National Geographic Music (National Geographic)

Breaking away from the cliché of African music with multiple throbbing drums, Ray Lema 's arrangements valorise the vocal patrimony explored by Ki-Yi. To complete the rhythmic tapestry (woven by water drums, subtle congas, the tamanoua – a Beninese percussive instrument – and cymbals), they draw on the resources of counter melody, be it through the polyphonies characteristic of central Africa or the incantation-like chants of the griots of western Africa. Ki-Yi's musical fresco invites us to the joyous marriage of tradition and modernity. We travel from the luxuriance of the Pygmy chant and from the hot breath of the Savannah to a reggae groove (Oshogbo) or to a solemn oasis watered by synthesisers and guitars (Assemblée mystique). Un Touareg s'est marié à une Pygmée bears witness to an exceptional richness of composition. Never had an African record covered such a vast cultural spectrum. Ray Lema and Werewere Liking have conceived the first authentic pan-African album. Released 1993.

— CalabashMusic.com