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CD Review
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Planet Magazine, CD Review >>
When Angolan track star Barcelo de Carvalho left his home country in the mid 1960s to compete for the national track and field team, he never anticipated the turn his life would take. Surprisingly, his fame did not come on the track - but as the voice of Angola's underground movement and the creator of one of Africa's most acclaimed albums. When Angolan authorities clued in that he used his travels to carry messages from Angolan freedom fighters to their exiled compatriots, he was forced into exile. Changing his name to Bonga Kwenda, he released Angola 72, an unapologetically political album and the first modern interpretation of Angola's national sound - semba (it is semba which through slave trade, was said to later influence samba). Bonga is still active in politics today and his gravelly, smooth-as-sandpaper voice sounds as fine as ever on Kaxexe. Fans of Orchestra Baobab and Cesera Evera will find Kaxexe (meaning "in hiding") pleasing - heartfelt African fados interspersed with uplifting sembes. With Angola hopefully entering a period peace and potential prosperity, Bonga remains as political as ever. SAM WICK 06/01/04
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