"A great read, a rich tapestry of musical details, a page-turner that confirms the extraordinary wealth of musical talent coming out of Africa in the '70s, '80s and '90s that continues today." – AfroPop
"An enthusiastic and enlightening view of an entertaining artist and humanitarian and his environment." – Library Journal
"Of Afrobeat, mbalax, soukous, makossa, and other popular sounds emanating from West Africa. In 1984, Cathcart traveled to Senegal as part of a BBC TV crew, meeting the renowned artist (and, later, politician) Youssou N'Dour when he was ready to explode far beyond his native country and–thanks in part to friendships with Western pop musicians–influence the music of every continent... It's clear that Cathcart is a fan, but she has room in her affections for many other players around the continent, including Fela Kuti, Alpha Blondy, King Sunny Ade, and Adama Faye, 'the Mozart of Senegal' who 'attracted a new audience for Youssou's music, especially among young people and intellectuals.'" – Kirkus
