For the album Mandali, well known African musicians, such as Tabu Ley Rochereau, Koffi Olomide, Salif Keita, Sekouba Bambino, Amadou Balaké and Thione Seck were invited. This new constallation led to the new name Africando All Stars. Whilst in the beginning, the songs were Latin American classics sung in wolof language or a mix of wolof and Spanish, newer songs were African popular music classics, redone with Latin rhythms and instrumentation. With both approaches, Africando has been equally successful.
Africando is a group that brings together African and Caribbean cultures by allying Senegalese vocals with Cuban salsa tunes. It is the result of an incredible gathering of three talented Senegalese singers and some of the best New York-based salsa musicians. In 1995, Pape Seck died and was replaced by two singers instead of one: Gnonnas Pedro and Ronnie Bar
Mit dem 2000er Album «Betece» (in englischen Sprachraum unter dem Namen «Mandali» veröffentlicht) lancierte die Band, die sich mittlerweile Africando All Stars nannte, ein wahres Feuerwerk. Gastsänger wie Salif Keita, Thione Seck oder Sekouba Bambino glänzten in ihren Interpretationen. Natürlich haben auch die „hauseigenen“ Sänger ihren Auftritt. Und so kommt es, dass jede Nummer einen anderen Leadsänger hat! Das Album brachte der Band den weltweiten Durchbruch. Die Nachfolge-Alben «Martina» (2003) und «Ketukuba» (2006) versuchten an den Erfolg anzuknüpfen, doch das wollte in dieser Grössenordnung nicht mehr gelingen e– zu stark glänzte «Betece».
This is the fifth album released under Africando All-Stars with their mix of Afro-cuban music. Cubalatina.com wrote: s"For a few years, Salsa has experienced a considerable development near the African musicians. It is too often forgotten that this music, if it developed and found its marks of nobility in Cuba, is actually inspired by ancestral rates/rhythms come from the black continent.a" To hear clips and find out more about the album, click here.
