CD REVIEWS

An occasional update of music releases

July 22, 1994

WORLD MUSIC. Various artists - Africa Fete (Mango Records): This. compilation, which promotes this summer's United States concert tour of Africa Fete '94, is one of the year's great finds. In the world of French-speaking Afropop, the headliners are household names - Kassav, Angelique Kidjo, Ismael Lo, and Ziskakan, a recent sensation from Reunion - but they are almost unknown here. Along with traditional African and Caribbean rhythms and melodies, you'll hear elements of jazz, hip-hop, and R&B. Kassav, the brassy, hard-driving zouk band from the French Antilles, will be a big concert draw, as will Benin's funky singer-songwriter Angelique Kidjo.