Putumayo World Music New Release
Announcement posted by Putumayo Distribution Australia 21 Feb 2018
African Cafe
PUTUMAYO’S LATEST RELEASE, “AFRICAN CAFÉ”, TAKES LISTENERS ON AN UPLIFTING MUSICAL JOURNEY THROUGH AFRICA.
This selection of acoustic songs is a beautiful blend of Africa’s distinctive musical flavors.
New Orleans, LA, January 30, 2018– Putumayo World Music is pleased to announce the release of its latest compilation, African Café, on Friday, February 23. In Putumayo fashion, listeners are taken on a musical journey through different regions of Africa, guided by a selection of relaxing and uplifting acoustic songs that will inspire and raise their spirits. A Kahawa coffee recipe is also included – a nod to Africa being the home of the origin of coffee and one of the world’s largest tea producers.
The album starts out with sounds of Senegal in Yoro Ndiaye’s poignant “Namm Naa Leen,” in which a subtle mbalax influence flows under the heartfelt lyrics of remembering loved ones. The album then transitions to a slower tempo with a warm guitar introduction to Toto Bona Lokua’s “M’aa Kiana.” Cameroon’s Richard Bona, Congo’s Lokua Kanza, and France’s Gerard Toto have been dubbed Africa’s Crosby, Stills & Nash, and this track proves why. Listeners are quickly swept in to a gentle rhythm as the group delivers a moving ballad.
African Café turns up the energy with tracks by longtime cultural icon Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi
from Zimbabwe; becomes intimate with Senegal’s sibling group (including the country’s only
professional female bassist) Takeifa; and ends by taking listeners on a trip back in time to the
70s with Congolese legend Franco et le T.P.O.K. Jazz.
Complete Track List:
1. Yoro Ndiaye “Namm Naa Leen” (Senegal)
2. Toto Bona Lokua “M’aa Kiana” (France, Cameroon, Congo)
3. Oliver Mtukudzi “Mukana” (Zimbabwe)
4. Jaja Bashengezi “Ndule” (Congo)
5. Takeifa “Yeke Yeke” (Senegal)
6. Les Frères Guissé “Jikko” (Senegal)
7. Winyo “Odongo” (Kenya)
8. Rokia Traoré “Laidu” (Mali)
9. Ray Lema with Ballou Canta, Fredy Massamba, and Rodrigo Viana “Leila” (Congo, Brazil)
For more information or to interview Putumayo founder and music compiler Dan Storper,
please contact Jon Egan at jegan@putumayo.com.au.
About Putumayo World Music: Putumayo World Music was established by Founder/Owner Dan Storper
in 1993 to introduce people to the music of the world’s cultures. Long considered a music industry
pioneer and leader in developing the non-traditional retail market, Putumayo has built a global network
of more than 2,000 book, gift, craft, clothing, health food and other specialty retailers that play its music
and sell its CDs. The company’s commitment to helping communities in the countries where the music originates has led to the label contributing more than one million dollars to non-profit organizations
around the world. This year, the company will be celebrating its 25-year anniversary.
For more information, please visit www.putumayo.com.
