This Oxfam volume of hot hits from the African continent is a delightful volume for listening and belongs on any world music shelf. That's the bright side. The not so bright side is that this CD sheds little light on the historical, sociocultural, economic, or spiritual traditions and/or current states of these things. This is an odd thing for a Rough Guide project. No, it's not that the liner notes aren't topnotch or that the material isn't either. It's just that it's all so familiar; there's nothing here to stretch the ...
Read More
This Oxfam volume of hot hits from the African continent is a delightful volume for listening and belongs on any world music shelf. That's the bright side. The not so bright side is that this CD sheds little light on the historical, sociocultural, economic, or spiritual traditions and/or current states of these things. This is an odd thing for a Rough Guide project. No, it's not that the liner notes aren't topnotch or that the material isn't either. It's just that it's all so familiar; there's nothing here to stretch the listener's horizons. That wouldn't be a problem except for the fact that that's what the folks at the Rough Guides have gone to great pains to do in years past, so maybe this reviewer is spoiled. Here listeners have Youssou N'Dour, Sonia Diabaté, Tarika, Aisha Kandisha's Jarring Effects, Eyuphuro, Batanai Marimba, Bellemou, Koffi Olomide, Abdullah Ibrahim, Lucky Dube, Tito Paris, and Mabulu. All of them perform well-known tunes (with the possible exception of South Africa's Ibrahim) from well-known records and collections. But perhaps this is a small complaint, since the CD is a benefit recording to raise money for many of Oxfam's worthwhile projects around the continent and across the globe. So, if an Africa's Greatest Hits is what you're looking for, the only people missing are King Sunny Ade and Fela (or, better yet, Femi for that matter), and with the wealth of talent here, those are small complaints. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi
Read Less
Add this copy of Oxfam Africa: Dance Rhythms From Algeria to Zimbabwe to cart. $9.84, good condition, Sold by Stephen White Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Bradford, WEST YORKSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2008 by World Music Network (Uk) Ltd.
