Among American audiences,
Manu Dibango is best known for "Soul Makossa," a highly infectious blend of African music, soul-funk, and jazz that became a major pop hit in the early '70s. The African artist revisited his signature tune on 1994's
Wakafrika, which boasts an all-star cast that includes
Peter Gabriel as well as Congo's
Papa Wemba and African heroes
Ladysmith Black Mambazo,
King Sunny Ade, and
Youssou N'Dour. With such a stellar bunch of guests,
Wakafrika should have been outstanding instead of simply decent. But while it isn't the all-out masterpiece it should have been, there's a lot that's enjoyable on this CD, including the reggae-influenced "Em'ma," a remake of
Gabriel's "Biko," and the "Makossa"-ish jams "Wakafrika" and "Jingo." Though likable enough,
Dibango's new version of "Soul Makossa" falls short of the excellence of the original -- but then, one couldn't realistically expect him to improve on perfection. ~ Alex Henderson