Various Artists
Akwaaba wo Africa
Eclectic, fair trade African music.
Akwaaba wo Africa - welcome to Africa in twi, the language of the Ashanti people of Ghana. With this first release, Akwaaba Music welcomes the world to its eclectic catalog of African music by locally established, yet globally unknown artists.
Akwaaba traveled to West Africa to meet with scores of artists who have existing releases, but who have never had the opportunity to take their music outside of their native land. They signed fair deals: Akwaaba splits its net revenue 50-50 with all licensees, and works directly with the artist whenever possible.
Acoustic Senegalese musicians, Malian Wassoulou pop stars, Ivorian coupé décalé entertainers, Ghanaian highlife and hiplife singers, reggae, hip hop and salsa artists... the wealth of music is staggering. Akwaaba wo Africa is the introduction to this wide spanning catalog of music you hear in Africa.
TRACKLIST:
01 – SIRA – RAHMANE DIALLO (SENEGAL)
Rahmane comes from Fouta in northern Senegal, where he's been singing since elementary school in the 80s. With a little push from fellow fulani music giant Baaba Maal and a grant from ex-president Abdou Diouf, Rahmane got to record songs of timeless beauty. His songs are also a calling to the Senegalese youth, urging them to respect each other and cherish their rich cultural heritage.
02 – BAKOYE – MAMOU SIDIBE (MALI)
Mamou is a djelimousso or griot from the Wassoulou region of south-east Mali. For about 30 years now the region has been a musical hotbed for experimentation, where Manding and Peul traditions are fused with western instruments. Mamou started singing to encourage workers in the fields, before heading to the big city, Bamako, where she sang as a back-up singer for Malian star Oumou Sangaré. Mamou eventually left Oumou to develop her own style. Today, in Mali, she's considered one of the most prominent song divas.
03 – BARO – AHMED FOFANA (MALI)
Ahmed grew up in the griot tradition of poetry and music. A talented multi-instrumentist, he has played the flute, balafon (African xylophone), kora and hand drums for numerous Malian greats, including Toumani Diabaté and Vieux Farka Touré. Today he is still touring with them but also focusing on his own projects, including Riff Mandingue which will come out on Akwaaba.
04 – NGATAMARE - ALASSANE SY (SENEGAL)
Alassane is a native of Tivaouane, near Thiès in Senegal. He's been adding his back-up vocals to numerous Senegalese artists, singing in both Wolof and Pular, and is now releasing his own album, an acoustic blend of Senegalese mbalax where he tackles his country's social problems.
05 – BOREY BABA SALAH (MALI)
Baba is a Malian Songhai musician from Gao in northern Mali. Songhai music is reminiscent of American blues, and Baba pushes the fusion in his style and arrangements. Baba epitomizes Akwaaba's concept: although he is one of the kings of music in Mali, he is virtually unknown outside of Africa.
06 – TEGUERE – ALOU SANGARE (MALI)
Alou is a native of Koutiala, east of Bamako near the Burkina Faso border. He is the son of Madou Guitare, an influential member of several 70s Malian orchestras. Alou has been recording music for 12 years, fusing traditional melodies with modernized arrangements, appealing to young Malians while carrying on his father's legacy.
07 – WALA YALALA – IBA DIABATE (MALI)
Iba is another talented Malian griot. The son of revered Malian great Abdoulaye Diabaté, Iba's voice was noticed at an early age in the village of Yorosso, east of Bamako near the border with Burkina Faso. Iba sings mostly in his native Bamabara, but also in French, English and Spanish, singing about respect, peace, love and social injustice.
08 – WAITING FOR THE NEWS – JAHMAN ESELEM (CAMEROON)
Jahman was born in Yaounde, Cameroun but now resides in Bamako, Mali, where he's released a beautiful album produced by Manjul, a familiar name for African reggae lovers. He started singing in the early 90s, inspired
World: African- West