Reviews

Djudjon: L’Oiseau de Garana

Bassekou Kouyate & Amy Sacko

Kouyate and his band Ngoni Ba have been ambassadors for Bamana jeli (griot) ngoni music since their debut in 2007....

Reviewed in issue August/September/2024

Awel

Syna Awel

Syna Awel comes from the Kabylia region of Algeria, and is one of the singers in Ifriqiyya Electrique, although this...

Reviewed in issue July/2024

Gente

Nancy Vieira

Born in Bissau and raised in Cape Verde, Nancy Vieira, now based in Lisbon, is a leading exponent of Cape...

Reviewed in issue July/2024

nomthandazo

Zoë Modiga

Zoë Modiga became a star in South Africa, her birthplace, after appearing on that country’s version of The Voice. She’s...

Reviewed in issue July/2024

Akal

Tarwa N-Tiniri

Tarwa N-Tiniri were born in Ouarzazate, Morocco’s ‘door of the desert’ and Akal marks their second album. Its title translates...

Reviewed in issue July/2024

Ballaké Sissoko & Derek Gripper

Ballaké Sissoko & Derek Gripper

In terms of guitar and kora duos, it’s hard to think much beyond the inspired collaboration of Toumani Diabaté and...

Reviewed in issue July/2024

The Joy

The Joy

Yes, it’s a lazy quip, but what a joy this is. Six years ago, when these five young men from...

Reviewed in issue July/2024

Live in Turku

Dawda Jobarteh & Stefan Pasborg

Bliss it must have been to have attended the Finnish jazz festival where this live set was recorded featuring the...

Reviewed in issue July/2024

Radio Masoda

Franck Biyong

On this, his latest of 20 albums, the Paris-based guitarist and composer adds to his native Cameroonian music generous pinches...

Reviewed in issue July/2024

Ghana Special 2: Electronic Highlife & Afro Sounds in the Diaspora, 1980-93

VARIOUS ARTISTS

This compilation, the second in a Soundways series that started with 2009’s Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968-1981,...

Reviewed in issue July/2024