Customer Reviews

Greatest Songs Ever: Africa

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I apreciate the first reviewer's take that this compilation, from the growing series of "greatest songs" for various countries, regions and styles, is not the big of the big or the best of the best. The name-brand names aren't showing off here, but I like the mellower confidence of this collection, sort of as if some relaxed Africans sauntered down to Ipanema and got a bit of Brazil in their groove. So throw the "greatest" subtitle out, and enjoy this admittedly consistent sound. It's sort of Africa meets "Chill." It's the softer side of Africa, the lighter side of the dark continent, but nothing here is unpleasant or undeserving of wider recognition. I am very happy with this CD, even if it may be better as semi-background music than boom it concert music. It may not be the "greatest" of anything, but for those of you/us who are hungry for fine African sounds, I'll bet you'll be pleased.

Heard someone playing this at a yard sale... loved it then,
went online and bought it. Glad I did.

Looking at this collection,one wonders-Where's Miriam Makeba?Hugh Masakela?Ladysmith Black Mambazo?Thomas Mapfumo?Instead of going for "The Greatest Songs Ever!!" this collection goes for music that basically sounds the same--plenty of choruses,mbira (thumb piano),and electric guitar.This music would be perfect as muzak at say,the San Diego Wild Animal Park gift store,but not as energetic ambient music for everyday life-unless of course you're a cashier.

Stella Chiweshe,Santos Junior,Ghorwane Kudumba and Artur Adriano tend to sound the same.It's impossible to tell their songs apart.At least Bongo,Wazimbo,and Gaia with its Westernized Afro-techno are slightly distinctive.

If you're seeking out a REAL African music safari,get Putumayo's "African Odyssey" (which has blues from Zimbabwe,a female trio from the Ivory Coast,a Cape Verdean morna),"African Groove" (which has Senegalese rap,a singer like Angelique Kidjo)or "Acoustic Africa"(which shows diversity from Mali to South Africa).There's Oliver Mtukudzi,Habib Koite,the Malian Afro-techno of Issa Bagayogo,and the blues-rock group Tinariwen.There's plenty of diversity in African music--just not in this compilation.