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Wakafrika by Manu Dibango.

Performer Notes:

• Personnel includes: Manu Dibango (saxophone, keyboards); "Bokilo" Jerry Malekani, Vincent N' Guini, David Williams, Paul Jackson, Jr., Dominic Miller (guitar); Fred MacFarlane (keyboards); Francis M'Bappe (bass, programming); Andre Manga, Armand Sabal-Lecco (bass); Tony Allen, Brice Wassi (drums, percussion); Manu Katche, Felix Sabal-Leco (drums); M'Baye Gueye, Assane Thiam, Laurent Coatalen, Michael Fisher (percussion); George Acogny, Jo Kuo (programming); Florence Titty-Dimbeng, Tom Yoms, Georgia Dibango, Abadian Kaba (background vocals).
• Additional guest artists: Angelique Kidjo, King Sunny Ade, Salif Keita, Kaissa Doumbe, Geoffrey Oryema, Alex Brown, Ray Lema.
• Engineers include: Rod Beale, Chris Tergensen, Jay Healy.
• Among American audiences, Manu Dibango is best known for "Soul Makossa," a highly infectious blend of African music, soul-funk, and jazz that became a major pop hit in the early '70s. The African artist revisited his signature tune on 1994's Wakafrika, which boasts an all-star cast that includes Peter Gabriel as well as Haiti's Papa Wemba and African heroes Ladysmith Black Mambazo, King Sunny Ade, and Youssou N'Dour. With such a stellar bunch of guests, Wakafrika should have been outstanding instead of simply decent. But while it isn't the all-out masterpiece it should have been, there's a lot that's enjoyable on this CD, including the reggae-influenced "Em'ma," a remake of Gabriel's "Biko," and the "Makossa"-ish jams "Wakafrika" and "Jingo." Though likable enough, Dibango's new version of "Soul Makossa" falls short of the excellence of the original -- but then, one couldn't realistically expect him to improve on perfection. ~ Alex Henderson

Professional Reviews: Rolling Stone (8/11/94, p.70) - 3.5 Stars - Good plus - "...Dibango favors punchy riffing over extended soloing, but his pack of singers, guitarists, and especially, percussionists is equally efficient in mustering bouyant, ingenious noise..."

Format: Vinyl (1 Disc)

Studio/Live: Studio

Guest Artist: Peter Gabriel; Ray Phiri; Bonga; Sinead O'Connor; Papa Wemba; Youssou N'Dour; Toure Kunda; Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Release Date: 9 June, 2017

Label: Wagram

• Personnel includes: Manu Dibango (saxophone, keyboards); "Bokilo" Jerry Malekani, Vincent N' Guini, David Williams, Paul Jackson, Jr., Dominic Miller (guitar); Fred MacFarlane (keyboards); Francis M'Bappe (bass, programming); Andre Manga, Armand Sabal-Lecco (bass); Tony Allen, Brice Wassi (drums, percussion); Manu Katche, Felix Sabal-Leco (drums); M'Baye Gueye, Assane Thiam, Laurent Coatalen, Michael Fisher (percussion); George Acogny, Jo Kuo (programming); Florence Titty-Dimbeng, Tom Yoms, Georgia Dibango, Abadian Kaba (background vocals).
• Additional guest artists: Angelique Kidjo, King Sunny Ade, Salif Keita, Kaissa Doumbe, Geoffrey Oryema, Alex Brown, Ray Lema.
• Engineers include: Rod Beale, Chris Tergensen, Jay Healy.
• Among American audiences, Manu Dibango is best known for "Soul Makossa," a highly infectious blend of African music, soul-funk, and jazz that became a major pop hit in the early '70s. The African artist revisited his signature tune on 1994's Wakafrika, which boasts an all-star cast that includes Peter Gabriel as well as Haiti's Papa Wemba and African heroes Ladysmith Black Mambazo, King Sunny Ade, and Youssou N'Dour. With such a stellar bunch of guests, Wakafrika should have been outstanding instead of simply decent. But while it isn't the all-out masterpiece it should have been, there's a lot that's enjoyable on this CD, including the reggae-influenced "Em'ma," a remake of Gabriel's "Biko," and the "Makossa"-ish jams "Wakafrika" and "Jingo." Though likable enough, Dibango's new version of "Soul Makossa" falls short of the excellence of the original -- but then, one couldn't realistically expect him to improve on perfection. ~ Alex Henderson