1. Manecas Costa (Guinea-Bissau) - Ermons Di Terra - 4:15
Manecas Costa of the tiny west African country of Guinea-Bissau has focused his formidable musical talents on traditional rhythms and sounds of his country. This song is representative of his energetic and melodic style.

2. So Kalmery (Congo DRC) - Isfet - 4:00
Guitarist So Kalmery was born in the near Lake Kivu in the eastern region of Zaire, now Congo DRC. He has traveled and studied throughout Africa and played extensively in Kenya, Burundi, Zambia and Zaire. His music melds traditions from all over the world, from the Australian didgeridoo to ancient Egyptian brakka rhythms to western riffs. This song is in Swahili. The Egyptian word "isfet" means disorder or chaos, the opposite of "maat".

3. Toure-Toure (Senegal) - Lamine - 4:11
Since the 1970s the Toure family of the Casamance region of Senegal (but ancestrally from Mali and Mauritania) have advanced the Senegalese "mbalax" pop style that mixes African and Cuban rhythms. Guitarists Daby and Omar Toure lead this group.

4. Mabi Thobejane (South Africa) - Sidudla - 4:45
Thobejane, a drummer sometimes called the "Conga King", has played with numerous South African musical groups from the 1970s onward. Busi Mhlongo sings this song from Mabi's debut CD "Madiba", "Gift of God", which chronicles the suffering of the apartheid years. Here is an excellent photo.

5. Original Zengela Band (Kenya) - Sakina - 3:53
From Mombasa on the Kenyan coast, the seven musicians in this band make their own traditional instruments. Their dance music derives from centuries-old Kenyan styles. The title is probably from some language other than Swahili.

6. Gidi Gidi Maji Maji (Kenya) - Nyako Aheri - 5:09
A hip hop duo band from Nairobi. There's a dandy Wiki article here.

7. Original Zengela Band (Kenya) - Na Kua Na Numewango - 4:12
See notes above about this band.

8. Umanji (South Africa) - Marokane - 5:16
Umanji is actually Mabuti Nkuna: his nickname comes from the Robin Williams movie "Jumanji". Umanji is from the Northern Provinces of South Africa where he absorbed that region's Tsonga music. His work incorporates elements and strands from all over the world, but his song topics are said to be thoroughly African. The title "Marokane" appears to be a Dutch or Afrikaans word that means Moroccan.

9. Vieux Diop (Senegal) - Kaliss (Money) - 6:09
Vieux Diop (pronounced "veeah joe") migrated to the US in the 1980s. He is (or was) primarily a player of the kora, a 12-string instrument similar to a lyre or harp. His music crosses cultural boundaries between Africa and the West.

10. So Kalmery (Congo DRC) - Mackia - 4:17
See notes above about So Kalmery. I haven't been able to find out what this song is about.

11. Vusi Mahlasela (South Africa) - Miyela Africa - 5:00
Vusi Mahlasela is known worldwide as "The Voice". He has opened for Sting, reputedly the only performer to have done so. The song title means, "Don't Cry, Africa". Take a look at this interesting CD review.