Tanzania Albinism Collective - White African Power review: ‘Tracks wouldn’t pass muster on any other African album’

The music here was recorded in Tanzania in a community of albinos, who suffer severe persecution.

Tragically, some are attacked and dismembered due to a myth that their body parts have magical powers. But does that justify poor singing and substandard musical performance?

Most of these tracks wouldn’t pass muster on any other African album and the “good cause” doesn’t make them acceptable here.

The track I Am a Human Being has a technical howlround and should have been omitted. Producer Ian Brennan makes a habit of recording Khmer Rouge survivors, prison inmates and other unfortunates but I don’t think he’s served the albinos well.

I hope the audience at Womad next month is sympathetic.

(Six Degrees)