YAN KUBA: KORA MUSIC FROM GAMBIA
Yan Kuba Saho

The kora is the best known and most beautiful string instrument from West Africa, and dates back many centuries to the royal courts. Its harp-like sound is unique and immediately appealing. On this recording, Yan Kuba Saho plays the 21-stringed kora and sings on several selections. He is accompanied on several tracks by Bintu Suso. (LAT 50611)

ANCIENT WISDOM: SONGS & FABLES
Ephat Mujuru

For many centuries, the mbira has been used by the Shona people of Zimbabwe to maintain contact with the spirit world and to recount fables. Ephat Mujuru is one of the world's most accomplished players of the mbira, or African thumb piano, and this recording presents a beautiful blend of spiritual and contemporary songs. (LAT 50616)

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Ngoma: Music from Uganda
Ndere Troupe & others

Compiled by the acclaimed Ndere Troupe in 1995, the recordings from the Ngoma Project for Cultural Preservation present a wealth of traditional music from Uganda. This is the most comprehensive collection of traditional Ugandan music to date.
Inspired performances by master musicians from the region's most important ethnic groups utilize a wide range of instruments including harps, mbiras, zithers, xylophones, and a wide array of African percussion. Fourteen tracks of music, digitally recorded and mastered. (MOW 142)

THE FIRE WITHIN
Hassan Hakmoun (Morocco)

A sizzling foray into the mysterious world of the Gnawa. The Gnawa people of Morocco serve as intermediaries in the spirit world and also as entertainers. Hassan was raised in Marrakech and began to study the healing rituals of tagnawit, the Gnawa-related arts and lore, at a young age. His travels led him to Europe and the U.S. and eventually to participate in several WOMAD tours, recordings with his fusion group Zahar and work with Peter Gabriel. The Fire Within is Hassan's first traditional-based musical project, featuring the sintir, a three-stringed bass lute. Clear, balanced melodies and driving, syncopated rhythms make the music appealing to Western listeners. Several of the songs on this recording are taken from different parts of the derdeba, a trance ritual held to placate spirits that inhabit people or places. Deeply entrancing, The Fire Within hit the European world music charts within a week of it's release and is a CMJ Jackpot pick. (MOW 135)

SHONA SPIRIT
Dumisani Maraire & Ephat Mujuru (Zimbabwe)

Bringing together two of the world's most accomplished mbira (thumb piano) players has resulted in a landmark recording of spiritually evocative and culturally rich music. Both Dumisani and Ephat are musical ambassadors from Zimbabwe, home of Shona culture. Three aspects of Shona culture (language, religion and music) remain intact despite an onslaught of modern day influences. The evidence of change in the music on Shona Spirit is not at the expense of, but rather in reverence to traditional Shona music (Paschigare). Inspiring and uplifting, Shona Spirit is an unprecedented release in the tradition of mbira music. (MOW 136)