Africa

Putumayo Presents | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 13, 1999)
• Original Release Date: July 13, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Putumayo World Music
• ASIN: B00000JG1L
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #94,139 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #6 in Music > World Music > Africa > Cameroon
  • #8 in Music > World Music > Africa > Guinea
  • #11 in Music > World Music > Africa > Zaire & Congo

Track Listings

1. Ndima Ndapedza - Oliver Mtukudzi

2. Thandaza - Soul Brothers

3. Segne - Afia Mala

4. Love Is Just A Dream - Johnny Clegg & Juluka

5. Doly - 4 Etioles

6. Sa Ntima - Samba Ngo

7. Wassiye - Habib Koite

8. Anoma - Oom

9. Gaeale - Diaou Kouyate

10. Francoise - Henri Dikongue

11. Ya Mbemba - Sam Mangwana

12. Manuela - Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT compilation CD!, May 9, 2004

By 

aurileo "aurileo" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Africa (Audio CD)

"Africa" was one of the first world music CD's I bought - I was involved in a show which included African and African-influenced music and I wanted to do some first hand audio research. This CD is just amazing! One of the things which immediately struck me was the beautiful and distinctive guitar work on many of the tracks, particularly those by Oliver Mtukudzi, Habib Koite, and Les 4 Etoiles. Other noteworthy instrumental work includes the B-3 organ intro on the Soul Brothers' "Thandaza", and the accordion featured in Sam Mangwana's "Ya Mbemba". There are also soul-stirring vocals featuring gorgeous harmonies (like Oom's "Anoma") and alternating call-and-response type melodies, and best of all, a wide variety of really cool grooves - each track has its own unique flavor. My favorites are Johnny Clegg and Juluka's "Love Is Just A Dream", Samba Ngo's "Sa Ntima" and Ricardo Lemvo's "Manuela", but really, there isn't one track here I don't love - five years after buying this CD it's still one of my favorites! I have since gone on to buy more CD's by several of the artists featured here, as well as by other African artists. I've also bought many of Putumayo's other compilations, which all serve as great introductions to a variety of artists as well as to many types of world music. By all means I recommend buying "Africa" - you won't regret it, but I warn you, you won't stop here :)

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enthralled, June 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Africa (Audio CD)

I'm not in the habit of writing these things...however I am so enthralled by this music I felt I had to share my thoughts. The CD is a good introduction to the immense variety of music coming out of Africa. My favorites are Ndima Npapedza (#1) by Oliver Mtukudzi and Wassiye (#7) by Habib Koite'. The music is fun and yet has depth to it. I listen to it and while I'm tapping my toes, my soul is singing right along. I recommend this one highly.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great collection!, March 15, 2007

By 

RacingLiberty "RacingLiberty" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Africa (Audio CD)

Awesome CD, I grew up listening to this music when my parents told me we were moving to Africa. They weren't kidding, and we eventually did, but this CD was certainly my absolute favorite first experience of African music.

From upbeat bongo to slower more peaceful rhythms of life, this album is about as close to the continent as you can get without actually traveling there. Putamayo puts a great, true-to-life-Africa collection together.

Also recommend the album "Bongo Flava" if you like real upbeat East African hip-hop/rap.