Din Ya Sugri cover
Released

There is a scene in Abderrahmane Sissako’s film “Bamako” in which the protagonist Mele begins singing, a cappella at first, as tears stream down her face. Her marriage is breaking down, the people she loves are struggling, but she has to get up on stage and work through the tears. Her voice is delicate yet filled with such intense emotion it’s hard not to be touched by it. Though there is a lot that’s remarkable about Christy Azuma, the real composer and singer of the song “Naam,” her voice is probably what will stay with you the most: soulful, delicate, powerful. Azuma was the first Fra Fra international star in the 1970s, and on her album “Din Ya Sugri” she combines Fra Fra music with elements of soul, highlife, afro-cuban rhythms (“Asullamani”) and funk (“Aja Wondo”). 

Megan Iacobini de Fazio

Recommended by

Suggestions
Ace cover

Ace

Sir Shina Peters
Conflict Nkru! cover

Conflict Nkru!

Uhuru Yenzu, Ebo Taylor
Umoja cover

Umoja

Skinshape
Addis 1988 (Feat. Mulatu Astatke) cover

Addis 1988 (Feat. Mulatu Astatke)

Mulatu Astatke, Ethio Stars, Tukul Band
No Agreement cover

No Agreement

Africa 70, Fela Kuti
Habibi Funk 021: Free Music (Part 1) cover

Habibi Funk 021: Free Music (Part 1)

The Free Music, Najib Alhoush
Gone Clear cover

Gone Clear

Manu Dibango
Black Goddess cover

Black Goddess

Remi Kabaka, Afrocult Foundation
At the Studio cover

At the Studio

Zonke Family