Among American audiences, Manu Dibango is best known for "Soul Makossa," a highly infectious blend of African music, soul-funk, and jazz that became a major pop hit in the early '70s. The African artist revisited his signature tune on 1994's Wakafrika, which boasts an all-star cast that includes Peter Gabriel as well as Haiti's Papa Wemba and African heroes Ladysmith Black Mambazo, King Sunny Ade, and Youssou N'Dour. With such a stellar bunch of guests, Wakafrika should have been outstanding instead of simply decent. But while it isn't the all-out masterpiece it should have been, there's a lot that's enjoyable on this CD, including the reggae-influenced "Em'ma," a remake of Gabriel's "Biko," and the "Makossa"-ish jams "Wakafrika" and "Jingo." Though likable enough, Dibango's new version of "Soul Makossa" falls short of the excellence of the original -- but then, one couldn't realistically expect him to improve on perfection. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
Nuit de Chine (Art Direction), Paul Jackson, Jr. (Guitar), Vincent Soyez (Photography), Jess Sutcliffe (Engineer), Salif Keita (Performer), Vincent Nguini (Guitar), Kaïssa Doumbé (Vocals (Background)), Manu Dibango (Vocals), Philippe Arnal (Assistant Engineer), Michael Fisher (Percussion), Ray Lema (Keyboards), Youssou N'Dour (Performer), Armand Sabal-Lecco (Bass), Tom Yoms (Vocals (Background)), Laurent Coatalen (Percussion), Papa Wemba (?), Tony Allen (Percussion), Ladysmith Black Mambazo (?), François Moity (Keyboards), Andre Manga (Bandleader), Rod Beale (Programming), Olivier Besenval (Drums), Touré Kunda (Vocals (Background)), Mike Thompson (Assistant Engineer), Fred McFarlane (Keyboards), Touré Kunda (Performer), Brice Wassy (Drums), Alex Brown (Performer), Dominic Miller (Guitar), Geoffrey Oryema (Performer), Paolo Salvatore (Assistant Executive Producer), Manu Dibango (Keyboards), Jerry Bokilo Malekani (Guitar), Bertrand Taussac (Assistant Engineer), Bonga (Performer), Al Schmitt (Mixing), Manu Dibango (Percussion), Liz Sroka (Assistant Engineer), George Acogny (Loops), Angélique Kidjo (?), Jay Healy (Engineer), Felix Sabal-Lecco (Drums), Alex Brown (Vocals (Background)), Ray Lema (Programming), Peter Gabriel (Performer), Nuit de Chine (Design), Moriba Koïta (N'Goni), Bernie Brundman (Mastering), Manu Dibango (Saxophone), Manu Dibango (Arranger), Ray Phiri (?), Tony Allen (Drums), Ray Lema (Performer), George Acogny (Mixing), George Acogny (Executive Producer), Salif Keita (?), Francis Mbappe (Bass), George Acogny (Producer), Bernie Grundman (Mastering), Rod Beale (Engineer), Ray Phiri (Performer), David Williams (Guitar), Peter Doell (Engineer), Andre Manga (Bass), Manu Dibango (Vocals (Background)), George Acogny (Programming), Alex Firla (Assistant Engineer), King Sunny Ade (Performer), Youssou N'Dour (?), Moriba Koïta (?), Peter Gabriel (Keyboards), Papa Wemba (Performer), Carl Glanville (Assistant Engineer), George Acogny (Arranger), Francis Mbappe (Programming), Angélique Kidjo (Performer), Assane Thaim (Percussion), Antonio "Moogie" Canazio (Engineer), Rod Beale (Mixing), Sinéad O'Connor (Vocals (Background)), Brice Wassy (Percussion), Christian Echaib (Assistant Engineer), Manu Katche (Drums), Paolo Salvatore (Session Coordinator), Geoffrey Oryema (?), David Lewis (Trumpet), Ladysmith Black Mambazo (Performer)
