"There are certainly no other people on earth who love music and dance with more passion than the black African people."
Garpard T.C. Mollien, 1820
The "African giant" is a country of immense cultural and musical variety. There are few regions in this world with a comparable richness of rhythm, melody and musical structures. Among more than four hundred different ethnic groups, even the most esoteric music styles can hold a certain degree of commercial success to their credit.
"Numerous fans would swear blindly, that Western Africa is the home of blues, reggae and even the elementary spiritual cradle of rock. It is true that an essential part of what is known as pop music is partly originated in Western Africa, when considering five hundred years of transatlantic slave trade and its post-effects."
Weltmusik - Rough guide