Angelique Kidjo - Fifa (1996)

Angelique Kidjo's fifth album Fifa saw the artist experimenting further with the Western genres of soul and pop, resulting in her most mainstream record to date. As evidenced by "Naima," the stunning collaboration with Carlos Santana, Kidjo's instincts for pairing African rhythms and Western structures are inspired. Other highlights include "Wombo Lombo," "The Sound of the Drums," and "Shango." Unfortunately, Fifa proved to be a marketing challenge in the United States, and this melodic and rhythmic Kidjo record remains hard to find and largely undiscovered. A wonderful release.