Woyaya - OSIBISA***

Beautiful Seven/Y Sharp/Spirits Up Above/Survival/Move On/Rabiatu/Woyaya

Woyaya was the follow up album from Osibisa, one of the first exponents of the genre that would become known as world music. They were unable to sustain the popularity of their first two releases. (US:66 UK:11)

“A really cool Afro-funk album, filled with a funky, jazzy, soulful African flavour. High replay value, something I can listen to over and over again and still enjoy. Cool to listen to on a lazy weekend afternoon.”

“Woyaya remains one of the most remarkable and gratifying records from Africa that I've come across. The homogeneous fusion of Afro-rock, electric jazz and progressive rock found on this album is unique.”

“Building impressively on the successes of their first album, Osibisa's Woyaya combines killer guitar playing in a classic rock or fusion mould and delicate, gentle flute, with the African rhythms of the band's legendary percussion section to create a true piece of world music, showing as it does the influence of three continents. The music is so wonderfully upbeat and cheerful.”

“I love progressive rock, classic rock, jazz and fusion. I'm sorry but I just don't get this album at all. It sounds like Santana-lite. Second rate prog with world music influences. Not recommended.”

“Osibisa impressed with a high energy level and a fusion of influences which made them accessible around the world. Their influence on pop music is not to be underestimated; they encouraged many African musicians to rise to the challenge of the music business. Woyaya remains Osibisa's most impressive album.”

“An excellent follow up to their debut album, this LP is much better recorded, and the songs show more variety and maturity. The percussion steals the show. The seven musicians play a kind of African jazz-rock with a great deal of energy and feeling.”

“Don't judge them by their later brief forays into the pop charts; this is a more sophisticated and mature offering altogether." Widely regarded as Osibisa's best, the music here reflects the hunger that explains their earlier success. The group was able to fuse the explosive nature of African music to the intricate riffs of western rock.”