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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.
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  Zieti: Zemelewa
  
  Eclectic blend of Afro-infused pop out of Cote d'Ivoire.
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  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 >>

This collection of hits from the early days of Zambia’s most important roots pop band is decidedly low fidelity, but it offers a rich education on the country’s cultural diversity. Amayenge has been huge on the Zambian music scene for nearly two and a half decades. Launched in southern Zambia by the tireless musical visionary Kris Chali (who died in 2003), the group started out in 1978 as New Crossbones. They became part of the kalindula wave of roots bands, though in fact, kalindula is just one ethnic rhythm. Amayenge was dedicated to exploring a broad range of Zambian roots music using urban style and electric guitars. Here, ten songs in ten different languages span the cranking, Tonga roots rap of “Mao (2x2),” the mournful Lamba vocals and phase-shifted guitar of “Chibuyu Buyu,” “Ichalo Bapata” with its Bisa percussion and vocal breakdown, and rowdy, rumba infused animation in Lozi on “Munise Munise.”