Bonga became well known in the early 1970s, and when the 21st century arrived, he still commanded a loyal following in Southern Africa. (He would later make Portugal his home.) It was in Portugal that Bonga produced Mulemba Xangola for the French Lusafrica label. This CD often incorporates elements of Afro-Cuban music; traditional African rhythms were a major influence on what came to be called salsa

Salsa music

Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...

, and eventually, Afro-Cuban elements found their way to some of the pop music of various African countries, including Bonga's native Angola

Angola

Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...

. One hears Bonga's enthusiasm for Afro-Cuban music on slow, moody, Portuguese-language selections like "Ngui Tename," "Olhos Molhados," and "Kimone Amarelo," as well as the occasional up-tempo tune. "Incaldido" and "Mutokodias" are among the CD's more exuberant and danceable offerings, but for the most part, Mulemba Xangola is designed for listening rather than dancing. A soulful addition to Bonga's catalog, Mulemba Xangola will please his die hard followers and could easily attract some novices as well.

Track listing

1. "Kimone Amarelo" - 3:19
2. "Ngui Tename" - 3:08
3. "Recordando Pió" - 2:33
4. "Incaldido" - 3:14
5. "Mulemba Xangola" - 5:20
6. "Escapada" - 4:12
7. "Bunguleiros da Noite" - 3:43
8. "Kamussekele" - 3:52
9. "Olhos Molhados" - 5:12
10. "Falar de Assim" - 2:21
11. "Mutokodias" - 3:56
12. "kanjonja" - 2:25
13. "Kinsangusangu" - 3:16