• 
  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
  
  
• 
  Mamadou Diabaté: Courage
  
  Mamadou Diabate, the kora master, takes a fresh look at Mali instrumental music with his new CD Courage.
• 
  Various Artists: The Kankobela of the Batonga, Vol. 2
  
  Mysterious melodies from a disappearing thumb piano tradition of Southern Africa.
• 
  Kiran Ahluwalia: Aam Zameen: Common Ground
  
  Indo-Canadian Songwriter Combines Folk Poetry with African Rock, Jazz and more
• 
  M.anifest: Immigrant Chronicles: Coming to America
  
  
• 
  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 >>

Big bands are one of the glories of Southern Africa. Despite wonky horn sections and crusty productions, classic tracks from South Africa and the "frontline" states exude a jazz-informed richness missing from much of today's leaner, slicker Afropop. This young band from war-torn Mozambique have bucked the tide of imitating American disco and Zairean soukous to keep alive local rhythms with names like Xigubu, Mapiko, Tufu, and Marabanta. Exotic names, but the sound here is friendly and familiar, based around a swinging horn section, lilting percussion, and strong vocal harmonies. Singing the terrors of an ongoing civil war, Ghorwane maintain a feeling of hope and uplift, one that barely conceals passionate longing and sorrow. The grooves draw upon rootsy 6/8 feels, Cuban-tinged rumba, reggae, and even soul, but always with inventiveness and nuance. Sweet vocal hooks and organic horn arranging--both solo and sectional playing--build on clean, solid drumming and limber bass lines. Horn stabs and an insistent catchy vocal refrain lift "Matarlatanta," a playful song about womens' fashion, to spiritual heights. Another standout, "Sathuma," with its waterfall horn lines and melancholy rumba feel, voices a poignant plea to a poor, ravaged society not to feed on itself. Peter Gabriel's Real World Studio justifies its existence every time it gives a band like this a chance to show what they can do.
Contributed by Banning Eyre
Originally published in: Boston Phoenix