In the 1980s and '90s, independent American labels released an abundance of modern African pop (everything from infectious zouk and soukous to South African sounds), but not as many traditional African recordings. With this CD, the small Music of the World label set out to show American listeners the richness of traditional Ugandan tribal music. These hypnotic recordings were made by the Ngoma Project, a group that has been providing audio and video documentation of Uganda's cultural arts. Music from different parts of Uganda is heard on the album, including that of the Acoli, Baganda, Busoga and Alur tribes. All of the songs are highly percussive, and various types of percussion are combined with harps, zithers, xylophones and the mbira (African thumb piano). Those who have savored the pleasures of African pop also owe it to themselves to experience the type of traditionalism found on
Music From Uganda. ~ Alex Henderson