Running Time: approximately 43 minutes
Putumayo Kids is committed to introducing children to other cultures through fun, upbeat music from around the world. African Playground is an entertaining musical journey through the wonderful and diverse continent of Africa. The songs are so vibrant, I dare you not to dance!! :-)
Awards:
- 2004 ALA/ALSC Notable Recordings for Children Award
- 2003 Parents’ Choice Gold Award
- "DiscoverySchool.com" 5-star Award of Excellence
- 2003 NAPPA Gold Award
Putumayo's award-winning Playground series of world music CDs for children travels to Africa, a continent that is exuberantly rich in music and culture. African Playground is filled with great songs by artists from Senegal to South Africa, including a previously unreleased track by world music superstar Angelique Kidjo. Children and their families will love the upbeat rhythms and appealing melodies on this musical tour. Parents and educators will appreciate the accessibly presented cultural information and musical fun facts.
African Playground includes entertaining and informative multi-lingual liner notes, cultural information, a music glossary and colourful illustrations.
Tracks:
1 Angélique Kidjo • Battu • (Benin)
2 Them Mushrooms • Jambo Bwana • (Kenya)
3 The Mahotella Queens • Mbube • (South Africa)
4 Mose Fan Fan • Hello Hello • (Congo)
5 Vieux Diop • Sing Lo Lo • (Senegal)
6 Dr. Victor • Kalimba • (South Africa)
7 Tarika Sammy • Hendry • (Madagascar)
8 Samite • Munomuno • (Uganda)
9 Saleshe Damassae • Hoya Hoye • (Ethiopia)
10 Bakithi Kumalo • Sangoma • (South Africa)
11 Baba Ken Okulolo • Laba Laba • (Nigeria)
12 Tete Alhinho • Barco Di Papel • (Cape Verde)
13 Aura Msimang • Lango Mo • (South Africa)
Other family-friendly CDs and multicultural activity kits are included in the multi-award winning Putumayo Kids collection. Putumayo Kids CDs are regularly selected for “Best of the Year” lists by national parenting magazines and organizations. Since the 1999 release of World Playground, Putumayo Kids has built a strong following among kids, parents and educators. The company’s multicultural educational programs have reached more than 300,000 students and teachers.
You may also enjoy other CDs from the exciting Putumayo Kids range, including French Playground, Hawaiian Playground, Sing-Along with Putumayo, Brazillian Playground, Animal Playground, and World Playground, all listed separately. Enjoy!!
Reviews:
"Amazing! Who knew children's music could be so enjoyed by the whole family?? I couldn't get enough of this CD when we first recieved it. It is next to impossible to stay in a bad mood while listening to this upbeat music." - Debi Kennedy (from Amazon)
"You don't have to have kids to love this! After seeing "The Last King of Scotland" (decidedly NOT for the kiddies!!!), I desperately wanted some African music, so I went online and found "African Playground". I listened to the samples, ordered the CD, and upon receiving it, was surprised (and somewhat embarassed) to see that its intended audience was children.
"Oh well," I said to my dog, "what the heck. I'm pretty immature anyway..." So I tried it out, and became completely addicted.
There is such a wide variety of styles, instruments, and languages throughout the disc, one could never become bored listening to it, and there's not a bad song in the bunch. What unites all of them is their unquestionable beauty and contagious happiness. One of the songs (Track 3, by the Mahotella Queens) is so beautiful it actually made me cry the first time I heard it!
While I have no doubt that kids would enjoy it, adults shouldn't be afraid of falling in love with with this gorgeous, cheerful, utterly charming CD.
P.S. My dog likes it too :) " - Emily Macdonald (from Amazon)
"A joy to experience. This music is such a joy to experience for our young family, be it cheerful sing alongs in the car, or dancing around in the living room at home. All the family love it so much, I wish more of the CDs in my collection were as good as this. Feel the spirit of Africa - so much life and energy captured by the music." - Richard Hayward (from Amazon)
"Great music ... and that coming from a real (non-commercial) African. This disc is great, the whole family, including our two-year old son! He requests "Jambo Bwana" whenever he sees us reach for the CD! Some of these are artists I grew up listening to in Zambia! No Disney commercialism here!" - Akuakwart (from Amazon)
"Love the rhythm! My baby and I LOVE the captivating rhythms of this music. You can't help but get up and dance along!" - R Robertson (from Amazon)
"I found this in a grocery store of all places and bought it on a whim. My 13 month old likes it, but even if he didn't, I love it! I "car danced" all the way home!" - The Web Woman (from Amazon)
"All ethnic music appreciation education should be this fun! The Putumayo production company has done what had previously seemed impossible - ie: allow African artists to play THEIR music, not westernize it into unrecognizability (ala Deep Forest), but expertly produce it with a quality and clarity not previously available in that continent. This is one excellent album! ...
The music is a fine cross-section of African musicology. There's representation from literally every continental compass point. These are authentic African groups (not afro-americans/europeans making music that attempts to SOUND african). That makes all the difference, as African Playground sounds decidedly non-western (those looking for a Lion King or Rugrats-like soundtrack are likely to be surprised, but not for a second disappointed), but still holds all the joy and spontenaety that African music is known for. A number of songs (eg: Battu, and Kalimba) practially dare you not to bob your head in time, regardless of your age.
Each tune brings new energy to the listening experience and there are no "throw-away" tracks. Please pardon the cliche, but this is an album that the whole family can enjoy. The songs are lively and colorful enough to hold the attention of the little ones, but sophistocated enough for the adult palate. Just note that this is not a bed-time disc ... ;-)
Of the Putumayo albums I've sampled, this is by a wide margin my favorite. It comes highly recommended to anyone who enjoys good music, and especially to those seeking to expand their music library with a bright, upbeat, African album." - P Kingsriter (from Amazon)
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