Under African Skies by Wendy Oldfield & Various Artists
If you've been looking for a fun and educational new way to keep the kids quiet in the car, or at home for an hour before bed time, this album will undoubtedly do the trick.
This magical album contains a fantastically playful combination of traditional (South) African folktales and playful songs that have been specifically written and performed for these stories, which were originally passed on from generation to generation under star-filled African skies.
Simple and direct, these collected stories (re-written by Nikki Temkin) represent the different people living in Africa, and are told endearingly by Nicollette Sebatane. The songs, which are playful, vibrant and charming were written by renowned musician Wendy Oldfield.
Wendy Oldfield is widely recognised in the South African music industry as a dedicated creator and performer of beautiful music. She's been involved in movies and wildlife documentaries and has worked with many South African artists, including Bright Blue, Stimela, Vicky Samson, Moses Molelekwa, Frank Opperman and Pops Mohamed.
"All of my interests and passions have finally merged with Under African Skies. I have been a songwriter/producer/singer for 23 years. I have three children - Luca, Jude and Lilah - and I am an African living under African skies. This album has been an amazing opportunity to bring all of these experiences together," says Wendy.
If you're interested in discovering some African mythology and folklore in a light way, this album is for you as it is the perfect introduction to some of the most charming characters and stories ever to have come out of Africa!
As the tales are set in an African environment, it could be fun for you and your family to match the wildlife in the stories within an African wildlife setting while you're on holiday - there are plenty of game reserves in South Africa for you to explore, simply play the CD in the car.
BONUS: A beautifully designed and fully illustrated storybook is included with the album, which features vibrant artwork as well as the complete script for all of the stories. The album's packaging feels natural and its colours are dreamy greens, attractively contrasted with the orange flames of the fire around which the stories are told.
The album is part of the African Kidz range, a great range of South African music for children, and wonderful for their parents as well. Excellent gifts!
"I wanted to bring to the world the rich cultural heritage that South Africans have and to give it the credit it deserves. It's important that these wonderful stories which were passed down in the oral traditional can be enjoyed by the next generation," says executive producer Sergio Cartanese, an ex-South African living in Italy.
"The African Cream Kidz label aims to explore the sounds of Africa through a series of CDs that are entertaining as well as educational. Going beyond music, the label also pays homage to Africa's tradition of storytelling, recording the stories of the past for future generations to enjoy," says Alex Agulnik, CEO of African Cream Music.
