Yoruba Singers - Ojinga’s Own
Originally released in 1974 and reissued last year, Yoruba Singers’ debut album is Ojinga’s Own puts the group's plentiful influences on display - folk roots from their home country, some reggae from Jamaica, calypso from Trinidad and Tobago. Playing mostly originals, the group developed a following in Georgetown, setting themselves apart from other local bands who played mostly modern radio hits. “We had lots of bands,” says founding member Eze Rockcliffe of the local music scene. “We had about thirty-seven bands in the country at the time. But we, the Yoruba Singers came different. Everybody else was playing a lot of pop music but we were different with our African-oriented music. Within two years, we became very popular and started touring. In 1973 we went to Suriname. That was our first tour. And then we cut our first album.” The album is full of tracks that feature an endless groove that can really make you lose track of time. They could have no beginning and no end. Really just my favorite kind of songs. - Will Pratt
Buku Hambela - Guji, Ethiopia
Buku, situated in the Hambela Wamena district of Guji, stands out as one of the premier coffee-growing regions, boasting an impressive elevation of 2350 meters above sea level. The combination of fertile red-brown soil and high altitude creates optimal conditions for cultivating exceptional coffee. Esayas Beriso embarked on his coffee journey by collecting beans from local farms, collaborating with his brothers to sell them at a nearby wet mill. As his dedication and resources grew, he eventually acquired his own farm in the area, where he now tends coffee with his wife. Esayas meticulously harvests coffee at its peak ripeness, ensuring the highest quality. The coffee beans undergo a meticulous drying process on raised beds, setting the stage for the production of truly remarkable coffee. Buku Hambela lives up to expectations, offering a flavor profile characterized by rich, sweet dried fruit, notes of blackberry, and a hint of candied orange.