Fantastic double CD plus book compilation that traces the history of Ghanian Palm Wine music from the 1920s to the 1960s. Comes with a book (including some English), all beautifully presented.

Posthumous solo album from Afrobeat drummer who tragically died in 2015 at the age of 36, just after completing this album. Keiichi Tanaka travelled to various African countries including Mali, Senegal and Morocco, as well as Cuba to learn styles of drumming. He was a member of the Japan's Afrobeat band Kingdom Afrocks, supporting Tony Allen in Japan and playing at various festivals such as Fuji Rock, Giles Peterson Worldwide Showcase, Francois K.'s Deep Space and others. He learnt much from Tony Allen sometimes played with Oki Duib Ainu Band. On this album he explored Ainu music, with help from Oki and vocalist Rekpo, plus interpretations of Fela Kuti, traditonal African music, and songs inspired by the situation in Syria. Also featured Hakase-sun (Fishmans, Little Tempo) among many others.

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One of the near legendary Audi-Book series compiled by Toyo Nakamura, Japan's most respected music journalist who died in 2011. Long out of print, a few copies have recently surfaced. The Audi-book label was active between 1989 and 1997 and was mostly compiled fromToyo's extensive collection of 78s and LPs. A5 size digipack style with book (in Japanese) and CD. Released to coincide with an exhibition at the Musashino Art University Museum and Library called, The Century of Popular Music, Tracing the Dynamism of 20th Century Popular Music Through the Toyo Nakamura Collection. Rare and brilliant recordings from apartheid era South Africa.

Japan's leading African music exponent, thumb piano player, Sakaki Mango sings in his native Kagoshima dialect on his new album. Includes live track (3) with Zimbabwe's Chiwoniso who passed in July 2013, with Columbian musician Pernett (track 9), and other collaborations with various musicians Sakaki met thurough the music festival Sukiyaki Meets The World.

Kenyan string instrument nyatiti player Anyango's acoustic mini album which is dedicated to her teacher Okum Orengo. Anyango (real name Eriko Mukoyama) is thought to be the first ever female player of the nyatiti.

Live DVD from Japanese female nyatiti (harp-like instrument from Kenya) player. Live performance plus interview and images of her time in Kenya.

Live album by limba player Sakaki Mango together with female marimba trio performing at Musashino Art College as an event accompanying the exhibition of journalist Toyo Nakamura music collection. CD plus limited edition DVD. High quality recording and filming of a dynamic and one-off concert.

More cool, hypnotic grooves from the limba playing Sakaki Mango and his band. Mango studied limba (thumb piano) under the late, great Tanzanian player Hukwe Ubi Zawose. He also plays mbira and the Congolese electric likimbe. This latest album was inspired by his roots in Kagoshima, in the deep south of Japan, including the distinctive local dialect. With this album, Sakaki seems to have cemented his own original sound, mixing African with Japanese influences on a contemporary, varied and highly listenable album.

Ayango is the stage name of Eriko Mukoyama, a Japanese women who plays the nyatiti, an eight stringed lyre of the Luo people of Kenya who live next to Lake Victoria. She calls herself the world's first woman nyatiti player as it is exclusively played by men. She has become a bit of a celebrity in Kenya and is now earning a reputation in Japan too, having appeared at Fuji Rock festival in 2010. On this album she plays the twangy nyatiti with various Kenyan friends on a live set teeming with enery and atmosphere.

Second album from the Japanese thumb piano player, with his band Limba Train Sound System. Limba meets Afro-rock and dub with thumb piano plus drums and percussion, bass and electronics in a fresh concoction.To prove his pedigree, Sakaki studied under the late Hukwe Ubi Zawose and has performed with Konono No. 1.

Sakaki Mango is a Japanese limba player, a student of the late and great Hukwe Ubi Zawose of Tanzania and also a player of the mbira from Zimbabwe. The limba is a type of thumb piano played by the Gogo people of Tanzania, with a full, yet distorted sound. The music on this CD has a trance like quality with at times an Asian feeling. Soft with a subtle distortion this CD makes a welcome change from the 'healing' sounds of some world music releases, instead relying on repetitive phrases that mark out a deep and funky groove. Mango sings in Japanese and other local African languages and on some tracks is joined by guest musicians on vocals and saxophone.

The first release on the Far Side Music label is, surprisingly, an album by an African musician! Abdul Tee-Jay from Sierra Leone, recorded in London, produced by Paul Fisher.

Japanese release of an album originally released in the US in 1990. Balafon Marimba Ensemble play an infectious brew of original and traditional Zimbabwe tunes. Good time, happy tropical music and a very welcome reissue.

One of the best albums released by Sudanese oud player, who lived in Japan for several years.

Second album without the Japanese influences, west African melodies combined with salsa, zouk, funk, reggae and others in mainly up-tempo groove.

Japanese re-issues of former Fela Kuti drummers solo albums. Essential for any Fela fan.

Another 2 albums in 1 CD re-issue by former Fela drummer, togtether with Africa 70