1. Khumbula (South Africa) - Hayi Ukuhlumeza - 7:20
"Khumbula" means recollection or remembrance in Zulu. This group plays riveting Afro-beat with a North African flavor. This song comes from their second album Bayakhuluma.

2. Ntsakala (Congo DRC) - Nkumbu - 5:03
An "ntsakala" is a maraca-like rhythm instrument from the Congo, made of a tin can punched with holes and filled with seeds. This Congolese-Swiss duo performs folk music characteristic of southern Congo.

3. Oliver Mtukudzi (Zimbabwe) - Totutuma We Celebrate - 5:15
The giant of African music, "Tuku" is back in the US again in the fall of 2007, including a concert in the Boston area in October. Go see him if you possibly can.

4. Khumbula (South Africa) - Senzeni - 7:31
See the #1 cut above for information about Khumbula.

5. Sharon van Rool, Papa Wemba (Namibia, Congo DRC) - Mina Kupenda - 3:56
This cut is from the album A Hand Full of Namibians available online at African Cream. Sharon van Rool is one of the young artists featured on the album. Papa Wemba of Congo DRC is a legend in African popular music; here is a biography.

6. Maezah (Togo, Cameroon) - Boussum Bella - 2:31
This trio of women come from Cameroon/Togo, France, and the island Antilles in the West Indies. Their sound is similar to Zap Mama: truly of the world yet distinctively West African. More.

7. Ba Cissoko (Guinea) - Likhirin - 5:18
"Electric Griot Land Tour" is Cissoko's new album's title. From his biography on the official website: "When born a Cissoko, one is a kora player. The Guinean Ba Cissoko perpetuates a more than centenary history. He is the last born of a long lineage of griots, master singers and agile string pluckers."

8. Busi Mhlongo (South Africa) - Yise Wanant’a Bami - 4:12
Busi Mhlongo has been singing professionally for most of 30 years and has been an international star for almost that long. She sings mainly in Zulu and English. Her Urban Zulu album from 1999 is a classic. Here is a detailed musical history.

9. Khumbula (South Africa) - Yindaba Habani - 4:27
See the #1 cut above for information about Khumbula.

10. Boubacar Traoré (Mali) - Macire - 4:49
Boubacar Traoré has been a renowned performer in West Africa since the 1960s. He's also known as "Kar Kar". Ali Farka Touré said of him, "If the maximum is five, I give ten to Kar Kar". More information on Calabash.

11. Oliver Mtukudzi (Zimbabwe) - Ungamugone - 6:14
See also cut #3 above. Oliver is playing in New York City, Boston, Seattle, Dallas, Santa Cruz CA and Oakland CA in the fall of 2007. For tour dates and more, see this website.

12. Ras Sheehama (Namibia) - Shohela Oshaile Shaya - 3:55
Ras Sheehama is a wide-ranging Rastafarian and equally wide-ranging musician. He's lived and performed in Angola, Nigeria and Switzerland among other places. Here is his official website.

13. N’Gou Bagayoko (Mali) - Kulu - 3:58
N'Gou Bagayoko plays acoustic blues on the guitar and the n'goni, a lute-like instrument with eight strings on a calabash. His daughter sings this quiet song. Here is more information on Calabash.