Na Afriki (Dig)

Dobet Gnahore | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 26, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Cumbancha
• ASIN: B000PWQT3A
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,192 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Dobet Gnahoré can legitimately claim that her education began after she dropped out of school at age 12 -- her neighborhood in Abidjan, Ivory Coast was a renowned artists' enclave and her father a master musician. In 1999, three years after she met her life partner and co-composer, French guitarist Colin Laroche de Féline, the couple relocated to France in order to escape increasing political unrest and raise their child in safely. There, they assembled a poly-national band and began to gather a following. A debut album, Ano Neko, was released in 2004 and in 2006, Dobet was nominated for a BBC "Newcomer of the Year" award. Her new release consolidates and expands upon the promise of the first. The singer's liquid-yet-artfully-fractured vocals, backed by semi-acoustic instruments and dulcet close-harmony singing, speak in a myriad of tongues about the evils of greed, polygamy, and pedophilia while encouraging self-determination, female empowerment and sane child-rearing. Like Marie Daulne of Zap Mama, Dobet has a queenly charisma and exhibits an extroverted theatricality. But hers is a more primal presence, seemingly drawn from the signposts of a woman's life rather than developed onstage before an audience. The product of diverse cultures but only one planet, she is a quintessential twenty-first century Afro-European. --Christina Roden

Product Description

Widely considered one of contemporary African music's most exciting new talents, Dobet Gnahoré has astounded audiences with her thrilling stage presence, appealing melodies and powerful singing. Gnahoré's striking new CD moves from delicate ballads to upbeat African grooves, and serves as a resounding introduction to this voice of the future.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful songs from a talented artist, October 21, 2007

By 

J. Davidson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Na Afriki (Dig) (Audio CD)

This is a great album by a very talented singer, backed by an equally talented band. Dobet's music ranges from danceable, upbeat rock to tribal chants to bluesy dirges. Her compositions are consistently interesting, and the jazz-like variety of the melodies puts her far above other African artists. These are songs that are a bit more challenging melodically and rhythmically, but they are consistently rewarding; you won't tire of them easily.

The other, more satisfying aspect of her art is her raw intensity. These songs (check out Djiguene or Massacre) make most current Western pop music sound like elevator muzak. Yes, she can be hoarse at times, but so was Janice Joplin.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pan-African artist, December 20, 2007

By 

Dr. Debra Jan Bibel "World Music Explorer" (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Na Afriki (Dig) (Audio CD)

What is interesting about this CD by Dobet Gnahore is her polyglot singing: Dida and Guere of her own Ivory Coast; Wolof of Senegal; Malinke of Mali; Xhosa of South Africa; Fon of Benin; and Lingala of the Congo. There is also a brief vocalise polyphony in homage of the Pygmies. She has a warm, soft voice and the various African styles are nicely arranged and well performed. True, the CD does not have an instant popular "hit" song and she does not dominate with a unique sound, yet the album overall is a relaxed tour of Africa in the same spirit as Putumayo's Acoustic Africa CD and tour, which included the contribution by Gnahore. From the inserted notes and pictures, she may have exciting stage presence. This CD is not of classic calibre, but I still very much enjoyed listening to it, about 5 times now. It provides a sense of quiet dignity and passion.

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely loved it!, August 29, 2008

By 

M. Kowalski "The Mom" (Buffalo) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Na Afriki (Dig) (Audio CD)

I love to listen to many different kinds of music. I love DG's voice and expression/inflections.

I downloaded the music before this and could not get the notes with words to the music. Personally, I enjoy reading what an artist puts together, it gives you a great idea of what they were trying to achieve. The notes really added to understanding of the beautiful sound that DG creates.