Over the past years alot has been said and done about Africa. There have been countless controversies and tragedies but one thing remains true: Africa is still the mystical, musical continent it has always been.
Although most of the continent's ancient musical history remains undocumented, the genius of present day artists lends an insight as to what the past must have been like.

African artists inherited the spirit of song and like most legacies, it lives on.

It therefore is most fitting to recognise the efforts and successes of artists of mother Africa. Every artist listed here below is worthy of praise and has had a positive impact towards creating an awareness of African music. The musical selection has not been limited to a particular nation or region.Many nations such as; South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria and many others have been cited and explored.

AFRICA SALUTES FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI

Fela remains an enigma in Nigeria's history. He has been termed "A peculier late-twentieth-century mix of shaman, politician spiritualist, activist and musical genius".

He wrote and performed political protest songs which won him alarge following both at home and abroad. He led a nototrious lifestyle and is remembered for his outrageous activities which included his preachings on the virtues of sex, polygamy and drugs in particular the use of marijuana as a creative stimulant.

Fela's music and strong political inclinations led him to be a cult figure in Nigeria. He died in 1996 leaving behind uncountable children and grand-children.

Femi Kuti(his son) keeps the musical tourch burning but decided to drop the nototriety which was Fela's trademark

AFRICA SALUTES YOUSSOU NDOUR

An international household name, this young man has found his way up the ladder of success by liaising with artists like America's Neneh Cherry in "seven seconds" and composing the theme song for FIFA's 1998 soccer world championship. Born in 1959, Youssou Ndour started out reaching for the stars. At the tender age of 14 he was already performing infront of large audiences and had earned the nickname "le petit prince de Dakar" or the little prince of Dakar.

Unlike his contemporaries who sing of love and romance, Ndour prefers singing about the society in which he lives, the world in which he lives, his lyrics tend to have an educational function rather than a romantic appeal. Most of his albums and compositions have songs which deal with personal emotions, social problems and political issues.

AFRICA SALUTES MIRIAM MAKEBA

Born in apartheid South Africa; the Empress of African song, Miriam Makeba began her struggle at the age of 2 weeks when she served a six-month jail term with her mother. As a teenager she performed backbreaking domestic chores for white families and lived the restricted life of most oppressed South Africans.

Finding solace in song, Miriam Makeba immigrated to the USA to continue the struggle from abroad. She gained international recognition in the States and her out-spoken opposition to the repressive political climate in South Africa set the stage for government retaliation. Makeba's call for an end to apartheid became increasingly powerful, and her recordings were subsequently banned in South Africa.

June of 1990 saw Miriam Makeba re-entering Johannesburg for the first time in 31 years, The following year the album "Eyes on tommorrow" was released.

Makeba remains an icon of perseverance in the South African struggle and a voice for her people. Her life in multiple, cultural and political settings- and her rich musical career, drawing on traditional and contemporary sources- have resonance for us all.

AFRICA SAlUTES MANU DI BANGO

Born Emmanuel "Manu" Di Bango, this outstanding Cameroonian sax-player, composer singer, pianist and arranger has definately made it to the top of superstardom.He is the first African to have had his music "borrowed" by an Internationally acclaimed performer/entertainer: Michael Jackson. Having lived the greater part of his life in Europe, especially Paris, he came into contact with American sailors in his early years and was much affected by the jazz they brought with them.

A musical prodigy at the time, he made use of his numerous talents in collaboration with other artists such as: Fela Kuti, Don Cherry, and Johnny Pachecheco. But it was the release of his album "SOUL MAKOSSA" in 1973 that made his name. Picked up by a New York radio station, it was a startling instant hit world wide.

Di Bango even won a case against Michael Jackson who borrowed 77 seconds of Soul Makossa on Wanna Be Starting Something on his "Thriller" album (a real big seller...).He has performed and recorded in Brussels, Paris, Zaire, the United States, Jamaica, and Cote d'Ivoire. He remains inspirational to fellow Cameroonians and is one of the few African artists guaranteed to draw a full house any where in the world.

AFRICA SALUTES KHALED

North African "Cheb" Khaled popularized the North African form of pop music called Rai which is considered threatening to social order by the rigid North African (Arab) society. The title "Cheb" which could mean young, charming and attractive, served to differenciate the young turks of Pop-Rai from the older generation of cheiks and cheikhas.

Khaled boasts of the 1992 hit single "Didi" which was sexually explicit and refreshingly tantalizing both for the North African youth and the world as a whole. Khaled has been embraced by France and his music is universal. Born in Algeria and brought up in the strict Arab culture. When he was crowned king of rai in 1985 it was not to be taken lightly as it was he who brought rai to new heights.

Due to socio-political tension in Algeria, he later chose to move to France where his music got International exposure.

AFRICA SALUTES ANGELIQUE KIDJO

This diva from Benin is one of Africa's best ambassadors to the world. Born in 1960, as a young girl, Angelique Kidjo listened to the likes of James Brown and the Beattles and sang her own words in Fon (an African language) to the tunes. Over the years after having acquired International recognition, she still projects the African spirit in song to the World. Kidjo's lyrics are always woven in the folk-tale style of her culture. While her songs do not adhere to a particular genre, there is always a story to be told.If it not about family then it is usually about rituals and mysterious events. She favours African tradition and has found what many artists have not: A complete balance between African and Western culture. This is not only true of her musical career but also of her union with husband/producer French-man Jean Hebrail who has been actively involved in her career.

She cites Miriam Makeba as a role model and has recorded with artists like Branford Marsalis, Manu di Bango, Kelly Price, and South African Wendy Mseleku. Her projection of Africa in song and the mystery her music evokes is uniquely: Angelique. She is winner of the prestigieous KORA-All Africa Awards. Great praise goes to this artist who has brought Africa, It's culture and people to a respected level in world music.

AFRICA SALUTES ISMAEL LO

Ismael Lo is one of the most influential of Senegal's perfomers. His distinctive voice is matched by a beautifully sensitive guitar style which never fails to bring out the haunting songs which are so rich. He is also recognised as the country's most creative arrangers, perhaps due to an influence by art school training and a passion for painting.
Ismael Lo was born in Niger, but grew up in Rufisque, near the Senegalese capital;Dakar. A prococious musical talent, he was singing, playing the guitar and harmonica on TV by the time he was 15 years of age. His blend of traditional and imported sounds held his audience in awe throughout West Africa.

He is amongst the few African artists who enjoy International stardom and has come to symbolise Africa in it's most primitive and beautiful state. He has various themes for his music; love, mystery and poverty being a few of them. Ismael Lo participates in creating an acute awareness of the hiv virus and the havoc it causes in Africa. He produced and acted in a mini-movie regarding the issue.Till date he remains actively involved in sensitising and informing Africa on the epedemic. Among his many talents besides singing are; painting, writing and acting.

AFRICA SALUTES CECARIA EVORA

Commonly referred to as "la diva aux pieds nus" Cecaria Evora, the "barefooted diva" has overcome every obstacle in her life and is finaly living for her dream and passion:music. Born on the poverty stricken and dry/arid island of Cape Verde, she faced life and her fate with courage. Her music could calm her aching soul but could never bring in the kind of money that would allow her to lead the life that she looked forward to. Growing up around women who had no control over their destiny, Cecaria Evora swore she would never find herself in a similar situation. She had never even left the island nor the little town of Mindelo, but knowing there was a way out of her situation, she took to singing on the street, soliciting the support and admiration of the locals. Having a strong musical background behind her, Cecaria started singing at the age of 17 under the supervision of her father who played the violin. Later on she sang songs composed for her by poetic composer: Eugenio Tavares.

Taking her fate in her own hands, Cecaria, amid all personal tribulationand economic restraints, started out as a cabaret singer and even though performing in itself was a scary prospect, she managed to acquire enough popularity which led to her securing a record deal. A solitary figure from the disadvantaged Portugese colony of Cape Verde, Cecaria is finaly on the right track.

AFRICA SALUTES HUGH MASEKELA

South Africa's Hugh Masekela is an accomplished trumpeter, fluegelhornist, composer and singer. Recognised for his outstanding talent and active participation against apartheid, this African artist has had one of the most succesful careers ever. Born in Witbank on April 4th 1939, his interest in music became apparent by the age of six when he was in a misssion school where he learned to play the piano.

As a teenager Masekela began playing trumpet with South African dance bands and toured major African cities.
Because South African music schools were not open to him, Masekela went abroad to continue his musical training. He studied at London's Guildhall School of Music and recieved a scholarship from Harry Belafonte to the Manhatten School of Music. In 1980, Masekela moved to Botswana where he lived for four and a half years. A big release followed his move "Technobush" was a good album and the single "Don't go lose it Baby" topped the dance charts in the USA.

In 1986, he founded the Botswana International School of Music, a non profit institute to train African musicians.

In late 1990 he finaly returned to South Africa after a thirty-year self-imposed exile in protest of apartheid.
He once said to a reporter "There is no doubt in our minds that we will be free one day soon and that South Africa will become a normal society. There's alot of work to be done with the reconstruction that will be coming up. We'll all have to be apart of it."

10 years later and one can comfortably say he has been a part of the reconstruction that is still going on.

AFRICA SALUTES KHADJA NIN

Born in Burundi, this African princess has an inspirational fairy-tale life story that leaves one amazed at her courage and stregnth. She left home (Burundi) for Zaire at the age of 16. At the age of 17 she met the man who would become her husband and they went off into the forest to run a lodge for tourists. Later on her husband, their baby and she left Africa for Europe. With not many opportunities looking up for them, the death of her husband came as a shock and she was forced to fend for herself and the baby. Most of the time she carried out menial jobs just to survive.

Her big break in 1985 came in the form of Nicolas Fiszman who she regards as the "Nin in Khadja."

Nicolas Fiszman worked with her, teaching her the ropes and bringing out the best in her.

The album "SAMBOLERA" is what got her international recognition and classified her in the super-star category. Amongst many other songs on the album is the single "Sambolera" which is inspirational in it's plea for peace. Her serene, fierce yet hurt soul is projected in the touching songs she sings. A deeper, more understanding African songstress would be hard to find and thus she took the Kora all Africa award under the category of most aspiring female talent on the continent. in all humility and honesty she says of herself "I came on to the music scene late, actually it came to me and it's like a gift from above."

AFRICA SALUTES JOHNNY CLEGG

"Le zulu blanc"(meaning the white zulu) was what the French coined this Caucasian who saw him self as an African both in his culture and his person. A rather delicate situation if his nationality is South African and his color white, but Johnny Clegg rose above the controversy and limitations not only because his music is good but because he was true to himself and his feelings.

Apartheid could not stop a young white boy (Johnny Clegg) from becoming friends with zulu man (Sipho Mchumu).

Along with the friendship came the desire to dance the Zulu traditional dances, sing songs in Zulu and eventually form a band.

This made news, some of it good, some bad but all the same it was a thing of wonder. The wonder grew as this strange amalgamation of black and white progressed by leaps and bounds. The band was Savuka and the white man was Johnny Clegg. He brought international recognition to the Zulu dance and the oppression of a people's beautiful, strong spirit. By the time South Africa was a freed society, the band was experiencing problems and decided to split. Johnny Clegg went on to persue a solo career without Sipho Mchumu. He remains loyal to the African spirit in him meanwhile he also finds his place in the caucasian world. A sucessful mix of the two most different races can be seen in Johnny Clegg who forever remains "Le Zulu Blanc"

AFRICA SALUTES SALIF KEITA

Being born an albino carries with it a stigma in most African societies and such was the case with Salif Kieta who although was born of very high lineage faced a rather difficult youth. He trained as a schoolteacher but due to problems with his sight, he could not follow up with his proffession. Despite his family's dissaproval he began to sing for a living in the streets and bars of Bamako.

He was approached by a "The rail band" group which he later joined and became an integral part of. The arrival of two Guinean musicians Mory Kante and Kante Manfila was somewhat unsettling for Salif Keita who saw Mory Kante as a potential rival.

Putting the rivalry aside, Salif Keita left for France where new opportunities were open up to him. There was an interest in his powerful, inspirational voice which led to the many sucessful albums which are so distinctively; Salif Keita's. He is one of Africa's most internationally successful singers. The single M'Bi fe is one of the most popular African tracks of all times.

AFRICA SALUTES YVONNE CHAKA CHAKA

South African pop Icon Yvonne Chaka-Chaka was one of the first black female vocalists to break the ice in the eighties. Under a music genre "Bubble Gum" which has taken South Africa to a diffferent level in pop music, Yvonne Chaka-chaka found great success.

"I'm inlove with a DJ", her first single in 1984, was a massive hit and immediately launched a career that has produced a string of gold and platinum successes.

Her belting alto voice with it's distinctive timbre accounts for much of her popularity, but her success is partly drawn from the high standard of her well-crafted and arranged material. Her songs are built on two catchy interlocking melodies, and the lyrics -which are almost always in English-are nicely phrased and convey real meaning.

She was determined from a very young age to follow her love of music, so when she teamed up with Chicco Twala it was no suprise that she released album after album which were great successes both at home and in West Africa.

Currently a successful business-woman, Chaka Chaka has taken a break from the music world to immerse herself in her family (4 sons) and business. All the same her music lives on and many South African youngsters use her as a point of reference and inspiration.

AFRICA SALUTES PAPA WEMBA

Papa Wemba's musical roots were set down in 1969 when he and a posse of his contemporaries formed the group Zaiko Langa Langa. After the wind of change hit Zairian music, he went off to form his own band Viva La Musica-in which he decided not to focus so much on the music but more so on style.

The band became noticed for the trendy clothes they wore. It was Papa Wemba who introduced the phenomenon of "la societe des ambianceurs et des personnes d'Elegance(la sape)"and the youth at home and abroad followed. This love of high fashion (usually designer clothes from Takeo Kikuchi, Yohji Yamamoto to Gianni Versace) actually gave him an opening to the fashion concious media world-wide and introduced him and his music to a new audience.

Zaire is a country with various musical backgrounds and these backgrounds provide a variety of genres to chose from. Zaiko langa langa, Zaiko Kola Kolinga and Soukouss are just a few of the most popularized Zairian dance rhythems. Papa Wemba is the "father" of international soukouss music.

His collaboration with many International artists and his flashy dress code has led him to enjoy a status of super-stardom reserved for the very successful.

AFRICA SALUTES BRENDA FASSIE

Her career began some twenty years ago when she hitch-hiked to Johannesburg from Cape Town (a town in the Western cape) of South Africa to become a star, little did she know that her stardom would be so great.

Her first album was a success in the sense that she topped South African charts and won the admiration of the locals. Brenda's music has an appeal to the people she sings it for and she is the township sweetheart of South Africa. Her latest exploits include phases with drugs and rehabilitation but that hasn't stopped her from belting out hit after hit.

She has often been compared to the west's Madonna and has lived up to and beyond her reputation.

With so much controversy towards her career she has shown the world the human side of an artist.

As a reward she has acquired many platinum and double platinum albums.

Brenda is the queen of kwaito (a particular music genre.) in South Africa. Her life as an artist has been examined and cross examined many times over and there has been plenty of gossip on her, ranging from her sexuality to her drug addiction. However Brenda still copes and remains strong amid the trails and tribulations.