isabel25

Only a month before I leave, and I'm in the mood for African music.

So, what's on your playlist?

I'm specifically interested in music from South Africa and Botswana, since that's where I'll be traveling. Any genre is fine -- traditional, pop, etc. Also, what's likely to be popular with the locals I'm likely to meet (guides, trackers, lodge and camp staff, etc.)?

Bonus points for tracks that are available on iTunes. I've downloaded a bunch of Ladysmith Black Mombazo and Miriam Makeba, but what else do you enjoy?

Cheweyhead

Angelique Kidjo - all especially Djin Djin
Miriam Stockley Uku'Lela
Mehdi
Leftfield
Baka Beyond
Gonda
Lokua Kanza
Music of the Shona People
Afro Celt Sound System
Sounds of Blackness
and of course Dave Matthews & U2

ShayTay

"Afrikan Dream" by Vicky Sampson... yes, it's available on iTunes. You might also see if iTunes has the Soweto Gospel Choir. They do secular as well as Christian music.

Lillipets

Johnny Clegg and Savuka is one of my favorites. Hennie Bekker does instrumental music with environmental sounds-he has an entire series of them emphasizing African music with the sounds of Africa in the background.

GreenDrake

Looking for bonus points!! Isabel one artist on Itunes I like is Oliver Mtukudzi - album is Tsimba Itsoka. He is Zimbabwean.

The website of The Africa Channel also has a music section that lists selections by country.

http://www.theafricachannel.com/

DonTopaz

Absolutely second the suggestion of Soweto Gospel Choir.

I've got about 5 or 6 versions of Nkosi Sikelele Africa, and I love them all. Lots of fun to sing on a game drive.

I don't actually have any of his stuff, but Hugh Masekela was a huge force in the 60s/70s.

Gardyloo

Pretty much everything by Johnny Clegg. Here's a sampler - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0QcWBIldz8

Look on iTunes for tracks from an album called &quot;Kings of Africa&quot; which includes Sipho Mabuse's wonderful <i>Burnout</i> - like Clegg's songs, bridge-building music from the 80s and early 90s. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psPgl2VL-5s

We also like current (rather mainstream pop but very likable) groups like Harris Tweed and Freshly Ground.

KymH

isabel25,
What a great question! I leave in August, and I was just starting to think about loading my ipod! Thanks!

kurt_a

An eclectic sampling of artists to consider:

Dizu Plaatjies / Amampondo
Freshlyground
Robbie Jansen
Mac MacKenzie
Hilton Schilder
Hotep Galeta
Abdullah Ibrahim
Mafikizolo
Mango Groove
Robin Auld
Vusi Mahlasela
Louis Mhlanga
Papa Wemba
Boubacar Traoure
Hugh Masekela
Manu Dibango
Issa Bagayogo
Judith Sephuma
Khadja Nin
The Mahotella Queens
Mongo Santamaria
Moses Molelekwa
Lucky Dube
Salif Keita
Shwi noMtekhala
Sibongile Khumalo
Toumani Diabate
Miriam Makeba
Baaba Maal
The Manhattan Brothers

and for the hiphop crowd, do a search on 'kwaito'

For the opera crowd, Carmen has been translated into isiXhosa and sung by the amazing lyric theatre company, Dimpho Di Kopane as the soundtrack to u-Carmen eKhayelitsha, a film that won the Golden Bear at Berlin a few years back

isabel25

This is great. Can't wait to start checking all of this out. It will take me a while to hunt down, sample and savor all of these choices, but in a week or so I'll let everyone know what I've been able to find and what has grabbed me the most upon initial listening.

Thanks so much!!!

scootr29

Paul Simon's Graceland

Lynneb

More world music than specifically African, but I like the One Giant Leap CD.

Doogle

I wonder why no one has mentioned Steve Hoffmeyer, Kurt Darren, Mynie grove, Dozi, David Kramer, Leon Schuster, Campbell Broers, the guy that sings de la rey....are these not icons...he he he

iPhela

My gooiste genade Doogle. Waar kom jy vandaan?