Reviewed by George Luke

Vitus Eze hails from Nigeria, where he leads worship at the 7,000 strong Redeemed Evangelical Mission in Lagos. The album's title pretty much sums up what it is: worshipful and/or evangelical songs in a smorgasbord of styles from all over the continent, including music from Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana, Congolese Soukouss and the odd Europop tune (I have to admit that the first few times I played the CD, I skipped all the songs with English titles and went straight for all the foreign ones!). Best track for me was "Plus Haut (Higher)" - a medley of choruses set to an unsitstillable Soukouss rhythmn, and including the Greenbelt favourite "We're Marching In The Light Of God". "Yesu Kristy Na Baba (Jesus Christ Is My Father)" and "Jesu Omo Olorun (Jesus The Son Of God)" are two of the other goodies on this 14-track set which have ended up in an endless loop on my CD player. (Isn't the repeat button on CD players just one of the greatest inventions of the last century?) When I did go back and listen to the more Western-sounding tunes, though, I wasn't greatly impressed. I don't normally like Integrity/Don Moen-style ballads, so "Music In Heaven" and "Love Unfeigned" didn't do much for me. Neither did I care much for the kiddie chorus on "Celebrate The Presence", or his attempt at ragga toasting on "Children Of Africa". Otherwise, I have nothing but praise for this delightful CD and would whole-heartedly recommend it to anyone looking to explore the wonderful world of African music from a Christian perspective. To borrow a quote from Editor Cummings a few years ago - if you want to hear African worship by real Africans rather than white Californians, buy this CD today.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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