Track Listing

1. Seyin Djro
2. Congoleo
3. Bala Bala
4. Oulala
5. N'Yin Wan Nou We
6. Conga Habanera
7. Le Monde Comme Un Bibi- (AngiLique Kidjo And Henri Salvador)
8. Mutoto Kwanza
9. Adje Dada
10. Djovamin Yi
11. Dje Dje L'Aye
12. Macumba
13. Bissimilai

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30525 in Music
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 2004-05-04
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Amazon.com
Over the years, Benin-born singer Angelique Kidjo has mixed her native African music with elements of other styles. While 1998's Oremi looked at the music of the United States and 2002's Black Ivory Soul found Kidjo tasting the fruits of Brazilian music, the third installment of Kidjo's New World trilogy, Oyaya!, is her take on Caribbean music. Here she retraces old slave trade routes to connect African root music styles to such offshoots as salsa, bolero, meringue, calypso and ska. Of the 13 originals, Congo Habanera is a particularly potent combination of salsa-fueled grooves, watery highlife guitars and African drumming. Singing in French, Fon and Mino, Kidjo's world-class voice can be keening and hard-edged ("Bissimilai") or coy and gentle ("N'yin Wan Nou Wé"), often juxtaposing the two extremes in the same song ("Bala Bala"). Angelique Kidjo continues to crest with Oyaya!, again proving that everything is within reach of her considerable talent. –-Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews

This is joyous!
With the current predeliction for over produced American Idol-esque screeching it's wonderful to be reminded of people who know their craft and continue to explore it like Kidjo. This album is a wonderful pop vocal album, period, and I hope it gets more exposure than the world music bin. The rythms are great, her voice is so clear and strong, every song is a delight! She is an African exploring the Carribean, but her emotion speaks to everyone.

Joyous, exuberant
"Oyaya" is the Yoruban word for joy, a fitting title for Angélique Kidjo's new album. _Oyaya!_ is a high-spirited album. It is impossible to listen to it without moving, even if I'm only dancing in my chair. The third in Angélique's series of albums exploring the influence of African music in the diaspora, _Oyaya!_ takes on Afro-Latin/Caribbean music. Even more than the previous 2 albums (_Oremi_ which explored American music and _Black Ivory Soul_ which explored Brazilian music), _Oyaya!_ blends the music rather than using it as an influence. I'm not sure which countries or styles of Caribbean music; her website mentions salsa, calypso, meringue, and ska. But it doesn't really matter. What matters is that it makes me smile, it makes me dance. Angélique's voice is as beautiful and sensual as ever, and so is the music. If you like dance-y Latin music, give this a try.

Afro-Latin Explosion
In the intersection of rival forces strength can be developed. Kidjo has a huge, soulful voice inside a petite frame (I believe she's something like 5'2") and her voice has never sounded more assured & vigorous than here.

Musically, her African roots are transplanted to the music of the Caribbean and Latin America. Her producers on this record, Steve Berlin and Alberto Salas, avoid the over-production that has plagued some of her recent work. The emphasis here is on Kidjo's magnificent voice (as it should be), supported by colorful and spirited Latin percussion and instrumentation. Fast-moving songs and excellent variety make this her best album in a decade, and quite possibly the best of her career.