Songs for the Poorman

Remmy Ongala is a household name in Tanzania, and his fame has spread worldwide with Songs for the Poorman. Born in Eastern Zaire (Congo), he was once a member of Kenya's fabled Orchestre Makassy, and his own sound is a blend of Congolese soukous with the lighter, funkier sounds of Kenya and Tanzania. Ringing guitar lines and loping bass lines counterpoint Ongala's soulful vocals on eight songs concerning serious topics such as poverty, injustice, death, and, of course, human passion. Both danceable and intelligently listenable, his music is validation for a culture where music is an integral force in everyday life. --Derek Rath