If you still can't get a hook on Senegalese rap, dspite high-visibilty shows in the UK recently by Dakar crews Djolloff and Daara J, check this all-female outfit ALIF, whose new lrelease 'DAKAMERAP' (OUT HERE RECORDS) brings a highly-aware Muslim sistas' view of what's happening today in Senegal and West Africa.

Samples on much west African hip hop are unfortunately too often tired and cliched and pinched from 5-year-old USA productions, but this is really fresh and surprising throughout....After eleven years of horrific civil war (what other kind is there?), Sierra Leone is finally feeling the stirrings of peace and optimism: enter Congolese superhero 'soukoussiers' the SOUKOUS STARS, who have re-arranged some of the great classics of Freetown music soukous style (FREETOWN AT LAST - AFRICAN MUSIC GALLERY, USA IMPORT).

Songs like 'Open Winda' and 'Ah Make Fall Fool' are guaranteed to bring a tear and a smile to every Freetowner (of whom there is a large and vibrant community in London): a tear for what has passed, a smile for what the future could hold...