Customer Reviews

Kham Kham

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album combines motifs from Senegalize, Indian and Flamenco traditions. The elements blend seamlessly into thoughtful, beautiful music. When I put it on, people always ask who it is. Highly recommended.

If you like acoustic guitar music and are a world music fan, in the truest sense, you will love this masterpiece. While the beat and rhythm is always Senegalese, respectively Mbalax, Cherif Mbaw incorporates many styles from all over the world and creates something NEW (which can't be said from the majority of recording artists). You'll hear influences from Afro-Cuban music, Indian tablas, Flamenco style handclapping, Blues harmonica, accordeons, etc. I'm a lover of music from all over the world and this CD has climbed to my personal Top10 list, because it get's better the more you listen to it.

Cherif is one of those who is influenced by classical influences as well as the rhythm of the Sengalese mbalax and flamenco. And so you have music which though basically Sengalese still has a voice all its own.

The lyrics of a lot of African music might sound quite preachy to us. The first cut, Kham Kham, has the singer advising to seek knowledge. "Doomu Adama" urges the listener to give in return for God giving to the listener. "Adduna" is a plea for peace. "Boroom Ker" urges the head of the family to treat the family well, and to not hang about and come home late. "Weet" urges charity from those that are rich, and strength and patience from those who are destitute. Other songs deal again with peace, with the admonition to not "miss the train", to stay away from evil, urging to sing and chant and dance together.

This is good, but in my mind, not truly outstanding for African music.