Some styles of African music, and the artists who play them.

Last update 23 June 1996.

These are my favorite styles of African music, presented in the approximate order of my preference. The order keeps changing based on my current whim.

This is by no means a complete or comprehensive list! These are just my current recommendations. There are many books on the subject. (to be linked soon!)

In each section I have placed a list of my favorite musicians and the names of some of their albums in order of my preference. Also note that the names I give for albums may be different in your country. Most of the listings here are releases from the US.

Several artists I know only from compilation albums. These I try to associate with the major musicians on that album. Since there are (by definition) several artists on each of these, sometimes I've listed an album by several artist's names.

To go to a particular section, click the appropriate line.

Chimurenga and Jit

Fast, guitar-based music from Zimbabwe. Chimurenga means "the struggle", and was originally popularized during the Zimbabwean war of independence by Thomas Mapfumo, who still plays almost nightly in Harare. Jit is a faster, lighter style of chimurenga.

 

Soukous

Fast, guitar-based music mostly from Zaire and Congo. Usually bands have two or three guitarists, often playing interweaving lines. Many musicians live and work outside central Africa for political, economic, or technical reasons. Most work out of Paris, but Brussels is also a place to find many soukous musicians. Soukous is the most popular music in sub-Saharan Africa, with large followings from Senegal to Kenya to Zimbabwe. There are far more soukous bands than bands of any other style.

 

Makossa

Fast, guitar-based music from Cameroon. Similar sound to soukous. I'm always trying to decide which of the two styles I prefer, but it's really a toss-up.

Here are some listings from individual countries, but the music is not necessarily of the same style.

Mali and Guinea

The styles of Mali and Guinea are too varied to describe with a small paragraph. Generally islamic in feel, they range from women's singing styles to blues guitar to Griot balladeers.

Senegal and The Gambia

Generally strong emphasis on drums.

South Africa

There are many styles of South African Music, from tribal to township jive to jazz. My favorite is Mbaqanga (no, you can't pronounce it), otherwise known as the Indestructible Beat.

Kenya and Tanzania

Madagascar

Nigeria