"Waka Waka" by Shakira is a current house-favorite of my 10-year-old daughter.  (Sorry.)

Hi Iver:

Look into Fela Kuti from Nigeria - not quite stylistically what you indicated, but most excellent.

Groetjes....Mark

Remmy Ongala's albums on Peter Gabriel's Real World label, especially Songs For The Poor Man.

Geoffrey Oryema, Beat The Border. Also on Real World.

So many others. Oliver Mutukudzi. Bhundu Boys. Salif Keita (Mouffou is great). Ali Farke Toure.

All these are not very acoustic based. The first pick for something like that I can think of is Ayub Ogada; En Mana Kuoyo. Actually thumb piano I think plus the richest soulful voice. Lovely album. Rokia Traore if you prefer a woman's voice would be another.

Bruce

Thanks guys ! That is a good start !

Iver - this is a sampler CD of a wide range of artists we picked up on a trip to South Africa a few years ago and may be of some help.  There's also a vol 2 now I believe.

This is rather different to the foregoing and a personal favourite of mine 

Olly

Oh and these guys - very infectious

Also check out Cape Verdean Mayra Andrade:

A favorite of mine:

 http://www.cduniverse.com/prod...7528&style=music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUblyim5B-g

thanks guys, I'll have a look at your suggestions

for the moment I also use the help of: http://www.music.org.za/

Ooooh yeah ! A great band to see live, and this album does them justice IMO.

Fela Kuti was the first authentic Third World superstar. His music is mesmeric.

The are scores of albums, but these four are worth investigating first

Another vote for Ali Farka Toure : )

Hugh Masekela is one you should check out. His album Hope is a recording masterpiece as well.

http://www.excellent-recording...h-masekela-hope.html

Outstanding 2 disc collection put together by his son:

Especially on 45rpm vinyl. It's a truly awesome recording.

Tinariwen from the North of Africa, Sahara area.

+ 1 and two big thumbs up for Tinariwen, from Mali.

Freedom fighters by day...

 ...roadies...

... guitar players by night...

Their music - Assouf - which speaks of solitude and nostalgia, is born from a mix of blues, rock and traditional Touareg music and, like the blues, emerges from exile and suffering.

As an aside, they linked up briefly with Tunng on Tunng - Live at the BBC. The joint Tunng - Tinariwen version of Tamant Tilay is a breathtaking ride.

A 59 minute video of their 2004 Womad concert here :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUS0-0Fv7c8

Iver, Incase you have not as yet heard the Bhundu Boys,, this album of their early recordings is worth a listen,, I dont have  a huge knowledge of African music and most of my own collection is from the mid 80's John Peel/Andy Kershaw radio session  days ..

Incedently Andy Kershaws Biography is avaialble on Amazon for a few pence and worth investing in for African Music recomendations..

For something more up to date Rokia Traore's  "Africa" album is money well spent !

I'm amazed no-one's mentioned Ladysmith Black Mambazo - fabulous Zulu close harmony work. Granted they don't often sing with instruments (and I would argue they're better a capella), but every collection should have one of their albums. I saw them live in Bristol in 2003 and they were astonishing. This is the best album of theirs I've got:

Mine doesn't have the Heinz sticker on it... though it was an interesting choice of music for a baked bean advert.

Mark

Nahawa Doumbiais is worth a listen. This is one of my favourites tracks, the album Nyama Toutou is also pretty good.

How about PAUL SIMON -RHYTHM OF THE SAINTS.

Classic album, well recorded

I kept meaning to post this, so here you go - the golden voice of Sierra Leone: S.E. Rogie - Dead Men Don't Smoke Marijuana. Palm wine music to kick back to.

Don't forget the "Bob Marley of Africa", Alpha Blondy.  Start with Jerusalem which also features the Wailers.

Nice album-but South American!

Bruce