Though he was born Prince Sunday Adeniyi, he would grow up to become King Sunny Ade, the best-known proponent of juju: a guitar-based style of music indigenous to western Nigeria. The Green Spots, Ade's first group, evolved into the African Beats in 1971. The African Beats went on to record some 4

Ebullient, Expansive, Juju/highlife, Repetitive, Tribal

As a member of Senegal's nomadic Toucouleur ethnic group, Baaba Maal has fought convention by challenging the caste system into which he was born. Although he does not belong to the griot caste -- the only caste allowed to enter musical professions -- he has become one of the most successful African

Mbalax, Tribal