Product Description

Along with Fela Kuti, Manu Dibango was one of the figures central to bringing African pop to the world's attention in the 1970s. His "Soul Makossa", released in 1973, was an international hit, and its blend of funk, jazz, and traditional African sounds helped launch a new epoch of African music. Appropriately, "Soul Makossa" kicks off THE VERY BEST OF MANU DIBANGO: AFROSOULJAZZ, and introduces 11 tracks that span 40years in the career of "the Lion from Cameroon". Dibango's musical vision is truly pan-global, and encompasses elementsof Latin music ("Ekedi"), rock ("Africadelic"), and jazz fusion ("Poinciana"), keeping a smooth stream of African polyrhythms percolating under each track all the while.
On these cuts, Dibango is less of a force as a saxophonist (horns are usually used for rhythmic punctuation or atmospheric texture) than he is as a composer and synthesist. He seems equally comfortable on juju-inspired jams ("A Freak Sans Fric"),'80s electro-boogie ("Electric Africa"), and high-octane dance numbers that mine the makossa feel for which the artist is famous. Though Dibango's career could never be properly distilled to 11 tracks, AFROSOULJAZZ gives a superb, economical overview of the accomplishments of this world-music titan.

Track Listing

1. Ekedy
2. Soul Makossa
3. I Remember
4. Africa Boogie Afrovision
5. Big Blow
6. Deliverance
7. Doula Serenade
8. Pour Un Poigne De CEFA
9. Ponciana
10. Electric Africa
11. Sun Explosion
12. Abele Dance
13. Rhumba Makossa
14. Ah Freak Son Fric

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #62048 in Music
• Released on: 2000-10-16
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Strange emphasis on later songs
You know when you go on holiday and you hear a song that you haven't heard for a long time and you think "I'll buy that as soon as I get home"?

That's what I did - I'd heard 'Soul Makossa' for the first time in years and it sounded great. The version on here is good, but it's not the the original that everyone knows. Also 'Big Blow', the only other song I knew by Manu Dibango is a shorter version than the original I used to dance to in the late 70's.

Manteca - what are you thinking? You could have put over 10 minutes of additional music on here but you put two short versions and one not even original. There's still room for the comparatively soul-less 'Electric Africa', running to over 11 minutes.

It's fun compilation, but flawed if you've ever heard the two standout tracks before...

AWESOME FUNKY MUSIC!!!
Actually it is SOOOO Funky that I laughed quite alot on first hearing!! It is absolutely superb music. Fun, funky, makes you want to dance...(and makes you wish you could...).

highly recomended!

good entry to afro soul jazz
terrible cover and it's a compilation, but it features soul makossa and electric afrika. if you want to get to know manu dibango it's a good start. manu dibango is essential listening if you like funk and african music.