Artist: Manu Dibango
Title: Wakafrika
Year Of Release: 1994
Label: Fnac Music
Genre: Jazz, World Fusion
Quality: FLAC (*tracks + .cue,log)
Total Time: 01:07:11
Total Size: 494 mb

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. (AMG)
Tracks:
01. Soul Makossa (feat. Yaussou N'Dour)
02. Biko (feat. Alex Brown, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Sinead O'Connor,Peter Gabriel & Geoffrey Oryema)
03. Wakafrika
04. Emma (feat. Salif Keita, Sinead O'Connor)
05. Homeless (feat. Ray Lema, Sinead O'Connor)
06. Lady (feat. Ray Phiri, Sinead O'Connor)
07. Hi-Life (feat. King Sunny Ade)
08. Wimoweh (feat. Ladysmith Black Mambazo)
09. Ami Oh! (feat. Anglique Kidjo & Papa Wemba)
10. Jingo (feat. King Sunny Ade)
11. Pata Pata (feat. Kaissa Doumbe)
12. Diarabi (feat. Bonga & Toure Kunda)
13. Ca Va Chouia
All tracks recorded at Bastille Studio, Guillaume Tel Studios, Ferber Studio, Paris Metropolis, London, The Hit Factory, New York, Capitol Studios, Saturn Sound Studios, The Complex, Los Angeles.