1. Richard Bona (Cameroon) - Kivu - 1:27
The renowned bassist and vocalist Richard Bona,"The African Sting", has played with Bob James, Harry Belafonte and many other jazz and popular greats. Here are photos, biographical information, an interview, and discography. Wikipedia article. The Kivu region in eastern Congo on the Rwandan and Ugandan borders is the scene of rebel fighting and much suffering in late 2008, especially in the city of Goma on Lake Kivu. Listen to a sample of this song on Amazon.

2. Omega Bugembe Okello (Uganda) - You Said - 5:58
Omega's website is extensive and unusual, with a detailed biography. She's based in San Francisco now. Here is YouTube video of Omega talking about her life, her music, Uganda, and the power of music to bring diverse people together. Listen to a sample of "You Said".

3. Youssou N'Dor (Sénégal) - So Many Men - 5:10
Youssou's website is one of the very few with a Flash introduction that you'll want to listen to, even want more of, before clicking through. What to say about him? His range is extraordinary: so many songs, so much to engage you. He and his band, Super Etoile de Dakar, have been touring worldwide for decades. Listen to a sample of this song.

4. Etienne Mbappé (Cameroon) - Bewouki Bongo - 4:10
Jazz bassist Mbappé's website is topical and informative. He'll be performing in Anaheim CA in early 2009 - see his super MySpace page for details. The word "bewouki" seems not to exist anywhere in print outside the title of this song. Listen.

5. Khadja Nin (Burundi) - Turasa - 3:46
Inspirational sounds from the Burundian-British duo Khadja and Nin (Nicolas Fiszman). Their website is unusual and rather irritating, but their music transcends it. Listen (and take note of Amazon's "also bought" list for this song as you do).

6. Tshala Muana (Congo DRC) - Libanga Yatalo - 5:54
The Queen of Mutuashi's official website, in French only, sets records for busyness. She's been an African musical legend for most of her 50 years. This exceptionally lively song is representative. She has 90 entries on YouTube but this song is not among them. Saharan Vibe's biography of Tshala is excellent. Listen to this song.

7. Aicha Koné (Ivory Coast) - Kambéléba 2006 - 4:22
Could there ever be a more cheerful and catchy song? Caribbean flavors and even a jazzy clarinet. Watch it on YouTube. Subtitled "Don Juan", it seems to be about a charmer and heartbreaker. Listen. Our January 2008 playlist has a song by Aicha's son Tshaga.

8. Chiwoniso (Zimbabwe) - Nerudo - 4:22
Cumbancha music (of Charlotte, Vermont, near Lake Champlain) hosts Chiwoniso Maraire's website and produced her very recently released album titled Rebel Woman. Listen to a sample of this song. Watch Chiwoniso on YouTube with (surprisingly) Kris Kristoffersen, or singing solo and playing the mbira.

9. Ismael Isaac (Ivory Coast) - Carte de Séjour - 4:36
Crippled by polio as a child, Ismael Isaac was inspired to sing reggae by listening to Bob Marley and Alpha Blondy. Here's a brief biography. You can watch him on MySpace. Listen.

10. Richard Bona (Cameroon) - Dipama - 4:27
See above for information about Richard Bona. Listen to a sample of this song. Watch Bobby McFerrin improvise with him on YouTube.

11. Les Go de Koteba (Ivory Coast) - Tessetou - 3:43
From a New York Times concert review in July 1996: "Les Go de Koteba, whose three female vocalists come from Mali, Guinea and the band's home, the Ivory Coast, suggested stern Islamic music in one song, cheerful rhumba-group harmony in the next; with synchronized high kicks and arm twirls, they danced like a more athletic version of the Supremes. But their voices still had the untempered intonation of African tradition, and the guitarist, Sory Diabate, could plunk like a country-blues musician or play crisply syncopated chords while Boubacar Diabate on djembe (hand drum) supplied pinpoint barrages. The band's grooves were more forceful than anything on the group's album 'Les Go de Koteba' (Melodie import)." Listen.

12. Tcheka (Cape Verde Islands) - Da-M Bu Mon - 4:27
From his MySpace page: "Manuel Lopes Andrade, a.k.a. Tcheka, was born on the 20th July 1973 in the port of Ribeira Barca, Santa Catarina district, on Santiago, the most African island of the Cape Verde archipelago." He's performing in Paris on November 7, 2008. Listen to a sample of this song. Watch a different song on YouTube.