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Think of the phrase "guitar summit" and it's hard not to envision duelling guitars and a whole lotta fret-shredding. It's also hard not to factor in duelling egos.

While a subtler version of fret-shredding dominated the sessions that led to the recently released CD, African Guitar Summit, egos were thankfully kept in check when six outstanding African-Canadian guitarists from across the country converged in a studio in the CBC Broadcast Centre earlier this year.

What's also noteworthy about the project is that the group came together over three days, played together on the fourth day, and spent the following three days recording 19 songs. This is impressive when you consider that only a couple of these guitar slingers had collaborated before this meeting.

The disc features Alpha YaYa Diallo from Guinea, Pa Joe from Ghana, Adam Solomon from Kenya, Mighty Popo from Burundi and Rwanda, and Donné Roberts and Madagascar Slim from Madagsacar. Balafon player Naby Camara, singer Theo Boakye and drummer Kofi Ackah round out the group.

"It worked because we wanted to do it," says Slim. "To be honest, there could've been a problem of egos getting in the way but when people really want to collaborate, to support the other guys and to have fun, it works."

Todd Fraracci, a CBC producer/ engineer and African-music enthusiast, conceptualized the project while working on CBC Radio's On Stage.

Click here to buy the CD