Musow Danse: 'powerful performances' from Les Amazones d'Afrique
The ever-changing all-female supergroup's third album mixes socially conscious lyrics with rousing rhythms
![Les Amazones d'Afrique](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rwQSiwc9UwWhYeTHJWD2oY-415-80.jpg)
Les Amazones d'Afrique began in 2017 as a "sisterly supergroup of singers" from the west African country of Mali.
The group's name is inspired by the Dahomey Amazons, "an army of female warriors" who protected the West African kingdom of Dahomey for 200 years, said Chinonso Ihekire in Rolling Stone. Their goal was to champion gender equality and draw attention to the "pressing issue of violence against women".
Although their line-up has changed so many times that they make the "Conservative front bench seem a model of consistency", said Clive Davis in The Times, "women's rights are still the group's raison d'être".
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Mamani Keïta, the only original member, is joined by Beninoise singer Fafa Ruffino, Ivorians Kandy Guira and Dobet Gnahoré, Nigerian singer Nneka and the Congolese star Alvie Bitemo for this latest album, "Musow Danse", meaning "women's dance". There is also a "dominant presence in the studio" from Irish producer Jacknife Lee, whose pop credits range from U2 to Snow Patrol and Taylor Swift, said Davis.
This doesn't mean the women are in "generic crossover territory" with this new album. Instead, its "rousing songs" sung in languages including Bambara and Fon are not watered down too much by "Lee's cascade of electronica".
Instead, the album "seduces with glee, setting soothing traditional harmonies atop varied tempos", said Ihekire in Rolling Stone. This is "more dynamic and cohesive" than the group's previous albums in its embrace of "electro-pop, funk, and folk fusions".
Their "pan-African female solidarity", has a "Congotronic hustle", said David Honigmann in the Financial Times. And nowhere is their message conveyed more elegantly than in "full polyphonic flow" on "Kuma Fo".
"Whatever they say," goes the chorus, "whatever they have to say, whatever women have to say is worth listening to."
Like the female warriors of Dahomey, now Benin, the band are "going on a war", singer Ruffino told the radio programme Afropop Worldwide in 2019. "It's a war to defend women's rights."
With this "spirit" and their "powerful performances", said Ihekire, Les Amazones have made "one of the great pan-African consciousness LPs in modern history".
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Red Speedo: a 'darkly comic' doping drama
The Week Recommends Lucas Hnath's play stars Finn Cole as a 'reptilian' swimmer determined to win at all costs
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
One Aldwych: where London's creative spirit takes centre stage
The Week Recommends This five-star Covent Garden hotel is the epitome of elegant independence
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published
-
Charlotte Dujardin and equestrianism's dark side
In the Spotlight Olympic gold medallist and dressage star's suspension over horse whipping brings abuse in horse sports back into the spotlight
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Eno: 'stimulating and cerebral' documentary that's never the same twice
The Week Recommends A 'fascinating' look at the mercurial British musician and activist Brian Eno
By The Week UK Published
-
Adele announces 'big break'
Speed Read The singer-songwriter said she has no plans for new music
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Sabrina Carpenter and Spotify conspiracy theories
In the Spotlight Popularity of viral hit Espresso sparks accusations of modern 'payola' and algorithm hijacking by streaming platforms
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
I Am: Celine Dion – a 'raw, heartbreaking and deeply moving' documentary
The Week Recommends Prime Video's film chronicles the singer's 17-year battle with stiff person syndrome
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Taylor Swift vs. The Beatles: who's bigger?
In the Spotlight With US megastar's 'Eras' tour arriving in Liverpool, comparisons to the Fab Four and Beatlemania abound
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
10 concert tours to see this summer
The Week Recommends Hang out in the sunshine with a variety of live shows
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Are young people falling out of love with music?
Under the Radar Children are listening to more music than ever, but pinning identity to genres is an increasingly alien notion
By Rebecca Messina, The Week UK Published
-
10 upcoming albums to stream in the summer sunshine
The Week Recommends Head to the beach with a selection of new summer music from Imagine Dragons, Glass Animals and Zedd
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published