Tony Allen - Home Cooking

(Wrasse Records/ WRASS063)

Okay, not a new release, and maybe not new to Africa On Your Street aficionados of deep laid-back West African beats from the Fela Kuti stable - but Tony Allen's music embodies the very essence of Afrobeat. Collaborations abound, from Blur's Damon Albarn, sublime UK Afro rapper Ty and smoky vocals from Zimbabwean folk roots diva Eska. 'Calling' is a sweet, spiritual slice of soul featuring vocals by Mary & Norman. But the revelatory track is 'Jakelwah' on which Ty raps an English translation of what Tony is singing in Yoruba; we're talking 'call and response' across the new African Diaspora.

Reviewer : Yve Ngoo

Home Cooking (clip)