Country : Rwanda / Uganda / United States Label : Okeh / Sony Genres and styles : Afrobeat / Bikutsi / Soul Year : 2014

The Lagos Music Salon

· by Ralph Boncy

Her parents come from Uganda and Rwanda. Yet it was with the fascinating Afrobeat music of Nigeria that African-American Somi fell in love — to the point of settling in Nigeria, totally immersed, for this unique journey, which proves to be an absolute success. In league with local musicians, she revisits Fela Kuti’s “Lady” with the help of Benin’s Angélique Kidjo. The jazzy soul singer invents a hybrid music here, rewriting Nina Simone (“4 Women”), talking about genocide and social justice for women, and concluding with the moving “Last Song” on an unexpected bikutsi rhythm.

Latest 360 Content

Orford 2025 | Stick&Bow pays tribute to the big mouths

Orford 2025 | Stick&Bow pays tribute to the big mouths

Curtis Nowosad – I Am Doing My Best

Curtis Nowosad – I Am Doing My Best

George Crotty Trio – Heart Music

George Crotty Trio – Heart Music

Quatuor Bozzini – Owen Underhill : Songs and Quartets

Quatuor Bozzini – Owen Underhill : Songs and Quartets

Tina Leon – Push & Pull

Tina Leon – Push & Pull

Sean Clarke – A Flower for my Daughter

Sean Clarke – A Flower for my Daughter

English National Opera Orchestra/Martyn Brabbins – Havergal Brian : Agamemnon; Sinfonia tragica; Symphony no 12

English National Opera Orchestra/Martyn Brabbins – Havergal Brian : Agamemnon; Sinfonia tragica; Symphony no 12

The Curious Bards – Sublimation : Songs and dances from 18th-century Scandinavia

The Curious Bards – Sublimation : Songs and dances from 18th-century Scandinavia

Ensemble Masques/Olivier Fortin – Bach, Telemann & Albinoni: Concerti

Ensemble Masques/Olivier Fortin – Bach, Telemann & Albinoni: Concerti

François Leleux/Lisa Batiashvili/Frankfurt Radio Symphony – Future Horizons

François Leleux/Lisa Batiashvili/Frankfurt Radio Symphony – Future Horizons

Nate Mercereau · Josh Johnson · Carlos Niño – Openness Trio

Nate Mercereau · Josh Johnson · Carlos Niño – Openness Trio

Theon Cross – Affirmations: Live At Blue Note New York

Theon Cross – Affirmations: Live At Blue Note New York

Fabia Mantwill Orchestra – In.Sight

Fabia Mantwill Orchestra – In.Sight

Hior Chronik – Apofanie

Hior Chronik – Apofanie

Kent Nagano/Rebekka Hartmann – Hartmann/Ravel/Sadikova

Kent Nagano/Rebekka Hartmann – Hartmann/Ravel/Sadikova

Frédéric Lambert; Chloé Dumoulin – Nouveau lyrisme

Frédéric Lambert; Chloé Dumoulin – Nouveau lyrisme

Sara Curruchich in concert : great songstress of mayan roots and feminist intensity

Sara Curruchich in concert : great songstress of mayan roots and feminist intensity

Steve Reich – Traveler’s Prayer

Steve Reich – Traveler’s Prayer

London Philharmonic Orchestra – Tania Leon : Horizons; Raices (Origins); Stride; Paisajes

London Philharmonic Orchestra – Tania Leon : Horizons; Raices (Origins); Stride; Paisajes

Andrew Staniland – The Laws of Nature

Andrew Staniland – The Laws of Nature

Cyrille Dubois, etc. – Geroges Bizet: Les Mélodies

Cyrille Dubois, etc. – Geroges Bizet: Les Mélodies

Presence autochtone 2025 | Whales Without Borders

Presence autochtone 2025 | Whales Without Borders

Présence autochtone | Maori, Aboriginal, and Inuit incantations for whales

Présence autochtone | Maori, Aboriginal, and Inuit incantations for whales

Subscribe to our newsletter