particularly good, as is Track 1, Servende. The CD contains only good tracks and I would definitely recommend this album, along with the Four Brothers (The Best of the Four Borthers, Makorokoto) and Bhundu Boys (True Jit) to others seeking great music from Zimbabwe.

(The Four Brothers' Best of... album is absolutely fantastic. It is the best CD I own. It is beyond excellent....)

First I am not from Zimbabwe..but I love the Cd so much That even though it was recently stolen out of my car when thieves broke in and carted my stereo cd player away.. I have reordered this compilation along with my Best of Best fela that was taken as well...(sniffle sniffle...Damn these American rogues!!!... I hope they become African music fans though after they (hopefully)..llisten to the stolen cds)

I first heard Thomas Mapfumo while walking past a store that was using "Zvandiviringa" (track 5, here) as sonic wallpaper. It stopped me in my tracks.

Mapfumo's music is rooted in the ancient Shona culture of Zimbabwe, and his music and lyrics were a rallying focus in the slow revolution that eventually toppled the all-white Rhodesian government (the lyrics were written in an almost-unbreakable code -- the Shona language -- so for a long time, his subversion went unnoticed by the authorities).

However, you don't need to know anything about Zimbabwe or the Shona culture to love this music. You can hardly tell from the scratchy sound samples, but most of these tracks are similar in lilt to reggae. One slow track, "Hondo" is alone worth the price of admission, as is "Zvandiviringa." Listen carefully to the samples and you can also hear the gorgeous, African-style lead guitar work.

This album gives a varied selection of Mapfumo's work, which makes it fairly good choice for your first Mapfumo album, and it contains no dud tracks (unlike most of his other albums), however, if you think you'll only ever buy one of his albums, I would instead recommend "Chamunorwa" (which seems to be currently out of print, unfortunately).

Two more reasons to try Mapfumo's music: 1) Zimbabwe is in desparate financial straits, so you will be engaging in international relief, and 2) small children LOVE it. My 3 year-old constantly demands his "daka" music, and dances himself silly to it.

Like that one. Real, traditional African music and ambiance, all African-made. Though not one of my very favorites, the very best is Maraire's Chaminuka, or Soul of Mbira. But you won't waste your money here, that's no pseudo-African, white commercial band playing, man.

I bought this CD for my World Music Class at Canisius College. I started to play it while driving home from the record store in my car. The first song was so soothing and comforting that I actually started tearing up as I drove. I later found out that this is an "off-loading" song meant to take one's worries and troubles away. Works for me!

Af riend of mine was recently in a car accident. I sent her my original copy to help her heal; I am here to buy a replacement copy.

If you are a fan of the Mbira and its music, this is one CD not to miss. I have a few in my collection and this is one of the best. The music is so well done that you feel you are there watching and listening with the masters and masters they are. I own a small version of the Mbira they use and it is NOT an easy thing to play! Hats off to the recording engineers and the players. This is a keeper.

Simple acoustic guitar, lyrics written from the passion of the soul working through the agony of loved people passing, sung by a man who's been through the suffering of Apartheid and the fire of protest. This is one of the top five of my 300 CDs and every week it gives me peace and strength. Tuku's voice is husky and rich and his guitar style simple and beautiful. Buy this CD...support music that supports freedom from tyranny.

This CD just blows me away each time I hear it. Definitely one of the best CDs in my collection. This man reaches out to the very core of your soul...

This is glorious heartfelt, soulful singing and playing. Mutukudzi navigates seamlessly from one song to the next. By the time you have finished listening, you have the impression of having heard one long sweet meditation on loss and redemption; while each individual song reflects the depth of his warmth and humanity. If you are looking for a timeless acoustic performance, GET THIS ALBUM!

There is great use of fingers on this album.I don't mind calling them the two great players ever.My personal favourite is Machikichori

I CAN ACTUALLY FEEL THE HEALING IN SHONA MUSIC BUT BY FAR THIS IS THE BEST. IT MOVES MY SPIRIT AND GET RID OF MY WORRIES AND FEARS. I MEDITATE TO IT AND RELEASE NEGATIVE ENERY THAT IS AROUND ME TO CALM MY NERVES.

THIS MUSIC REPRESENTS NEW BEGININGS OF NATURAL ANIMAL BEHAVIORS IN SEASONS OF CHANGE: A SNAKE SHEADING ITS SKIN OR A CAMELON COLORS CHANGES DURING ATTACK TO WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS, A CACOON CHANGING INTO A BUTTERFLY.

PARTICULARILY, I LIKE THE CALL AND RESPONSE OF THE TWO MBIRAS PLAYING IN HARMONY CONNECTING EACH SPIRT.

WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS THIS MUSIC PLAYED SO DELICATELY BY MEN... THANKS FOR KEEPING THIS BEAUTIFUL MUSIC ALIVE. I RATE THIS MUSIC A 10!!! SOOTHING TO BATH IN.

My title sums this album up about as well as a review of the Book of Genesis titled: "One old guy waving his arms."

This is not "World Music" - it is not of this world. These "old guys" are (or were, unfortunately - Dumi died on Thanksgiving 1999) all-time mbira masters who, for their own incomprehensible reasons, never played together until this album.

I have no idea what the reviewer from "The Beat" (above) was listening to. "Oomph" and "punch" do not apply here. This album, more than any other (including Dumi's rather dry solo album: "Chaminuka") distills the essence of Shona music.

Use it as wallpaper, use it for your breathing exercises, use it to put the baby to sleep, whatever. However you expose yourself to it, you will eventually become addicted.

(You wouldn't know from Amazon's scratchy track samples, but the recording quality is also excellent.)