Back in the nineties, Madagascar made a foray onto the world music scene with artists like Jaojoby, D’Gary, Tarika, Njava, Rajery and Régis Gizavo, yet contemporary Malagasy musicians haven’t taken up the torch.

With his diverting yet deep songs that give food for thought, Elemotho, winner of the 2012 RFI-France 24 Discoveries awards, has been building a reputation beyond the borders of his homeland Namibia for several years. His third album, Ke Nako, out in a few weeks, was co-produced by a French musician living in Windhoek.

The altruist accordionist and champion of fair trade, Régis Gizavo, won RFI Découvertes back in 1990. With his new album, Ilakake, he proves he’s just as adept at opening Malagasy music up to other influences as he is at slotting into the worlds of the musicians he’s accompanied, like Christophe Maé or the late Mano Solo.

In this Olympic year, the gold medal for the big musical divide incontestably goes to Sékouba Bambino, whose albums Innovation and Diatiguyw have taken him on a journey of opposites, which is inherently logical given his double stature as a successful pop singer and griot.