• 
  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
  
  
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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.
• 
  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 >>

In this bittersweet new set from Samba Mapangala, the Congo-born singer pays tribute to a list of colleagues who have died in recent years, including the great Pepe Kalle. But if the inspiration is sad, the music is as uplifting as ever-sensuous, guitar-driven rumba, graced by round alto saxophone melodies and gorgeous vocal arrangements. "Siri-Secret" opens things up with the classic Virunga sound, mid-tempo and melodious in a minor key.

Mapangala has lived in Uganda, Kenya, the U.K., and now the United States. His band lineup has evolved accordingly, but he manages to keep a consistent sound. Keyboards never crowd out guitars. The alto sax makes its presence knows regularly. And vocals are at center stage on every tune. This time, Congo guitar veteran Bopol Mansiamina heads up the band, spinning out irresistible seben guitar lines on track after track.

There's not much new ground broken here, except for a choice acoustic number, "Muniache" ("Leave me Alone.") The standout track is "Dunia Tuna Pita," ("We are Merely Passing Through This World"). There's nothing quite like the sound of Mapangala's clear, slightly horn-like tenor soaring over the chunking and chiming of a spot-on Congo guitar section. Congo music is in bit of a rut these days. So while this release may not point the genre's way to the future, at least it understands what made the past so great.

Banning Eyre
Contributed by Banning Eyre