Cheb Mami—"Meli Meli" Video -- National Geographic

Cheb Mami—"Meli Meli" Video Born in Algeria, today Cheb Mami is one of the biggest stars of France's émigré community, and the face of contemporary rai music.Welcome to the National Geographic video player.Video Sections

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- Alpha Blondy—"Journalistes en Danger" - Ivoirian singer and bandleader Alpha Blondy is one of the best-known reggae artists in Africa. This track is taken from his 1999 album Elohim, and confronts the assassination of journalist Norbert Zongo.
- Amadou & Mariam—"La Realite" - Singer Mariam Doumbia and guitarist Amadou Bagayoko met at a school for the blind in Bamako, Mali as teenagers and formed a romantic and musical partnership that's lasted ever since. Here they perform a song from their 2005 album Dimanche à Bamako.
- Amadou & Mariam—"Les Temps Ont Change" - Singer Mariam Doumbia and guitarist Amadou Bagayoko met at a school for the blind in Bamako, Mali as teenagers and formed a romantic and musical partnership that's lasted ever since. Here they perform a song from their 2003 album Wati.
- Amadou & Mariam—"Sabali" - Malian couple Amadou & Mariam released this single in late 2008 as part of their follow-up album to the internationally successful Dimanche a Bamako from 2005. Damon Albarn guest produces on this track.
- Angelique Kidjo & Joss Stone—"Gimme Shelter" - Afropop diva Angelique Kidjo teams up with Joss Stone for this 2007 take on a Rolling Stones classic.
- Angelique Kidjo—"Voodoo Child" - Benin's diminutive diva Angelique Kidjo takes on a Jimi Hendrix classic in this incendiary 1998 Afro-pop classic.
- Asa—"Fire on the Mountain" - Nigerian sensation Asa combines R&B, jazz, and African pop in a soulful original fusion.
- Asa—"Jailer" - Nigerian soul-pop sensation Asa released this video to her second single in 2008.
- Baaba Maal—"African Woman" - Senegalese singer Baaba Maal is a world music superstar. Unlike most Senegalese stars, who come from Dakar and sing in Wolof, he comes from the northern region and sings in the Peul language.
- Baaba Maal—"Miyaabele" - Senegalese singer Baaba Maal is a world music superstar. Taken from his 2001 album Missing You, "Miyaabele" is a traditional Peul fisherman's song, which Maal transforms into a call for African unity.
- Baaba Maal—"Television" - Baaba Maal's hypnotic new video takes viewers on an animated journey across Africa and the world.
- Baaba Maal—"Yela" - Senegalese singer Baaba Maal is a world music superstar. Unlike most Senegalese stars, who come from Dakar and sing in Wolof, he comes from the northern region and sings in the Peul language.
- Baloji—"Tout Ceci Ne Vous Rendra Pas Le Congo" - In this song Congolese rapper Baloji sings about the negative effects colonization has had on his home country.
- Bela Chicola—"Pilima Yangue" - Angola has endured a violent history from the slave trade, to colonization under Portugal, to a brutal civil war after independence in 1975. Despite the difficulties, Angolan groups like Bela Chicola have carried on a strong musical tradition.
- Bonga—"Maiorais" - Angolan singer Bonga was originally a track and field star before he became a musician. His seminal Angola 72 album was a landmark Afro-pop recording. Living in Lisbon today, he made an international comeback in 2001.
- Cesaria Evora—"Africa Nossa" - Cape Verdean singer Cesaria Evora is known worldwide as the barefoot diva. Here she teams up with Senegalese singer Cheikh Lo, to perform an anthem to hope for Africa.
- Cesaria Evora—"Angola" - Cesaria Evora helped put tiny Cape Verde on the world's music map with her big voice.
- Cesaria Evora—"Nutridinha" - Cesaria Evora helped put tiny Cape Verde on the world's music map with her big voice. Here the "barefoot diva" voices a swinging coladeira from her 2001 album Sao Vicente Di Longe.
- Cesaria Evora—"Sodade" - Known as "The Barefoot Diva," Cape Verdean singer Cesaria Evora helped bring the amazing musical legacy of her homeland to the world's attention.
- Cheb Mami—"Meli Meli" - Born in Algeria, today Cheb Mami is one of the biggest stars of France's émigré community, and the face of contemporary rai music.
- Daara J—"Boomerang" - Senegalese rap crew Daara J fuse hip-hop, dancehall reggae and tongue-twisting Wolof proverbs into a sound all their own. This video, for the title track of their 2003 international debut, speaks of rap's circular journey home to Africa.
- Fally Ipupa, Krys—"Droit Chemin (Remix)" - A classic Congolese dance track from Fally Ipupa, remixed by Krys.
- Faudel—"Dis Moi" - Born in France, Faudel is a pop singer of Algerian descent who's known as "the prince of Rai."
- Faudel—"Je Veux Vivre" - French-Algerian singer Faudel is known as "The Little Prince of Raï" for his boyish looks and youthful sound. This song is taken from his 2003 album Un Autre Soleil.
- Faudel—"Tellement N'Brick" - Born in France, Faudel is a pop singer of Algerian descent who's known as "the prince of rai."
- Femi Kuti—"Beng Beng Beng" - Son of Nigerian Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, Femi Kuti carries on his father's musical legacy.
- Femi Kuti—"Fight To Win" - Femi Kuti, oldest son of Nigerian musical legend Fela Kuti, keeps the afrobeat flame burning bright on the title track to his 2001 release.
- Geo Sessions: Habib Koite Pt. 1 - In this studio episode of Geo Sessions, Malian musician Habib Koite brings his West African supergroup Bamada in for a set of beautiful and inspiring songs.
- Geo Sessions: Habib Koite Pt. 2 - Habib Koite says he doesn't play strictly traditional Malian music. He uses a wide variety of instruments in his songs, including ballophone, harmonica, calabash, and talking drum as well as more traditional Western instruments.
- Gnawa Diffusion—"Ombre Elle" - Gnawa Diffusion is based in Grenoble, France, and plays a funked-up version of traditional North African gnawa music. Led by second-generation Algerian immigrants, the band addresses the immigrant experience in France head on.
- Gokh-Bi System—"Rap Tassu" - The members of Gokh-Bi, which means "neighborhood," came together in an impoverished suburb of Dakar, Senegal in the 1990's. Their single "Rap Tassu" is about a Senegalese style of music called tassu, which some believe is a precursor to hip-hop.
- Grand Maquis—"Ca va Chauffer" - Catchy Congolese dance track produced by award-winning musician Kaysha.
- Granmoun Lele—"Soleye" - Granmoun Lele is an elder statesman of the maloya sound. Sometimes known as the blues of Réunion, maloya grew up in the sugarcane fields of the Indian Ocean island.
- Hakim—"Al Salam Aleykom" - Sha'abi is the proletarian pop music of Egypt, and Hakim is one of the genre's greatest stars.
- Henri Dikongué—"Ndol'asu" - Cameroonian singer and guitarist Henri Dikongué mixes elements of makossa, bikutsi, reggae and rumba, and pulls them all together with classically-inflected guitar work.
- Ismael Lo—"Jammu Africa" - Senegalese singer and bandleader Ismael Lo is one of the superstars of Dakar's danceable mbalax sound.
- Ismael Lo—"l'Amour A Tous Les Droits" - Senegalese singer and bandleader Ismael Lo is a superstar and a pioneer of the mbalax sound.
- Ismael Lo—"La Femme Sans Haine" - Senegalese singer and bandleader Ismael Lo is a superstar and a pioneer of the mbalax sound.
- Ismael Lo—"Tajabone" - Senegalese singer and bandleader Ismael Lo is a superstar and a pioneer of the mbalax sound. This track is taken from his 2006 album Senegal.
- K'Naan—"Soobax" - Rapper K'Naan hails from Somalia by way of Canada. Known as the "Dusty-Foot Philosopher," his poetic rhymes embrace both the personal and the political.
- K'Naan—"T.I.A." - Somali-Canadian rapper K'Naan, who reminds us that in his country pirates carry torpedoes, questions whether other rappers can really claim to have had it tough.
- Keziah Jones—"Beautiful Emilie" - Son of a prominent businessman in Nigeria, Keziah Jones was educated in England. As a teenager he learned the guitar and in his music combined rock, blues, funk, and African styles. His popularity peaked in Europe in the late '90s.
- Keziah Jones—"Rhythm Is Love" - Son of a prominent businessman in Nigeria, Keziah Jones was educated in England. As a teenager he learned the guitar and in his music combined rock, blues, funk, and African styles. His popularity peaked in Europe in the late '90s.
- Keziah Jones—"Where's Life?" - Son of a prominent businessman in Nigeria, Keziah Jones was educated in England. As a teenager he learned the guitar and in his music combined rock, blues, funk, and African styles. His popularity peaked in Europe in the late '90s.
- Khaled—"Chebba" - Khaled is the greatest living singer of Algerian raï music and is a superstar in North Africa and France.
- Khaled—"Serbi Serbi" - Khaled is one of Algeria's most famous musicians, unofficially known as "the king of rai". This video is from his 1993 album N'ssi N'ssi.
- Khaled, Rachid Taha, Faudel—"Abdel Kader" - Khaled, Faudel, and Rachid Taha are three of the greatest contemporary Algerian voices, spanning the musical spectrum from pop to punk to Algerian raï. This track was recorded live in Paris' Bercy Stadium at the 1998 1,2,3 Soleils concert.
- Konono No.1—"Lufuala Ndonga" - Konono No. 1 broke onto the international music scene with sounds that seemed from another world - likembes, or thumb-pianos, amplified through old car stereos, handmade microphones for vocals, and old car parts, pots, and pans for percussion.
- Les Freres De La Rue—"Allahdji" - Two brothers from the Cote D'Ivoire started Les Freres De La Rue, a group which plays African reggae mixed with a rhythm called goumbe, generally played on large drums.
- Les Nubians—"Makeba" - Sisters Hélène and Célia Faussart hail from Bordeaux, France, and, as R&B duo Les Nubians, pioneered a smooth new "Afropean" sound in the 1990s.
- Les Nubians—"Temperature rising" - Les Nubians are one of the most successful French-language musical groups in the US market, best known for their Billboard R&B Top Ten single "Makeda." This song is from their 2003 album One Step Forward.
- Lokua Kanza—"Le Bonheur" - Based in Paris, Lokua Kanza is a star of the Congolese disapora, who fluidly incorporates styles as diverse as French chanson and Congolese soukous into his unique sound.
- Lokua Kanza—"Plus Vivant" - Singer, songwriter Lokua Kanza performs music more folksy than the trademark dancehall sounds of the D.R.C.
- Lucky Dube—"Respect" - The late Lucky Dube was South Africa's first and greatest reggae star. This rootsy slow-burner is the title track to his 2005 release, Respect.
- Lucky Dube—"The Way It Is" - Lucky Dube was one of South Africa's biggest stars, and held the distinction of being the first artist to record a reggae album during the apartheid years.
- Lura—"Ponciana" - Cape Verdean singer Lura blends a lilting Spanish guitar with the traditional sounds of her homeland on this track from her self-titled 2006 album.
- Lura—"Vazulina" - Born in Portugal to Cape Verdean parents, Lura identifies personally and musically with the islands of her parents' home.
- Manu Dibango—"Pepe Soup" - Cameroonian jazzman Manu Dibango is one of the most prolific Afropop artists of all time. Best known for his 1972 hit "Soul Makossa," Dibango is still doing it today.
- Nneka—"Africans" - Nneka was born in Nigeria and relocated to Germany at the age of nineteen to pursue a degree in Anthropology and a career in music. She cites her primary influences as Bob Marley, Fela Kuti, and Lauryn Hill.
- Nneka—"Heartbeat" - Nneka was born in Nigeria and relocated to Germany at the age of nineteen to pursue a degree in Anthropology and a career in music. "Heartbeat", released in 2008, was her first single to reach the German charts.
- Orchestra Baobab—"Dee Moo Woor" - Orchestra Baobab was a legendary Senegalese Afropop band from the 1970s. In 2001 the band re-formed and introduced their vintage Afro-Cuban sound to a whole new generation.
- Orchestra Baobab—"Ndeleng Ndeleng (Live)" - Orchestra Baobab was a legendary Senegalese afropop band from the 1970s. In 2001 the band re-formed and introduced their vintage Afro-Cuban sound to a whole new generation.
- Orchestra Baobab—"Nijaay (Live)" - Orchestra Baobab was a legendary Senegalese afropop band from the 1970s. In 2001 the band re-formed and introduced their vintage Afro-Cuban sound to a whole new generation.
- Oumou Sangare—"Wayeina" - Oumou Sangare is a Malian singer who reinvented the traditional wassoulou music of her region as contemporary African pop.
- Papa Wemba—"Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)" - Papa Wemba is one of the giants of Congolese soukous music and is a true Afropop superstar. Here he puts his stamp on an Otis Redding classic.
- Rachid Taha—"Rock El Casbah" - Algerian-born rocker Rachid Taha plays a unique blend of alternative rock and Algerian raï that reflects his experiences as a first generation immigrant in Paris. This homage to punk icons the Clash is from his 2005 album, Tékitoi.
- Rachid Taha—"Tekitoi" - Algerian-born rocker Rachid Taha plays a unique blend of alternative rock and Algerian raï that reflects his experiences as a first-generation immigrant in Paris. This is the title track from his 2005 album.
- Ricardo Lemvo—"Mambo Yo Yo" - Ricardo Lemvo was born in Congo to Angolan parents and now resides in Southern California. Not surprisingly, this cosmopolitan artist plays an eclectic blend of African rumba, salsa, and other sounds.
- Rokia Traore—"Dounia" - Rokia Traore grew up the daughter of a Malian diplomat, which exposed her to diverse cultural influences, but as a member of the upper-class also made it difficult for her family to accept her choice of a career in music.
- Salif Keita Feat. Cesaria Evora—"Yamore" - Mali's Salif Keita and Cape Verde's Cesaria Evora are two of African pop's biggest stars. Here they team up for a duet.
- Salif Keita—"N'Bife" - Malian singer Salif Keita was born into nobility, but he gave it all up for a career in music. Today he uses his superstar status to speak out for the rights of albinos in Africa and other causes.
- Salif Keita, Martin Solveig—"Madan" - French DJ Martin Solveig does a dance remix of this song by African legend Salif Keita.
- Sawt el Atlas—"Ne Me Jugez Pas" - Led by singers Kamel El Habchi and Mounir Mirghani, Sawt El Atlas brings together two sets of brothers to make funky, French-Moroccan raï music.
- Skwatta Kamp—"Feel Like Dancing" - South African rappers Skwatta Kamp brought a fresh, new life to Johannesburg's homegrown kwaito sound with their 2003 breakthrough album.
- Souad Massi—"Bab el Madhi" - Algerian-born singer Souad Massi brings a fresh new sensibility to French pop with deceptively breezy songs that pack a powerful lyrical punch.
- Tcheka—"Agonia" - Manuel Lopes Andrade, a.k.a. "Tcheka," is one of Cape Verde's emerging young stars.
- Tiken Jah Fakoly—"Ouvrez Les Frontieres" - Reggae singer Tiken Jah Fakoly comes from the Côte d'Ivoire , but lives in exile in Mali because of the recent political and ethnic strife in his country. He combines classic roots reggae with politically outspoken lyrics.
- Tinariwen—"Chet Boghassa" - Tinariwen are a Malian ensemble made up of former Tuareg rebels who put down their guns and picked up guitars. This hypnotic, desert rock scorcher is from their 2004 release Amassakoul.
- Wazimbo—"Nwalhulwana" - Wazimbo is the lead singer of Mozambique's top dance band, Orchestra Marrabenta Star. This song was originally recorded in 1988, and re-released in 2001 as the title track of the band's comeback album.
- Youssou N'Dour—"The Lion" - Youssou N'Dour is Senegal's biggest star. Singer, percussionist, and bandleader, he has helped bring Dakar's mbalax pop sound to audiences around the world.
- Youssou N'Dour Feat. Neneh Cherry—"7 Seconds" - Youssou N'Dour is Senegal's greatest star. In 1994 he teamed up with Swedish pop star Neneh Cherry to score the biggest hit of his career.
- Youssou N'Dour Ft. Peter Gabriel—"Shakin The Tree" - Youssou N'Dour, one of the biggest musicians in Africa, and in the world, recorded this track with Peter Gabriel in 1989.
- Youssou N'Dour—"My Hope Is In You" - Youssou N'Dour has collaborated with the likes of Peter Gabriel and Paul Simon. This solo track was released in 2000.
- Zola—"Lwandle Guluva" - South Africa rapper Zola helps put Jo'burg on the map with a world-class flow.
- Zoro—"Azania" - Zoro grew up under apartheid. In 1989 he was shot by a policeman and paralyzed from the waist down, though after a year he was walking again. In "Azania" he sings in the Xhosa language about injustice in South Africa.
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