African Cream Music is proud to announce the release of Afromagic, a spellbinding feast of magical African music.

African Cream Music has been showcasing the best artists on the African continent for 8 years. This must-have collection offer up a selection of our greatest hits from some of the Africa's pioneering musicians.

Alex Agulnik, CEO of ACM says, "These are some of the top musicians -this double album is packed with amazing songs and iconic artists, a taste of the finest music that the African continent has to offer."

African Cream Music is thrilled to announce the release of The Essential South African Trip.

Featuring a hit parade from South Africa's legends, this carefully compiled collection boasts some of the brightest stars in the local music firmament.

Alex Agulnik, MD of African Cream Music says, "We were incredibly discriminating in our selection of who to include on this album-it's jam-packed with hits from world- famous names."

Think legends like the late Miriam Makeba and reggae guru Lucky Dube, renowned bands like Stimela, Mango Groove, Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens and Grammy winners Ladysmith Black Mambazo. But then there are also recent hitmakers like Thandiswa Mazwai, "Spha Bembe and many more.

Some have been around for years and others are newer to the music scene but they are all artists at the top of their game. They have made their indelible mark and contributed artistically to the South African music landscape. Embrace their songs, hear their voices and listen to their words, these gems of Africa.

For Best English Kiddie's Album: Gcina Mhlophe Presents: Songs & Stories of Africa.

A national South African treasure who grew up in the Transkei, Gcina Mhlophe is also a well-known freedom fighter, activist, actor, poet, playwright, director, author and storyteller. She has appeared in theatres around the world from Soweto to London. Much of her work has been translated into many languages and she has travelled extensively in Africa and globally giving sought-after storytelling workshops.

How did the Tortoise win respect? What happened with Jabulani and the Lion? Mhlophe's delightful stories and songs in English and African languages meld folklore, information, current affairs and idiom. On this special album Mhlophe shares some of her stories and songs with us.

For Best Traditional A cappella album: Freedom Songs

This carefully compiled collection is a chronicle of music as a means of protest and survival through more than 40 years of struggle against apartheid.

For every trouble there was a song, for every joy and every heartbreak, there was a tune. Nothing could quell the insurrectionary power of song. Songs were solace, encouragement and resilience.  They signified the triumph of the spirit-the apartheid government could not stop people from singing.

The songs on this album which were compiled by well-known apartheid activist Sifiso Ntuli, were used to hide protest slogans, banned materials and secret information, etc.  Each individual song was used in a particular phase of the struggle and each had a different aim. In South Africa, song remains an integral emotional release and vital political vehicle amongst the masses. Freedom Songs will not only move you, but also take you on an historical journey that changed the course of a nation.

SAMA2010.pdf

For Best English Kiddie's Album: Gcina Mhlophe Presents: Songs & Stories of Africa.

A national South African treasure who grew up in the Transkei, Gcina Mhlophe is also a well-known freedom fighter, activist, actor, poet, playwright, director, author and storyteller. She has appeared in theatres around the world from Soweto to London. Much of her work has been translated into many languages and she has travelled extensively in Africa and globally giving sought-after storytelling workshops.

How did the Tortoise win respect? What happened with Jabulani and the Lion? Mhlophe's delightful stories and songs in English and African languages meld folklore, information, current affairs and idiom. On this special album Mhlophe shares some of her stories and songs with us.

For Best Traditional A cappella album: Freedom Songs

This carefully compiled collection is a chronicle of music as a means of protest and survival through more than 40 years of struggle against apartheid.

For every trouble there was a song, for every joy and every heartbreak, there was a tune. Nothing could quell the insurrectionary power of song. Songs were solace, encouragement and resilience.  They signified the triumph of the spirit-the apartheid government could not stop people from singing.

The songs on this album which were compiled by well-known apartheid activist Sifiso Ntuli, were used to hide protest slogans, banned materials and secret information, etc.  Each individual song was used in a particular phase of the struggle and each had a different aim. In South Africa, song remains an integral emotional release and vital political vehicle amongst the masses. Freedom Songs will not only move you, but also take you on an historical journey that changed the course of a nation.

Best Traditional Jazz Album: Jazzing & Jiving : The Cape Town Sessions

An eclectic trip through the traditional and modern landscape of Cape Jazz with the city's finest musicians, this album offers up contributions from the likes of Ernestine Deane, Andrew Lilley, Tina Schouw and Lesley Kleinsmith, all paying tribute to the vast eclectic musical strands, styles and personalities that reflect the cosmopolitan nature of this magnificent, exciting and exotic city.

Cape Town's musical heritage has been influenced by a host of diverse cultures from all five continents. These far-flung musical traditions have inspired and cross-pollinated with local traditions and talents to become the fascinating mixed masala broadly defined as Cape Jazz.

Many of the songs in this collection demonstrate moppies (comic songs), which emanated from the ghoemalidjies (picnic songs) which encouraged people to dance in the streets. This musical style has given Cape Town its most recognised musical symbol. The ghoema beat is a constant reminder of the Creole nature of the Cape. Experience the true spirit of Cape Town's musical heritage with an album that captures the spirit of this magnificent city with a host of accomplished musicians.

1. Nikiwe's Theme
2. Clouds Over Acornhoek
3. The Miners
4. The Bushman¹s Secret
5. Into The Sun
6. Africa Rifting: Lines of Fire
7. Rain
8. Alfred's Song: Mopilo
9. Going to Town
10. Shona-lands
11. The Stickfighter
12. From The Ashes
13. Long Walk of Nelson Mandela
14. Johnny's Theme

Embrace the spirit of Africa with its best-loved hits

African Cream Music is proud to release the double album Celebrate Africa Volume 2.

Celebrate Africa Volume 2 showcases the best music brewed in Africa. Telling tales of their homeland as only they can, these selected hits from the continents top musicians have thrilled audiences in their countries and abroad. Infused with lively African heart and spirit, it's an essential addition to any music collection.

You'll find every star in Africa's songbook in this collection. From Kenya's Eric Wanaina, Malawi's Mind, Body & Soul to Mapumba, Kanda Bondgo Man and Afro Fiesta hailing from the DRC, Manou Gallo from the Ivory Coast to Gito Baloyi and Choppa from Mozambique, Yvonne Chaka Chaka,Tsepo Tshola and Miriam Makeba from South Africa

TRACKLISTING

1. Eric Wanaina - Twende Twende
2. Mind, Body & Soul- Rwarwa
3. Mapumba - C'es Toi
4. Olufemi- Ori Mi
5. Manou Gallo - Denishe
6. Gito Baloyi- Hinkwafo
7. Louis Mhlanga- Serina
8. Yvonne Chaka Chaka ft Tsepo Tshola - Mwalimu
9. Miriam Makeba- Tula Ndlvile
10. Samba Mapangala - Vunja Mifupa
11. Kanda Bongo Man - Ayi Man
12. Choppa- Ayeh

An eclectic trip through the traditional and modern landscape of Cape Jazz with the city's finest musicians, this album offers up contributions from the likes of Ernestine Deane, Andrew Lilley, Tina Schouw and Lesley Kleinsmith, all paying tribute to the vast eclectic musical strands, styles and personalities that reflect the cosmopolitan nature of this magnificent, exciting and exotic city.

African Cream Music, an independent, Johannesburg-based record label is the leader in South African and African music for the tourist market. With over 70 % share, you will find our range at all airports, game parks, tourist destinations and music stores.

The label showcases the most talented musicians, artists and producers on the continent.Our catalogue of compilations includes something for everyone:  legends like Johnny Clegg, Hugh Masekela, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Miriam Makeba, Oliver Mtukudzi, Salif Keita, Cesaria Evoria and Youssou N'dour as well as fresh, award-winning talent like Simphiwe Dana, Freshly Ground, Brickz, Mafikozolo and Zola just to name a few, of course...

"People of my country, tell these tales to our children. So they will remember who they are and where they come from,and so they will feel a belonging to this, the land of their birth" -Gcina Mhlophe

African Cream Kids is proud to announce the release of Gcina Mhlophe Presents: .

Sifiso ka-Silas Ntuli, (Amandla! 2003) 

African Cream Music is proud to announce the release of a unique album: Freedom Songs.

Wendy receiving her SAMA for Singalong

African Cream Music is proud to announce that Singalong Kidz has won the SAMA 2009 (South African Music Award) for Best English Children's Album.

Crafted by famed singer/songwriter Wendy Oldfield, Singalong Kidz is a very special collection of original children's songs which provide enjoyment, entertainment and variation from traditional children's fare.

The marimba is a musical instrument in the percussion family. Keys or bars (usually made of wood) are struck with mallets to produce musical tones.  In Africa, most, marimbas are made by local artisans from locally available materials. The keys are arranged as those of a piano, with the accidentals raised vertically and overlapping the natural keys to aid the performer both visually and physically.

Known throughout the world as Mama Africa, Miriam Makeba is a legend who lived an extraordinary life. Born in South Africa in 1932, she first made her name as a featured vocalist with the Manhattan Brothers in 1954. Makeba's incredible voice won her the lead role in King Kong, a Broadway-inspired South African musical, together with Hugh Masekela, her future husband. She went on to conquer America where she sang at President Kennedy's birthday and worked with Harry Belafonte creating classics such as The Click Song and Pata Pata.

AMARYONI - THE JOURNEY (Volume 1)

Amaryoni is usually a specialist a capella group, in the mbube tradition, but they've decided to step outside their normal genre to deliver this album - a reinterpretation of the music of two gifted South African composers. Here they have used full instrumentation - all in the name of African blues.

PRESS RELEASE

01/04/08

HEALING SOUNDS FROM MOTHER AFRICA:
AN AFRICAN AMBIENT EXPERIENCE

"Life is light and light is life, and so colour is sound and sound colour. The soul itself is song." SUFI INAYAT KHAN