• 
  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.
• 
  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.
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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 >>

This native of Conakry, Guinea, blends Sousssou and Fulani tradition with enough soul and funk to rival the pop diva of Benin, Angelique Kidjo. This is definitely Afro-slick, taking off where African acts vying for the mainstream--like Kidjo and Toure Kunda--leave off. The band is hot, and Sylla's voice very strong, with a tough attitude and clear precision. There are roots elements here: great percussion, some complex rhythms, and Fulani flute adding grit to tracks like "Wombéré" and "Diabana." Sylla toured with the traditional group Fatala. It's clear she paid her dues on the roots side before going pop. Two songs incorporate reggae. There's a somewhat banal French ballad. In fact, there's enough posing and borrowing here that some will write this off as another bit of pumped-up Paris fluff. But Sylla has real vocal and composition chops. And her musicians slam it home track after track. Apparently, her sound is going down very well in Conakry, and it's quite possible that this international debut will prove to be the start of something big.
Contributed by Banning Eyre for www.afropop.org