Reviews

Try and Love

Ofege

Imagine Lagos, Nigeria in 1972, when Fela Kuti was flying high with recordings like ‘Shakara’ and ‘Roforofo Fight’, jùjú music...

Reviewed in issue June/2023

Music Inferno: The Indestructible Beat Tour 1988-89

Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens

This collection of live recordings starts with Mahlathini telling an enthusiastic audience, “we’re going to give you the real Soweto...

Reviewed in issue June/2023

On the Romance of Being

Desire Marea

Based in the Amandawe township in KwaZulu-Natal, Desire Marea has held a place at the centre of South Africa's queer...

Reviewed in issue May/2023

Ségou to Lagos

Solomane Doumbia

There are many names that come to mind when one thinks of the great Malian musicians, but despite serving as...

Reviewed in issue May/2023

No Food Without Taste If By Hunger

The Good Samaritans

Following Edo Funk Explosion Vol 1, which featured three Benin City groups, we are now treated to an album by...

Reviewed in issue May/2023

Le Monde Moderne

Studio Shap Shap

Welcome to volume two of a mesmeric voyage into the very bowels of the capital of Niger, Niamey, and beyond....

Reviewed in issue May/2023

Jerusalem

Emahoy Tsege-Mariam Gebru

Tsege-Mariam Gebru is an emahoy (sister) of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, living a hermetic life in Jerusalem at 99 years...

Reviewed in issue May/2023

Amatssou

Tinariwen

There's a convoluted back story to the ninth studio album by our favourite guitar-toting Touareg desert rockers. Tinariwen were originally...

Reviewed in issue May/2023

Synthetic Hearts

Msaki x Tubatsi

Asanda Lusaseni Mvana, better known by her performing name Msaki, won Female Artist of the Year at the South African...

Reviewed in issue May/2023

Naquêl Tempo Câ Tinha

Elísio Gomes & Papá de Betina

Elísio Gomes & Papá de Betina hail from Santa Catarina on Cape Verde's island of Santiago. Both were in their...

Reviewed in issue May/2023