Africa Boogaloo: The Latinization of West Africa

Africa Boogaloo highlights a marvelous homecoming of Afro-Cuban dance music back to its diasporic, sonic roots in West Africa. Filled with primarily local recordings originally cut in the 1960s and ‘70s, the comp offers a fascinating look into how groups and artists like Senegal’s Orchestra Baobab and Cameroon’s Charles Lembe found ways to integrate Latin music such as the son, mambo, and of course, the boogaloo, into their own regional traditions. It makes for a unique set of sounds that inspire further, deeper exploration into the vast diversity of West African musical styles.