• 
  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 >>

Angola's most seasoned pop singer, the gruff-voiced, soulful Bonga, has been paying attention. Plainly aware of the recent success that Lusaphone artists Waldamar Bastos and Cesaria Evora have enjoyed using an all-acoustic sound palette, Bonga serves up a tasty set of songs rich with acoustic guitars, flute, marimba, accordion, bass and hand percussion. That's not to say that Bonga has sacrificed any of his trademark originality. Bonga's signature rhythm is the semba, and Angolan cousin of the Brazilian samba. And it's here in force on tunes like "Kimone Amarelo," and "Olhos Mohlados." On "Incaldido," bass and guitar harmonize on a catchy riff that answers Bonga's raspy call. The rhythm is giddy, almost Congolese, and there are other rompers here, despite the acoustic sound. The breathless "Mutokodias" plays like acoustic zouk.

Elsewhere, Bonga turns his ageless voice to more romantic and melancholy moods, as on on "Escapada," or the title track, which recalls the mournful choral refrains of Mozambiquan pop. "Kisangusangu" shifts elegantly back and forth between a gentle waltz and a flute-floated 6/8 refrain. After a career broken by civil war and exile, Bonga is plainly in excellent form. For years, we've tended to think of Bonga as a nostalgia musician recalling the pains and pleasures of the 1970s. So it's a special pleasure to find him seizing the moment and moving ahead with such gusto.
Contributed by Banning Eyre for www.afropop.org