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  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.
• 
  David Rudder: Random Notes
  
  Calypsonian David Rudder returns with an album that covers various styles with excellent results.

All Reviews >>

Traditional, hereditary musicians in are called azmaris, and when the smoke cleared after the 18-year Derg, it was these musicians in small bars called azmaribet who led the “nocturnal renaissance” in Addis. This 2004 volume returns to musicians recorded and sampled a decade earlier in Volume 2. Although the azmaribet scene has receded some, the music itself sounds better than ever. Lyrics are central to this music’s local appeal, but it’s the sounds that seduce the outsider: the deep, reedy tones of Asnaqè Guèbrèyès’ edgy, perfectly controlled voice and one-string, mèssenqo fiddle, loping 12/8 rhythms played on the hand-struck kekodo drum, and the crisp, lively accordion of Teddèssè Andargué. Essoubalèw Adougna is the young lion, and Gzaté Guèlay the old master of the mèssenqo, and both are thrilling to hear, as is the awesomely powerful vocal of azmari diva Tèdje Tèsfahoun. Roots virtuosity graces the best of these 15 tracks, which together make up the most satisfying, non-pop volume in the Éthiopiques series.