This is THE book for the Africanphile vinyl addict. Covering the huge range of musical styles, traditional and contemporary/modern/popular, from all of sub-Saharan Black Africa it is astonishingly complete. Each country’s music is discussed by style in relation to the political, economic, and social history of the country, bringing to life the many non-musical considerations that influence the artistic expression and development. The trade factors that affect the availability of the recordings here in the North/West are explained. Individual major artists’ life stories are covered in reasonable depth, and many lesser-knowns are noted. The discographies that follow make me squirm with the vinyl jones. Comes complete with bibliography and index.
