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ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO

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Album Title: Oyaya! Producer(s): Steve Berlin Genre: WORLD Label/Catalog Number: Columbia 89053 Release Date: May 4 Source: Billboard Magazine Originally Reviewed: May 15, 2004

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"Oyaya!" is the third album in a trilogy that has so far explored the African roots in U.S. music ("Oremi") and Brazilian music ("Black Ivory Soul"). Now, Angélique Kidjo examines Africa's influence on the music styles of the Caribbean, taking her from Cuba to Martinique. This is the sort of Caribbean cruise anyone can afford, and the tunes are fabulous. She opens the album with a rowdy Puerto Rican bomba tune, "Seyin Djro," and chases that with a calypso number, "Congoleo." Cha-cha, merengue and bolero follow, then Kidjo lights the fuse on a fine salsa tune, "Conga Habanera." She delivers one of her most beautiful vocals on the mazurka "Le Monde Comme un Bèbè." Kidjo doesn't stop until she's touched base with Haitian kompa, the Cuban changui rhythm, plena music, another taste of salsa—"Djovamin Yi"—and a lively Jamaican ska number, "Mutoto Kwanza." From start to finale, Kidjo's performance is formidable.—PVV

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ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO, Oyaya! Additional Reviews

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