If wasn't marketing as a compilation of children's music, some non-African listeners would have no idea that the material is aimed at kids (or is at least kid-friendly). They would know that is a good to excellent collection of , but they wouldn't associate the songs with kids because it lacks the sophomoric qualities one associates with American children's music; the material sounds playful and lighthearted, but it doesn't sound sophomoric. Much of the children's music that comes from the United States is unlistenable if you're over the age of 12; it tends to talk down to kids and underestimates their intelligence. But that isn't the case on this CD, which could be described as "children's music with a brain." The term can mean a wide variety of things; in the case of , is music from black Africa -- and that includes West Africa and Central Africa as well as Southern Africa. The compilation doesn't get into the Middle Eastern-sounding of Egypt, Libya, Algeria, or Morocco, which are all part of Arabic North Africa. Instead, the material comes from countries that range from Senegal ( 's ) and the Congo ( ) to South Africa ( ' and ). Some of the lyrics are in English, although most of them are in various African languages. Again, is child-friendly without sounding childish, and music enthusiasts who are 30, 40, or 50 will find it to be a substantial, intelligent collection of modern, western-influenced . ~ Alex Henderson