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African Reggae
Putumayo Presents
African Reggae
Genres: International Music, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (10) - Disc #1

African Reggae is, in part, an homage to Bob Marley's powerful impact on African music, as February 6th will mark his 64th birthday. African Reggae features selections by outstanding African musicians who have built upon J...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Putumayo Presents
Title: African Reggae
Members Wishing: 3
Total Copies: 0
Label: Putumayo World Music
Original Release Date: 1/1/2009
Re-Release Date: 1/27/2009
Genres: International Music, Pop
Style:
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 790248028729

Synopsis

Album Description
African Reggae is, in part, an homage to Bob Marley's powerful impact on African music, as February 6th will mark his 64th birthday. African Reggae features selections by outstanding African musicians who have built upon Jamaica's "golden age of reggae" in the 1960s and 1970s by weaving together traditional and modern sounds into a vibrant musical fabric. When reggae evolved from ska after Jamaica's independence in 1963, it quickly dropped its seeds in Africa, the true land of its origin. Pioneering Jamaican artists Desmond Dekker and Jimmy Cliff were African favorites in the 1960s, followed in the next decade by Bob Marley, whose songs of African unity and liberation and concerts in Africa inspired all of the artists on this CD. African Reggae vividly illustrates how African artists have kept the spirit of roots reggae alive from Cape Town to Cape Verde. This collection includes tracks ranging from the hit "Magno Mako" by Ivoirian Ismael Isaac to the melting pot brew of Burkina Faso's Bingui Jaa Jammy and from the Rastafarian-influenced sounds of Ghana's Kwame Bediako to the mystical kora-laced incantations of Guinea Bissau's Nino Galissa. A portion of the proceeds from African Reggae will be donated to HOPEHIV in support of their efforts to strengthen the capacity of African children who have been orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. Since it began in April 1993, Putumayo World Music has contributed more than $1 million to an array of international charities working in areas where the music on its CDs originates.

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CD Reviews

Roots Reggae
Amaranth | Northern California | 04/27/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)

""African Reggae" is Putumayo's journey through the Jamaican music's African roots. Rastafarianism, which brought forth reggae, came from a syncretic Ethiopian/Christian reverence for Haile Selassie. Reggae often has socially conscious lyrics,and this collection is no exception. It's delightful, rootsy,and one of Putumayo's best African compilations.



"African Reggae" opens with Cote D'Ivoire's dynamic Ishmael Isaac singing "Magno Mako" (Pity). Ishmael Isaac suffered from polio at a young age, yet it hasn't stopped his music. Burkina Faso's Bingui Jaa Jammy honors Africa in song. South African singer Zoro sings about being jubilant despite suffering. He sings from experience. He was shot by a cop and was paralyzed from the waist down. Amazingly, he recovered. One Love Family from Cape Verde sings about uniting to combat humanity's ills. Kwame Bediako's "Steppin' into Zion" is another song about triumph over adversity. Guinea's Ba Cissoko sings a rootsy love song. Serges Kassy, from Cote d'Ivoire, sings about racial unity.



"African Reggae" is socially conscious and delightful! Feel the righteous rootsy riddims!"
International riddims
Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 01/28/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)

""Putumayo Presents: African Reggae"

(Putumayo Records, 2009)

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This is a strong set of modern reggae tunes from various Africa countries, including Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, South Africa and several artists each from the Cape Verde Islands and Ivory Coast. The appeal of reggae music, which is a product of the African diaspora, to African artists is readily apparent -- it shares a musical heritage with Africa's past, along with a politically conscious world view in the present. Most of the artists here are unknown to me (which I usually find appealing) and several are pleasant surprises. There are some pretty cool songs on here, particularly those sung in local languages... indeed, hearing reggae sung in different languages does a lot to help a jaded old-timer like me to hear the music with new ears, and get into the music again. Another strong set on Putumayo -- definitely worth checking out! (DJ Joe Sixpack, Slipcue Guide To World Music)"