Miriam Makeba

Long before record stores had world-music bins, this queenly African folk-jazz singer from Johannesburg had a place reserved. She rose to international prominence in 1959 alongside other freedom singers—Harry Belafonte, Odetta and Nina Simone—and was forced to become a world citizen after a 1960 tour when she was exiled by South Africa. And since apartheid ended 12 years ago, this love letter to her African culture is more celebratory. A warmly seductive, sonic pop production underpins her lush, husky regal voice as she sings world jazz, ballads and bouncy South African township in English and Xhosa. A reprise of her famous song “Pata Pata” with great funky township piano and sexy female background vocals make me want to pull out my old Ella Fitzgerald and Friends of Distinction records. For anyone who loves Paul Simon’s Graceland or Ladysmith Black Mambazo, this is an exemplary African disc.