Music » African Music

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King Sunny Ade's second international release carries on what he achieved with Juju Music, taking I.K. Dairo's legacy of juju music into the modern age. With more dialogue between instruments and voices, it flows a little more freely than its predecessor, and the title track, with its marvelous talking drum solo, is an absolute Ade gem. While the production occasionally sounds dated--the stereo effects are unnecessary--the music itself is nothing less than sensational. "E Saiye Re" stands as one of the great all-time dance tracks, and you have to wonder why this disc didn't bring Ade the international superstardom his label had hoped for. The King himself is in excellent voice, and his subjects surround him with a rich carpet of sound. Nigh on perfect. --Chris Nickson

Release Date: 1990-03-16, Audio CD, Capitol

Release Date: 1990-10-25, Audio CD, Capitol

Release Date: 1993-03-26, Audio CD, Real World

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A sangoma is a traditional healer, one who channels the ancestral spirits who advise the living. On this impeccably produced CD, Miriam Makeba returns to her roots, singing the songs of her childhood, and in the process seeks to heal the wounds of apartheid and 30 years of exile from her South African home. The songs here are parables, lullabies, and gathering songs, deeply spiritual and moving. They are songs of struggle and perseverance delivered by Africa's best-loved voice. Mama Africa (Makeba's nickname) is joined by a group of soulful women singers. Some songs feature understated percussion; others are gloriously unadorned a cappella. This is an essential timeless album from one of the world's greatest singers. --Jeff Grubb

African Tribal Music And Dances by Tribal Music On Location

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Brian Jones's trip to Morocco in 1968 included a trip to the mountain village of Jajouka guided by painter Brion Gysin. What he recorded there introduced the world at large to the Master Musicians of Jajouka, initially released in 1971. Their music is based on ritual, but is still playful. The horns, chanting, and drums of this field recording are completely trancelike. It's a shame that phasing and panning has been added to the sound in an attempt to make it even more psychedelic because it stands perfectly well by itself without the effects. (You also have to wonder whether titles like "Your Eyes Are Like a Cup of Tea" are really literal translations from Aramaic). Still, this is perfectly classic stuff, celebrating the weeklong Rites of Pan festival and offering an almost religious experience to the listener. Anyone who doubts that music has the power to transport should begin here. A classic of world music. --Chris Nickson

If you have to pick "the classic" Sam Mangwana album, this would be it. He worked with both Franco and Rochereau, so he had the pedigree by the '70s to do whatever he wanted. Mangwana's earthy, rumba-heavy protosoukous is a pleasure to listen to. Each guitar line from Syan M'Benza or Sammy Massamba seems to go on forever, as Mangwana croons (and croon is really the right word) about love and life and girls, girls, girls and the band spurs him on with sinuous and sultry (never either lewd or cute) rhythms. These 1979 tracks are a pan-African textbook, with hints of folk and pop from Angola, Cameroon, and Zimbabwe always bubbling just under the surface. It is the perfect Mangwana album. Plus, the CD includes both the full Maria Tebbo plus another set of tracks from the "almost as good" Waka Waka from 1978. --Louis Gibson