Reviews

TRUE STORY

Malcolm Jiyane Tree-O

Tree-O’s first album UMDALI was a celebration of South African-infused jazz. This second sees the trombonist starting to flex his...

Reviewed in issue August/September/2024

BUTU

KOKOKO!

Hitting heavy from the outset, BUTU is rampant with punk energy and mind melting psychedelic polyphony – an appropriate successor...

Reviewed in issue August/September/2024

Revolution Sabar

Aba Diop & The Yermande Family

The Senegalese percussionist Aba Diop is a master of the ancient sabar drum of the Wolof griots, a sound heard...

Reviewed in issue August/September/2024

Sankofa

Thandiswa Mazwai

Thandiswa Mazwai burst onto the global music scene as the charismatic frontwoman of Bongo Maffin, pioneers of South African kwaito,...

Reviewed in issue August/September/2024

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