Speaking of Africans engaged in cultural stitchwork, Cameroonian singer-guitarist Henri Dikongue serves up a sumptuous and lyrical blend of influences on his album C’est La Vie (Tinder 42850862; 49:28). Dikongue’s musical turf isn’t the dance-driven world of intensely rhythmic West African styles, but a softer melange, grounded in elements of Brazilian influences and a general emphasis on acoustic instruments (he plays classical guitar). This is the kind of easy-does-it world music known to attract a large following. His silken voice and gentle songsmithing can be almost too sweet for prolonged exposure, but, listening to it, there’s no harm done and a lot of pleasure taken.
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