African Blues (compilation album)

African Blues
Compilation album by Various artists
Released 9 June 1998
Genre World, African blues
Length 77:35
Label World Music Network
Full series chronology

  • African Blues
  • (1998)
Complete list

African Blues is a world music benefit compilation album originally released in 1998, with proceeds going to Voluntary Service Overseas. Part of the World Music Network Rough Guides series,[1] the release features African blues (a genre which is not simply an African re-interpretation of the American style, but carrying on traditions that were also exported to the Americas—see Origins of the blues). The compilation was produced and coordinated by Phil Stanton & Sandra Alayón-Stanton, co-founders of the World Music Network.[2] Though they are named differently (the Rough Guide designation being omitted in this release and only found in the catalogue number, common practice for the label's charity releases), 2007's The Rough Guide to African Blues is sometimes considered this album's second edition.[3]

Mali is represented in this album five times, Guinea twice, and Senegal, Zimbabwe, the DRC, Kenya, Mozambique, the ROC, & Cape Verde once each.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [4]

Writing for AllMusic, Adam Greenberg found relevance in the album for its "relatively early collection" of artists who would subsequently become the biggest African stars in the world music scene over the next decade. According to Greenberg, though not all tracks remained within the delineated genre, the music remained "worthwhile".[4]

Track listing

No. TitleArtist (Country) Length
1. "Talibe"  Ismaël Lô Senegal 4:19
2. "Mounaïssa"  Rokia Traoré Mali 5:44
3. "A Va Safy Va Lomo"  Orchestra Marrabenta Star De Mocambique Mozambique 6:09
4. "Mansa"  Super Rail Band Mali 6:33
5. "Paulette"  Balla et ses Balladins Guinea 7:43
6. "Maggie"  Alick Nkhata Democratic Republic of the Congo 2:28
7. "Omulanga Wamuka"  Henry Makobi Kenya 3:53
8. "Heygana"  Ali Farka Touré Mali 5:59
9. "Ndinderere"  Stella Chiweshe Zimbabwe 4:58
10. "Shams Esh'shamusa"  Hamza El Din Egypt 5:15
11. "N'Sangou"  Antoine Moundanda Republic of the Congo 4:11
12. "Mouso Teke Soma Ye"  Boubacar Traoré Mali 6:18
13. "Kankan Blues"  Balla Kalla & Kante Manfila Guinea 2:50
14. "Miss Perfumado"  Cesária Évora Cape Verde 4:27
15. "Saa Magni"  Oumou Sangare Mali 7:35

References

  1. Douglas H., Henkle (2012-10-23). "Rough Guide Discography / World Music Network Discography". FolkLib Index : A Library of Folk Music Links. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
  2. World Music Network. "About Us - The WMN Story". Retrieved 2013-12-21.
  3. Nickson, Chris. "The Rough Guide to African Blues". Allmusic. Retrieved 24 Jan 2014.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Greenberg, Adam. "African Blues". Allmusic. Retrieved 24 Jan 2014.