• 
  KG Omulo: Ayah Ye!: Moving Train
  
  A synergy of funk, rock, reggae and traditional African sounds from this inventive, young singer/songwriter.
• 
  Various Artists: Chief Boima Presents: Lone Stars - Hipco and Gbema
  
  
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  Mamadou Diabaté: Courage
  
  Mamadou Diabate, the kora master, takes a fresh look at Mali instrumental music with his new CD Courage.
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  Various Artists: The Kankobela of the Batonga, Vol. 2
  
  Mysterious melodies from a disappearing thumb piano tradition of Southern Africa.
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  Kiran Ahluwalia: Aam Zameen: Common Ground
  
  Indo-Canadian Songwriter Combines Folk Poetry with African Rock, Jazz and more
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  M.anifest: Immigrant Chronicles: Coming to America
  
  
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  Sona Jobarteh: FASIYA
  
  West African female kora virtuoso releases an album full of grace, warmth, and passion.
• 
  Sia Tolno: My Life
  
  Kissi singer releases a strong second album full of pop-infused star power over songs of strife and triumph.
• 
  Zieti: Zemelewa
  
  Eclectic blend of Afro-infused pop out of Cote d'Ivoire.
• 
  Guelewar: Halleli N Dakarou
  
  Re-released and remastered live CD from this 80's experimental Senegambian outfit.
• 
  Tinariwen: Tassili
  
  Touareg desert legends return with an offering that is meandering, sorrowful and proud.
• 
  Los Rakas: Chancletas y Camisetas Bordada
  
  Oakland/Panamanian rappers -call it "Panabay"-- return with good results.
• 
  Cheikh Lo: Jamm
  
  The unique Senegalese singer and multi-instrumentalist crafts an eclectically excellent record.
• 
  David Rudder: Random Notes
  
  Calypsonian David Rudder returns with an album that covers various styles with excellent results.

All Reviews >>

Here's another gem of a compilation from the golden era of urban, East African dance music. Super Mazembe had enormous success in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from the mid-70s to the mid-80s. This set of 11 classic tracks from those years demonstrates why. Most of the band was born in southern Congo, near Lubumbashi, but they made their base in Nairobi, Kenya, starting in 1974. Shorter tracks like "Jiji" and "Longwa" deliver lean and mean, guitar-driven rumba. And longer ones like "Loboko" and "Gina" reflect the multi-section form that came to be the norm during this era. These tunes begin with florid, harmonized vocals--topped here by the distinctive, high voice of Lovy Longomba--and evolve through one or more rhythm boosts to animated sebens, with bell-like guitar interplay, and swinging horn arrangements.

These long, relaxed arrangements never sound cluttered, despite all that goes on. The rhythms are driven by all the instruments, but especially by Mwanza Wa Mwanza Mulunguluke's muscular bass lines. The band's overall sound is reminiscent of Samba Mapangala's Orchestra Virunga, a band with a similar history. One of the keys to Super Mazembe's success was their decision to sing in various regional languages. They also delve into some non-rumba rhythms, notably on their first big hit, "Kassongo," which sounds a little like classic 12/8 guitar pop from Zimbabwe, only with the more lush, harmonized vocals of Congo music. The only full-length release of Super Mazembe available today, this collection is indispensable for lovers of classic guitar afropop.
Contributed by Banning Eyre for www.afropop.org