Africa: Never Stand Still

Amazon.com
This ambitious three-CD collection is quite simply the best introduction to the diverse popular music of Africa that there is. While it stands by itself as the perfect instant African music collection, it also serves as a fine jumping off point for exploring Africa's myriad musical cultures. The producers have done an excellent job selecting outstanding tracks by a broad variety of Africa's premier groups and recording stars from all over the continent. This compilation offers maximum diversity and impeccable sound quality throughout. The lushly illustrated and annotated 48-page booklet that comes with this set is rich with information about this crucial musical continent. --Jeff Grubb

Africa: Never Stand Still,Various Artists,Ellipsis Arts,Africa,African Folk,Afro-Pop,Algeria,Angola,Bombara,Cameroon,Cape Verde,Chimurenga,Ethiopia,Gabon,Gambia,Int'l & World Music,Ivory Coast,Juju,Kenya,Madagascar,Mali,Mauritania,Mbalax,Mbaqanga,Mbira,Mbuti Choral,Morna,Morocco,Mozambique,Nigeria,Pop,Rai,Rhumba,Senegal,Sierra Leone,Soukous,South Africa,Sudan,Tanzania,Uganda,World Fusion,World Music,Worldbeat,Zaire,Zimbabwe

Average customer rating: A Very Thorough Guide to Afro-Pop Best of the Best... Fantastic collection!

Africa: Never Stand Still Various Artists Manufacturer: Ellipsis Arts ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Algeria | Africa | International | Styles | Music Cameroon | Africa | International | Styles | Music Cape Verde | Africa | International | Styles | Music Gabon | Africa | International | Styles | Music General | Africa | International | Styles | Music Madagascar | Africa | International | Styles | Music Mali | Africa | International | Styles | Music Mauritania | Africa | International | Styles | Music Morocco | Africa | International | Styles | Music Nigeria | Africa | International | Styles | Music South Africa | Africa | International | Styles | Music Tanzania | Africa | International | Styles | Music Zaire & Congo | Africa | International | Styles | Music Ivory Coast | Africa | International | Styles | Music Senegal & Gambia | Africa | International | Styles | Music Zimbabwe | Africa | International | Styles | Music Angola | Africa | International | Styles | Music Soukous | Africa | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music Africa | Compilations | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music Africa | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B0000059T3 Release Date: 1994-02-04

Tracks:

1. Ndiri Bofu - Oliver Mtukdzi
2. Kipenda Roho - Remmy Ongala & Orchestre Super Matimila
3. Rokoto Frenzy (Excerpt) - Abdul Tee-Jay's Rokoto
4. Eh Zalahy - Tarika Sammy
5. Ngingenwe Emoyeni - Ladysmith Black Mambazo
6. Milouda - Bellemou & Gana El Maghnaoui
7. Heygana - Ali Farka Toure
8. Kumbusora - Mandinka Musicians
9. Za Ayi Neyi - Les Tetes Brulees
10. Refined Fuji Garbage (Excerpt) - Chief Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Africa's International Music Ambassadors
11. Jino La Pembe - Zuhura Swaleh
12. Six Mabone - Lulu Masilela
13. Tsiketa Kuni Barassara - Dulce & Orchestra Marrabenta Star De Mozambique

Tracks:

1. Rondomori - Pierre Akendengue
2. Mariama - Baaba Maal
3. Nazingi Maboko - Pepe Kalle & Nyboma
4. Allah Ma Diana - Le Zagazougou
5. Ngoma Ngairire - Robson Banda & The New Black Eagles
6. Angola Na Paz - Mendes Brothers
7. Ah Ndiya - Oumou Sangare
8. Bassama - Abdel Gadir Salim All-Stars
9. M'Fono Yami - Papa Wemba
10. Mhondoro - Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited
11. Wonda Wonda - Ndere Troupe
12. Hassaniya Song for Dancing - Kalifa Ould Eide & Dimi Mint Abba
13. Tuni Nyamwalo - Kapere Jazz Band

Tracks:

1. Sai - Kanda Bongo Man
2. Sawura Wako - Stella Chiweshe & The Earthquake
3. Lanaya - Farafina
4. Nyanafin - Salif Keita
5. Fakastalu - Youssou N'Dour
6. Worio Wata - Seleshe Demassae
7. Baba L'Rouami - Gnawa Musicians Of Marrakesh
8. Agor - Martin K. Obeng
9. Medley: Omo Mbo/Omo Lere Aiye/Ha Egbe Mi Wo Asia - Sir Shina Peters
10. Wed Today Divorce Tomorrow - Gabriel Omolo & His Apollo Komesha
11. Bayeza - Soul Brothers
12. Rosine - Aurlus Mabele & Loketo
13. Mariquinha - Bonga

Amazon.com

This ambitious three-CD collection is quite simply the best introduction to the diverse popular music of Africa that there is. While it stands by itself as the perfect instant African music collection, it also serves as a fine jumping off point for exploring Africa's myriad musical cultures. The producers have done an excellent job selecting outstanding tracks by a broad variety of Africa's premier groups and recording stars from all over the continent. This compilation offers maximum diversity and impeccable sound quality throughout. The lushly illustrated and annotated 48-page booklet that comes with this set is rich with information about this crucial musical continent. --Jeff Grubb

Customer Reviews:

A Very Thorough Guide to Afro-Pop.......2006-08-14

Africa is a vast continent, the second largest in fact, and home to an infinite variety of languages, cultures and ethnic groups; each with their own style of music. With the growing popularity of Afro-Pop the newcomer is likely to be overwhelmed with the sheer variety of music available even from mainstream stores and websites in the west. Where to begin? What artists and styles sound best? Unfortunately, few CDs can give a good overview of African music, but if your willing to drop the money for this one, your off to a very good start.

On three CDs, we are given an astonishing array of tracks by 39 artists from over 29 different countries. This does a great job of shwoing the incredible diversity of African music. We get Arabic-tinged taarab from Zuhura Swaleh of Kenya, Zulu isicathamiyalmbube from Ladysmith Black Mambazo of South Africa, Nigerian Fuji music by Chief Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Moorish dancing music from Mauritania's Dimi Mint Abba, Mbalax from Baaba Maal of Senegal, Malagasy music from Tarika Sammy of Madagascar, Algerian Rai from Bellemou & Gana el Maghnaoui, Ethio-pop from Seleshe Demassae and so much more. The focus is on pop, but you get a good helping of traditional and folk styles like the Mande music of Mali, polyrhythmic drumming from Ghana, Sufi music from the Gnawa musicians of Morocco and traditional dances from Uganda's national performing troupe.

Many of the continent's legendary artists on included on this CD, though obviously not all of them (as doing so would likely be impossible). Oumou Sangare, Salif Keita and the late Ali Farka Toure of Mali; Oliver Mtukudzi, Stella Chiweshe and Thomas Mapfumo of Zimbabwe; Ladysmith Black Mambazo and the Soul Brothers from South Africa; Papa Wemba from the Congo; Abdel Gadir Salim of the Sudan; Yossou N'dour and Baaba Maal of Sengal and many more. Alongside them are many equally great performers, perhaps less known in the US but many times equally famous in their home countries. Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister of Nigeria is regarded as one of the greatest Fuji performers, while Remmy Ongala is probably Tanzania's most famous pop singer.

Don't feel bad if some of your favorite artists got left off of this vast and staggering compilation. It's only a broad survey of Africa's musical styles. If your a newbie to Afro-pop, or even a life-long fan, this CD is an essential buy. Its one of the few compilations that covers EVERYTHING, from the Arabic tinged music of the Sahara to the the neo-traditional songs of South Africa, from traditional drumming in West Africa to modern pop styles from the Congo and Swahili coast. If you've got the money and are willing to spend it, this is a great buy. If your on a budget, theres a smaller sampler available that's equally exciting, though nowhere near the size of this monster. I strongly recommend checking this CD it. Odds are it will expand your musical horizons.

Best of the Best..........1999-12-07

I have maybe 25 CDs of music from the continent, and this is still far and away my favorite. The one-disc "sampler" is like a "Best of..." -- very good, but as many listeners will know from first hand experience, some of the finer, and more subtle pieces are in the original complete recordings. True here in spades. If you only own one set of discs to represent Africa and all its nations and sounds, this is it.

Fantastic collection!.......1998-07-07

If you're interested in listening to some African music and don't know where to start, you can't do better than this. It's got modern and traditional stuff on it -- mostly modern -- from all over the continent. My tapes of this set live in my cassette road case, and I listen to them when I go on long trips. The variety and quality are both excellent.

The booklet's a nice touch, too.

Average customer rating:

Africa -Never Stand Still -The Best of Ellipsis Arts Oliver Mtukdzi , Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited , Les Tetes Brulees , Gabriel Omolo and His Apollo Komesha , Oumou Sangare , Chief Doctor Sikiru Ayinde Barrister & Africa's International Music , Ladysmith Black Mambazo , Abdel Gadir Salim All Stars , Papa Wemba , and Stella Chiweshe & The Earthquake Manufacturer: Ellipsis ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Africa | International | Styles | Music ASIN: B000BVTWCA

Product Description

Africa -Never Stand Still -The Best of Ellipsis Arts // 1. Ndiri Bofu - Oliver Mtukdzi 2. Mhondoro - Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited 3. Za Ayi Neyi - Les Tetes Brulees 4. Wed Today Divorce Tomorrow - Gabriel Omolo and His Apollo Komesha 5. Ah Ndiya - Oumou Sangare 6. Refined Fuji Garbage - Chief Doctor Sikiru Ayinde Barrister & Africa's International Music Ambassadors 7. Ngingenwe Emoyeni - Ladysmith Black Mambazo 8. Bassama - Abdel Gadir Salim All Stars 9. M'Fono Yami - Papa Wemba 10. Sawura Wako - Stella Chiweshe & The Earthquake 11. Eh Zalahy - Tarika Sammy 12. Milouda - Bellemou and Gana E Maghnaoui 13. Allah Ma Diana - Le Zagazougou 14. Six Mabone - Lulu Masilela

Average customer rating: Music That Moves You

The Best of Ellipsis Arts - Africa: Never Stand Still Various Artists Manufacturer: Ellipsis Arts ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Africa | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music Africa | Compilations | International | Styles | Music General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music Africa | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B0000059T5 Release Date: 1997-07-01

Tracks:

1. Ndiri Bofu - Oliver Mtukdzi
2. Mhondoro - Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited
3. Za Ayi Neyi - Les Tetes Brulees
4. Wed Today Divorce Tomorrow - Gabriel Omolo And His Apollo Komesha
5. Ah Ndiya - Oumou Sangare
6. Refined Fuji Garbage - Chief Doctor Sikiru Ayinde Barrister & Africa's International Music Ambassadors
7. Ngingenwe Emoyeni - Ladysmith Black Mambazo
8. Bassama - Abdel Gadir Salim All-Stars
9. M'Fono Yami - Papa Wemba
10. Sawura Wako - Stella Chiweshe & The Earthquake
11. Eh Zalahy - Tarika Sammy
12. Milouda - Bellemou/Gana El Maghnaoui
13. Allah Ma Diana - Le Zagazougou
14. Six Mabone - Lulu Masilela

Customer Reviews:

Music That Moves You.......2003-01-30

What a find this is: A joyous, textured, absolutely rocking collection of pan-African music featuring groups from Zimbabwe, Zaire, South Africa, Mali, Madagascar, the Ivory Coast, Sudan, Algeria, Cameroon, Nigeria and Kenya. There are a variety of musical styles, including tuku, "bikitsu rock," soukous, rai, and "benga beats." In addition to tradition Western instruments such as the sax, trumpet, bass, accordion, and electric guitar, there are the goombay (large drum), mbira (thumb piano), valihu (bamboo zither), the oud, and an assortment of percussive instruments.

Even if you've never heard much African music, I think you'll enjoy this immensely. If you like jazz, polyrhythmic music, percussion, or even rock, there is much to enjoy.

The first few songs are outstanding both as listening and dance music: They're energetic pieces from Zimbabwe and Cameroon that are simply electrifying! Oliver Mtukdzi's "Ndiri Bofu" features bopping bass playing; "Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited" moves with virtuoso thumb piano and compelling call and response vocals; and the percussion of "Za Ayi Neyi" by "Les Tetes Brulees" is riveting. Other highlights include the soulful vocals of South Africa's "Ladysmith Black Mamzabo," the infectious "M'Fono Yami" by Zaire's Papa Wembar; the intricate playing and joyful whoops on Tarika Sammy's valihu piece, "Eh Zalahy (Madagascar), and Lulu Masilela' sax rocking over a background of accordion, guitars, and drums on "Six Mabone" (Six Lights, named after the headlights on big American autos of the 1950's)

The intensity and joy will wash over you. Please give this a try, one of my favorite albums in a collection of mostly Western music. The accompanying 22-page booklet gives brief bios of each group, photos, albums on which the songs originally appeared, and--for some songs--lyric samples, list of musicians and instruments. The recording quality is excellent.

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1. Ah! [Import]
2. Air Mail Music: Australian Aboriginals
3. Air Mail Music: Romania - The Carpats
4. Al Wida Farewell
5. Allons Danser
6. Almanjayar
7. Ancestral Healing
8. Ao Vivo [Live] [Import]
9. As You're Vanishing in Silence [Import]
10. Bon Bon

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Let Go of Your Bad Days

Mouvement Symphonique

Hassler: Auß tieffer noth, Sacred Music

The Path To Delphi

International Music News [Import]

It's All in Your Mind

Gunslingers: Live Best [Import]

Leaders of the Free World [Limited Edition] [Import]

Japan Riot [Limited Edition] [Import]

Horowitz Encores

In the Running

It's Only Rock N Roll [Import]

Ivetthy Souza [Import]

Into the Blue

Précis