• 
  KG Omulo: Ayah Ye!: Moving Train
  
  A synergy of funk, rock, reggae and traditional African sounds from this inventive, young singer/songwriter.
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  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.
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  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.
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  Tinariwen: Tassili
  
  Touareg desert legends return with an offering that is meandering, sorrowful and proud.
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  Los Rakas: Chancletas y Camisetas Bordada
  
  Oakland/Panamanian rappers -call it "Panabay"-- return with good results.
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  Cheikh Lo: Jamm
  
  The unique Senegalese singer and multi-instrumentalist crafts an eclectically excellent record.
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  David Rudder: Random Notes
  
  Calypsonian David Rudder returns with an album that covers various styles with excellent results.

All Reviews >>

Gidigidi Majimaji: Ismarwa (A'mish, 2002) African hip-hop is coming of age, and Gidigidi Majimaji of Kenya provide one of the best examples out there. They bring in plenty of rapping and familiar machine grooves, but the presence of Luo and other Kenyan traditional instruments, rhythms and melodies, as well as elements of ragamuffin reggae and other genres, make the hip-hop classification too limiting. Whether on tuneful numbers like the hook-laden "Chwodho Style (Ting Badi Malo)," audio dramas like the brooding "Mayie" or the playful "Nyako Aheri," or rootsy, vocal-driven pieces like "Dala," these 19 tracks bloom with creativity and deliver more sonic surprises than just about any recent release from Africa. Humor, groove, beautiful singing, political themes, and contemporary musical sensibilities come together in a rare and deeply satisfying way.
Contributed by Banning Eyre for www.afropop.org