1. Mapumba (Congo DRC, South Africa) - Cest La Vie - 4:44
Mapumba - smooth, almost a Brazilian sound - is featured on the new Putamayo World Music African Party CD. Here is his website. Listen to a sample of this song.

2. Elikeh (United States, Togo) - Madjo - 5:10
From their website: "ELIKEH is a collective of like-minded, roots musicians in the Washington, DC area. Led by singer/songwriter Serge 'Massama' Dogo, ELIKEH performs mostly original material drawn from Massama's roots in Togo." This song compares the American dream with the African way of life. Watch and listen on YouTube.

3. Eric Wainaina (Kenya) - Dunia Ina Mambo - 4:09
Wikipedia has a comprehensive biography of Wainaina. A performer from a very early age, he has studied at the Berklee School of Music in Boston. Here is his website. Listen.

4. Sim Redmond Band (United States) - Tangisa - 0:45
Sim Redmond is a local band based in Ithaca, NY. Here's their website. This brief tune illustrates their African bent. Listen. From a related MySpace page: "Their infectious blend of African-influenced reggae-tinged roots rock combined with beautifully sung lyrics full of hope, love and lessons learned give the band a deeply honest, positive sound."

5. Etienne and Rene (Congo DRC, Australia) - Mon Style de Vie - 5:30
Etienne Dinanga (from Congo, a soukous musician) and Rene Sephton (Greece) seek to capture the human condition in folk music that spans the world. Their website. Listen.

6. Habib Koité (Mali) - Fimani - 4:28
This is a love song told from a girl's point of view. "Fimani" means "little black person", in this case a boy whom the girl craves. Listen. Habib's website.

7. S. E. Rogie (Sierra Leone) - Kpindigbee (Morning Noon And Night) - 4:10
Rogie - also known as Souleman Rowgie - was popular across West Africa in the 1960s and 70s. He lived in California for 16 years in the 70s and 80s, and died soon after releasing the album from which this charming, country-flavored song comes. Listen. More information.

8. Daby Touré (Senegal) - Setal - 3:48
Daby, of Boutilimit, Nouakchott, and Casmance, will be at MFA in Boston on July 30, 2008, and in Brooklyn the following week. Catch him! Here's a detailed biography. Listen.

9. Nawal (Comoros Islands) - Karibu - 1:10
"Karibu" means "welcome". The Voice of Comoros is on MySpace and has her own website. From a New York Times review: "...her music is a personal fusion that draws on the repetitive power of Sufi chants, along with modal acoustic vamps that can sound both African and Arabic ... she can be hypnotic." Listen.

10. Prince Zeka (Congo DRC) - Ukijua - 4:43
Prince Zeka lives in France and Austria. His band's name is Dunia Moja, "one world" in Swahili. Here's his website. This quiet song of love lost speaks of flowers on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. Listen.

11. Tarika (Madagascar) - Malagasy Anie Ianao - 4:14
Tarika - "the group" - remains the premiere band from Madagascar with captivating rhythms and harmonies. Listen to this song on Amazon and to others on MySpace. Their website.

12. Tithy Dolce (Zimbabwe) - Maman - 4:43
Beyond the album from which this song comes, there seems to be nothing about Tithy Dolce anywhere on the internet. Listen.