1. Vusa Mkhaya (Zimbabwe) - Kudala - 8:02
Vusa - what a voice! - is playing concerts in Germany and Austria during the first half of 2008. See him on MySpace. Listen to a sampling of this song on Calabash.

2. Madilu System (Congo) - Bruno Dika - 6:35
The renowned Madilu System, born Jean Bialu Madilu Makese, contemporary of Franco and Tabu Ley, also known as Ramses II and as the Grand Ninja, died in August 2007. Here is his web site, now maintained in memoriam. Listen to part of this song on Amazon.

3. Lulendo (Angola) - Maman - 4:16
Truly unique: country-western sung in falsetto French to a west African beat. And it works. Find out more about Lulendo at Calabash. Listen on Calabash.

4. Habib Koité (Mali) - Mali Ba - 4:45
From Habib's best album yet, Afriki, this song is about Mali. From the liner notes: "...an eloquent tribute to the land that has provided Habib with his culture and inspiration. Habib compares his country to a bull that will never be sacrificed. This bull is respected and taken care of by the community, drinks only the freshest water, eats only the best grain, and its pelt shines like gold." His site. Listen on Amazon.

5. Driss El Maloumi (Morocco) - Enfance (Childhood) - 3:01
Berber oud music, of the very highest order, mixing Western influences with classical Arabian, from the well-named album The Dancing Soul. Listen on Amazon.

6. Amaryoni (South Africa) - Siza Kuwe - 4:44
The group's name means "lion". Fine South African a capella with strong Gospel overtones and more than a hint of Stevie Wonder. For more information, and to buy their albums, see African Cream Music. Listen to a sampling of this song on eMusic.

7. Tshaga (Ivory Coast) - Petit á Petit - 4:12
Tshaga is the young son of the Ivorian singer Aicha Koné. Here is an interview in French. Listen on eMusic.

8. Vusi Mahlasela (South Africa) - Susana - 3:01
This acoustic song consists of about 12 quiet words of lyrics framed by fine guitar playing and drums. Who might Susana be? Vusi's site. Listen to some of this song on Amazon.

9. Ismäel Lô (Sénégal) - Badara - 4:10
A short biography of the "Bob Dylan of Senegal" and a discography through 2003. Listen on Calabash.

10. Vusa Mkhaya (Zimbabwe) - Shiya - 3:44
See above for more about Vusa. This is a particularly powerful and stately piece. Listen on Calabash.

11. Geoffrey Oryema (Uganda) - Market Day - 3:18
Oryema and his family suffered at the hands of Idi Amin. Wikipedia is an excellent starting point for information about him and his unusual music. Listen on Amazon.