Review

Various Artists

Togo Soul 2

Hot Casa • 2024

13 tracks from the golden era of Togolese music: funk, soul, boogie, disco, all laced with West African tradition, compiled with the help of the “James Brown of Lomé”, Roger Damawuzan. What could go wrong? Indeed, there are some great things to be heard here. As well as Damawuzan himself, who strikes a very different, more electric note on “Misiqui” than on his recordings from the 1970s, the highlights of the compilation include the driving “Sumga Na Bacci” by Akofa Akoussah, the raw “Baba Na Mi” by Alognon Degbevi and the laid-back “Habie” by Gregoire Lawani. All these tracks point to a thriving scene. What’s more, these are all real rarities, previously only available on singles or even cassettes. Even if the compilation “Togo Soul 2” doesn’t offer any new insights into Togolese music of the era, it’s still a pleasure to finally have these songs available on vinyl.