Search - Osibisa :: Very B.O. Osibisa

MUSIC THAT IS ALL SWEETNESS, SKILL AND SPIRIT - AFRICAN MUSI

AYODEJI OLAYEMI | NIGERIA | 05/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The African drum. The Master-drummer. You can't take anything from the other instruments, but it is the percussion that gives Osibisa its special quality - whether it is accompaniment to folklore, like in DENSU, the "river in Africa where fishermen sing the praises of all the fish they can catch", or in the breaking and crashing and hurried, repeated splashing of waves in SEASIDE MEDITATION, or yet in stirring the hearts of men to action in tracks like WARRIOR or CHOBOI (heave ho!).



Osibisa represents a medium that expresses all the glory and beauty of Africa - just as much as the Senegalese and Malian poets, recounting family lineages and the deeds of kings; or the Zulu warrior, stabbing, leaping and kicking in a glorious war dance. The men play with an exuberance that is infectious; they sound like they're just having great fun. They also play with unparalleled skill. But I would say the thing that makes their music so sweet goes beyond skill, it is more of spirit - the African spirit.



Some time ago my sisters and I found an Osibisa cassette my dad used to play when we were much younger. Then we would chant lustfully to the music, marching round and round our living room. Listening to it recently as an adult offered me a more profound, appreciative experience - and also wore the last life out of the poor cassette. It's unbelievable and a real blessing that there's Osibisa music now on CD, out there just for the buying.



And yes... we still dance chanting to Osibisa music in my parents' living room - this time with my little nieces in tow.

"

Love this West African Music Album

Srini | Sacramento, CA | 08/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having listened to Osibisa while growing up in India. A sense of nostalgia led me to buy this CD. The music is just great to listen to.This is really for someone who likes the sounds of Xylophone, congo drums."