Since the middle of the 1990s, trans-Atlantic salsa sensation Africando has been putting the "Afro" back in Afro-Cuban music. A combination of Cuban instrumentalists and African vocalists, Africando draws from the wealth of rhumba, salsa and other polyrhythmic Latin styles while adding its own distinctly African touch. "Betece" is the group's 2000 and possibly best recording.
What makes "Betece" stand out from the band's previous efforts is the broad cross-section of African vocal talent that appears on the recording. Gnonnas Pedro of Benin, Thione Seck of Senegal, Eugene Shoubou of Haiti, and Ronnie Baro of Cuba all appear on this album as they have on earlier ones. The golden-voiced Guinean Sekouba "Bambino" Diabate, whose passion for salsa has led him to several earlier collaborations with Africando, again graces two tracks here. Of special note, however, are contributions by "newcomers"--though they are actually veterans. Malian singer Salif Keita and Congolese singer Koffi Olomide, arguably the two biggest names in African pop music today, each contribute a song, as does Congolese star Lokua Kanza. Finally Ahmadou Balake of Burkina Faso and Hector Casanova of Puerto Rico round out the cast of guest vocalists. "Betece" artfully blends Africando's crisp horns, piano and percussion with soaring, passionate vocals, often sung in African languages (Seck sings in Wolof, Keita and Diabate in Malinke, and Olomide in Lingala) as well as Spanish. The result is an irresistable fusion that's almost impossible not to dance to. No wonder Africando's music is popular from Dakar to Dar es Salaam.
In some countries this CD "Africando All Stars - Betece" is named "Mandali" by Africando, and it's still being played in almost every Salsa club. All 13 tracks are VERY danceable, representing the African branch of Salsa music at its best.
01. Mandali (Medoune Diallo) 5:04
02. Miye Na We (Lokua Kanza) 4:37
03. Betece (Amadou Balake) 5:01
04. Hwomevonon (Gnonnas Pedro) 5:10
05. Ntoman (Salif Keita) 5:00
06. Carpintero (Ronnie Baro) 4:46
07. Scandalo (Shoubou) 5:03
08. Sonfo (Sekouba Bambino) 4:52
09. Sey (Thione Seck) 5:16
10. Mopao (Koffi Olomide) 4:31
11. Pepita (Boncana Maiga, Hector Casanova) 5:02
12. Naliye Gnimo (Bailly Spinto) 4:47
13. Doni Doni (Africando Bembeya Jazz) 8:17
(december 2000)
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