Envision Africa! What do you see in your mind's eye? Wide savannahs, strong women carrying heavy burdens with their backs ramrod straight, the cadence of fantastic rhythms, wild animals at watering holes, succulent fruits and broad smiles: Karibu! Welcome!

This incredible, rich continent, which has nurtured people and animals since the time of Adam and Eve, is now finding its feet after years of suppression and misrule. Artists in countries between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans have started to come together to build a new proud African self-awareness. Contemporary art with ancient roots is welling forth. Visual art, dance, theatre, music, literature, film – today's African artists are using all the modern forms of expression. Read more at www.imagineafrica.org about how artists and people working in culture in today's Africa are coming together and building their countries and forming their own future, and not least: Forming the picture of rich, strong, beautiful and urbane Africa within their own and others’ awareness – an Africa that is very different from the picture the Western media draw.

In cooperation with Mineta AS and the Strømme Foundation, KKV has made a CD which is the first in a series offering a piece of the musical treasures of the African continent. This CD presents music by artists and music producers in East Africa. These are artists who continue to live in their own countries, seeking their artistic identity and inspiration there. They mix traditional African elements of style, rhythm and tonality with European and American popular music, keenly aware that the music that has developed in the West has travelled a long and circuitous route. Many of its basic elements actually come right from – Africa. Music history keeps wandering, never ending...

Here you will enjoy a vitality that brings hot rhythms to the cold Norwegian winter. Meet artists such as Witnesz, Bizmana Ntavoyo, Maryam Said Hamdun, Mahsein Ally, Anania Ngoriga, Nakite and Bob Rudala from Tanzania and Olith Ratego, Susana Owiyo, K'Odhialo, Ogoya Nengo, Katana Bin Kalama, Bismilahi Gargar and Kakadem from Kenya. 

They all want to share the music of East Africa with a larger audience after a period where it has lived in the shadow of the western and central African music on the world's musical stage.

Imagine Africa has been established in close cooperation with Sigbjørn Nedland, who for a decade has lived and strived to bring the treasures of this part of Africa to a larger audience. Tabu Osusa, the famous producer from Kenya, has also been involved in selecting the 14 songs on the CD, a total of 72 minutes of power and joy.

Track list:

1. Adhiambo Lady                                                                                           4:55
K'odhalo and Nairobi City Ensamble, Kenya

2. Umwe                                                                                                          2:48
Witnesz, Tanzania

3. Jamaoko                                                                                                     4:55
Olith Ratego, Kenya

4. Tich en tich                                                                                                 4:43
Suzanna Owiyo, Kenya

5. Indenge                                                                                                       4:01
Bizmania, Ntavyo and Mradi Group, Tanzania

6. SM Otieno                                                                                                   5:24
Ogoya Nengo, Kenya

7. Nilipata Mzungu                                                                                          7:38
Katana Bin Kalama, Kenya

8. Chilongalonga                                                                                                     4:40
Anania Ngorica, Bagamoyo Players and Mradi Group, Tanzania

9. Aids Wadila                                                                                                 5:58
Bismalahi Gargar, Kenya

10. Tesa Moyo Wangu                                                                                    5:19
Maryam Said Hamdun and Mradi Group, Tanzania

11. Ohangla Man                                                                                             6:38
Makadem, Kenya

12. Watt Wananiuliza                                                                                      5:45
Mahsein Ally and Musicians from DCMA, Zanzibar and AUC

13. Attention Please                                                                                       2:57
Witnesz, Tanzania

14. Yote Africa                                                                                                5:53
Nakite, featuring Bob Rudala, Tanzania