| 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 | ||||
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| Complete list | ||||
African Blues is aworld musicbenefitcompilation album originally released in 1998, with proceeds going toVoluntary Service Overseas. Part of theWorld Music NetworkRough Guides series,[1] the release featuresAfrican 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—seeOrigins 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 (theRough Guide designation being omitted in this release and only found in the catalogue number, common practice for the label's charity releases), 2007'sThe Rough Guide to African Blues is sometimes considered this album's second edition.[3]
Mali is represented in this album five times,Guinea twice, andSenegal,Zimbabwe, theDRC,Kenya,Mozambique, theROC, andCape Verde once each.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [4] |
Writing forAllMusic, 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]
| No. | Title | Artist (Country) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Talibe" | Ismaël Lô | 4:19 |
| 2. | "Mouneïssa" | Rokia Traoré | 5:44 |
| 3. | "A Va Safy Va Lomo" | Orchestra Marrabenta Star De Mocambique | 6:09 |
| 4. | "Mansa" | Super Rail Band | 6:33 |
| 5. | "Paulette" | Balla et ses Balladins | 7:43 |
| 6. | "Maggie" | Alick Nkhata | 2:28 |
| 7. | "Omulanga Wamuka" | Henry Makobi | 3:53 |
| 8. | "Heygana" | Ali Farka Touré | 5:59 |
| 9. | "Ndinderere" | Stella Chiweshe | 4:58 |
| 10. | "Shams Esh'shamusa" | Hamza El Din | 5:15 |
| 11. | "N'Sangou" | Antoine Moundanda | 4:11 |
| 12. | "Mouso Teke Soma Ye" | Boubacar Traoré | 6:18 |
| 13. | "Kankan Blues" | Balla Kalla &Kante Manfila | 2:50 |
| 14. | "Miss Perfumado" | Cesária Évora | 4:27 |
| 15. | "Saa Magni" | Oumou Sangare | 7:35 |
