West Africa Unwired

From the sumptuous koras (the West African harp) of Toumani Diabaté and Ballaké Sissoko to the acoustic guitar legends Baaba Maal and Mansour Seck, Think Global’s new release West Africa Unwired presents some of the most beautiful classics from the acoustic West Africa repertoire. Featuring bluesy sounds from Mali, Wodaabe music from the Sahelian savannah and Manding rhythms, this album features griots, musical giants and rising stars, who reveal the vitality of these timeless and exceptional songs.

West Africa Unwired is a veritable who’s who of current West African music. The compilation offers an insight into the ancient song repertoire of the region as well as being a taster of some fine modern songwriting talent and a guide to the many influences (from flamenco to funk) which have filtered into the current West African sound.

The opening track on West Africa Unwired is the beautiful acoustic masterpiece ‘Maacina Tooro’ from Senegals’ Baaba Maal & Mansour Seck and taken from their legendary album Djam Leelii. Mory Kanté’s track ‘Djou’, is a song that is especially fitting on this album as it addresses hunger, the global enemy. It is followed by ‘Bi Lamban’ by Toumani Diabate and Ballake Sissoko who use the kora to achieve their gorgeous layered sound.

Some new rising stars to mention are the gentle Nuru Kane from Senegal and Etran Finatawa, a ten piece from Niger who recently wowed fans and critics alike after their WOMAD appearance. They merge their traditional Wodaabe music (vocal) and Tuareg songs (percussion and instruments) with hypnotic effect.

West Africa Unwired is being produced in collaboration with Amnesty International – a worldwide movement of ordinary people from across the world standing up for humanity and human rights. Their purpose is to protect individuals wherever justice, fairness, freedom and truth are denied. They are the world’s largest voluntary organization working on human rights.

Buy West Africa Unwired.