The Early World

1- To Be Still by Alela Diana.
The American singer / songwriter guitarist Alela Diane quietly gained a cult status with her debut album The Pirate’s Gospel in 2007. The songs of To Be Still have been made more accessible by dressing them with subtle percussion, bass, ‘pedal steel’ and strings. Alela’s father, who also produced her first record, is again her most important musical companion. But the great strength remains Alela’s smooth voice, which beautifully switches to the head voice in the higher regions.
CD. To Be Still – Alela Diana. Label: Fargo Records (2009), code: FR21170. VIDEO

Diavola from the trio Toko Telo.
After the sudden death of accordionist and Malagasy music icon Régis Gizavo in the summer of last year, Toko Telo was suddenly reduced from a trio to a duo. The album title Diavola means “the moon”. In the title track of the same name, the trio sings about what people like to talk about when the night comes and the moon takes the place of the sun. The title Oka Niny, which translates as “go for maid”, could be the local hymn of the #MeToo movement in Madagascar and also in Zaza Somondrara (“young girl”) the singer Monika Njava talks about young Malagasy girls who claim more and more liberties against local traditions.
CD. Diavola – Toko Telo. Label: Anio Records (2018), code: 18001. Distribution: XANGO music. VIDEO

Wande of Samba Touré.
The guitarist and singer Samba Touré from Timbuktu is considered by many to be the best guitarist of Mali. He is the musical heir of the king of the desert blues, who died in 2006: Ali Farka Touré. Samba’s mother sang with Ali Farka Touré and he was asked fifteen years ago to play in his band. As a result, Samba learned new musical styles and rhythms for him, which he recorded in his own blues and gave it his own twist. His international breakthrough came with the album Albala in 2012 with the label Glitterbeat.
CD. Wande of Samba Touré. Label: Glitterbeat (2018), code: GBCD 059. Distribution: XANGO music. VIDEO