The connections felt in the musical world between Africa and Brazil are quite strong, as it is with plenty of South American countries. In particular, it gave birth to candomble music, a part of many rituals in the region of Brazil by the same name. This, in turn, gave birth to afoxe, a style of candomble used for non-religious and often politically-charged purposes. It's jazzy, tribal, and full to the brim with emotion, which is precisely what makes Obaluaye! not only a fun and enjoyable listen, but an important one as well. Made by the Orquestra Afro-Brasileira, it's among the first recordings of afoxe, if not the first, cementing its musical importance; yet, its overarching sound of positivity and togetherness, furthered through chanting and group singing, is beautiful to hear. Led by Abigail Moura, every sound heard on this record is authentic and very intimate. The songs breeze by quickly, sometimes repeating motifs in earlier songs, and it all feels extremely connected and well-structured. It's definitely a lovely piece of Afro-Brazilian music, that's for certain.
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