Various Artists - The Rough Guide To African Lullabies

Music is an intrinsic part of life in Africa, and from the earliest age, the lullaby is used to sooth and calm children into quiet time and sleep. Featuring some of the biggest names in African music including Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Ali Farka Tour� & Toumani Diabat�, Miriam Makeba, Bassekou Kouyat� & Ngoni Ba. Let their peaceful voices and the soothing sounds of the mbira and kora gently lull your baby to sleep.Bonus CD: Virginia Mukwesha - 'Matare: The Power of Mbira'The mbira is an ancient instrument central to Zimbabwe's Shona culture. It is used in traditional family ceremonies, but also played for fun, dancing, healing, travelling, and relaxing. On Matare, Virginia Mukwesha creates a continuous hour-long instrumental suite based on traditional mbira tunes. Five overlapping and interlocking themes are played on seven mbiras, creating about 35 thematic variations. Played without the mbira's usual calabash amplification or buzzing bottle tops, the sound of Matare is deliberately cool and soothing � perfect for sending children to sleep.