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| Putumayo World Music Presents: Women of Africa |
Women have always played an essential role in the preservation of African culture.
From lullabies sung to sleepy children to chants of celebration, women are
important bearers of tradition. Unlike some areas in the world where females are
discouraged from taking part in public musical performance, in sub-Saharan
Africa, music is an essential social activity for all members of the community.
While many musical instruments are traditionally played exclusively by men,
women often provide the voice of Africa’s music. This legacy carries over from
traditional to contemporary music, and many of today’s most popular singers in
Africa are women.
Click on links below to hear music sample.
Women of Africa features Putumayo’s favorite songs by women from Algeria to
Zimbabwe. Ranging from internationally revered artists like Angèlique Kidjo
(Benin), Tarika (Madagascar), Women of Mambazo (South Africa), Khadja Nin
(Burundi) and Dorothy Masuka (Zimbabwe), to rising stars such as Judith
Sephuma (South Africa), Souad Massi (Algeria), and Sibongile Khumalo (South
Africa), to new discoveries Nawal (Comoros), Maria de Barros (Cape Verde),
Kaïssa (Cameroon), and Dobet Gnahoré (Ivory Coast), the artists on Women of
Africa represent a wide spectrum of today’s African music scene.
From lullabies sung to sleepy children to chants of celebration, women are
important bearers of tradition. Unlike some areas in the world where females are
discouraged from taking part in public musical performance, in sub-Saharan
Africa, music is an essential social activity for all members of the community.
While many musical instruments are traditionally played exclusively by men,
women often provide the voice of Africa’s music. This legacy carries over from
traditional to contemporary music, and many of today’s most popular singers in
Africa are women.
Click on links below to hear music sample.
Women of Africa features Putumayo’s favorite songs by women from Algeria to
Zimbabwe. Ranging from internationally revered artists like Angèlique Kidjo
(Benin), Tarika (Madagascar), Women of Mambazo (South Africa), Khadja Nin
(Burundi) and Dorothy Masuka (Zimbabwe), to rising stars such as Judith
Sephuma (South Africa), Souad Massi (Algeria), and Sibongile Khumalo (South
Africa), to new discoveries Nawal (Comoros), Maria de Barros (Cape Verde),
Kaïssa (Cameroon), and Dobet Gnahoré (Ivory Coast), the artists on Women of
Africa represent a wide spectrum of today’s African music scene.