Na Afriki

$14.97

1. Dala 2. Djiguene 3. Issa 4. Inyembezi zam 5. Têlo dé 6. Khabone-n'daw 7. Jho avido 8. Yekiyi 9. Ma poô 10. Pygmées 11. Palea 12. Pillage 13. Loubou 14. Massacre 15. Mousso tilou Click to hear sample tracks

When she was a young girl in the Ivory Coast, Dobet Gnahoré knew she wanted to devote her life to the arts. At age 12, Dobet announced to her father that she wasn't going to return to school. "I want to stay in the village like you!" she asserted so forcefully that her father knew there was no talking her out of it. However, this was no ordinary "village." Dobet's father, a respected master drummer, singer and actor, was a founding member of Village Ki-Yi M'Bock, one of Africa's most unique artist enclaves. The influence of this exceptional community and the creative environment in which she was raised can be heard on Dobet's new recording, Na Afriki (To Afrika).

The songs on Na Afriki address social and political issues in Africa: the struggles of women in African society, the exploitation of children, and the impact of greed and violence on the family. Dobet calls upon Africa to seek solutions from within and draw upon its own vast resources to create a better future. She sings of love and loss, as well as joy and celebration, using a wide variety of rhythms and styles that reflect her pan-African approach.

A young mother herself, Dobet's songs refer frequently to children. On "Télodé" she provides advice from one mother to another, encouraging a parent to let a son go forth into the world and express himself. On "Khabonen'Daw" she speaks out with a fearless, fierce tongue against incest. On "Djiguene (Woman)," she pays homage to the "Woman of Africa, woman of Asia, woman of Europe, woman of the world," who fight for freedom and heal sickness, who cultivate the earth, feed the children, and become mothers. Many of her songs offer personal reflections on her life growing up in an artistic community, and praise for Liking and the others that helped guide her down the path she chose for herself.

Dobet Gnahoré's Na Afriki is the fourth release by Cumbancha, a record label that was founded in 2006 by Jacob Edgar, the long-time head of music research for Putumayo World Music.

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