Part of the World Music Network Rough Guides series,[1] the album spotlights the music of South Africa.

Liner notes were written by Tom Andrews and Rob Allingham, a discographer and music historian specializing in South Africa.

[2] Phil Stanton, co-founder of the World Music Network, was the producer.

[3] This was the first of two similarly named albums: the second edition, featuring approximately half of the same artists, was released in 2007.

[4] Raymond McKinney of AllMusic wrote that "newcomers would find much to savour" in the album.