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West Africa Unwired / Th!nk Global Serie ( Baaba Maal, Mory Kante, Toumani Diabate, Nuru Kane, Kante Manfila, Brubacar Traorè ...)

RGNET 1169


World Music Network

 

From the sumptuous koras (the West African harp) of Toumani Diabaté and Ballaké Sissoko to the acoustic guitar legends Baaba Maal and Mansour Seck, West Africa Unwired presents some of the most beautiful classics from the acoustic West Africa repertoire. Featuring bluesy sounds from Mali, Wodaabe music from the Sahelian savannah and Manding rhythms, this album features griots, musical giants and rising stars, who reveal the vitality of these timeless and exceptional songs. Artists include – Baaba Maal & Mansour Seck, Diénéba Seck, Mory Kanté, Toumani Diabaté & Ballaké Sissoko, Nuru Kane, Kanté Manfila, Issa Bagayogo, Mah Damba, Daby Balde, Djeli Moussa Diawara & Bob Brozman, Grand Papa Diabaté & Sona Diabaté, Etran Finatawa and Boubacar Traoré.

Whoops. Missed a few countries there …

 

Perhaps approaching saturation point with their exhaustive Rough Guide to World Music range, World Music Network has launched a new label and range of compilation CDs called Th!nk Global. West Africa Unwired is the first in the series, and is produced in collaboration with Amnesty International, the international human rights organisation. The CD packaging is made from 100% recycled card and, according to the press release, the Th!nk Global label aims to ‘reduce poverty, defend human rights and protect the environment’. I’m not sure how exactly a record label is going to achieve all this, and it’s not clear what form the partnership takes. Presumably some proceeds from the sale of the album go towards supporting the charity, but the liner notes do not make this clear.

As the album’s title suggests, it is a collection of acoustic tracks from Mali, Guinea and Senegal (with one from Niger), which leaves, if I have consulted my map correctly, 11 countries uncovered. Still, some of Africa’s greats are here: the legendary acoustic guitar duo of Baaba Maal and Mansour Seck; the dizzying, spellbinding kora partnership of Toumani Diabaté and Ballaké Sissoko; plus a handful of exciting newer acts, such as the nomadic musicians of Etran Finatawa and the excellent young Malian singer, Dieneba Seck.

Rose Skelton / Songlines # 40