Dan's best songs to listen to while crammed into a bush taxi careening across Africa

Much of the past few months has been spent on the road. Maroua to Ngaoundere to Yaounde to Bafoussam to Foumbot to Foumban to Mbuda to Dschang, back up North for the holidays, and now back in Yaounde on the cusp of a journey to the fatherland for a wedding. Without a doubt my mp3 player has been one of the most integral items I brought with me to Africa. My tattered copy of 'East of Eden' is a close second. When on the road there is no shortage of entertainment to be found amongst my fellow passengers or throughout the landscape out the window. Yet there are those times when escaping into my music is a great distraction from the erratic driving and cramped quarters. No to mention on many buses between cities the driver tends to pump Celine Dion over the vehicle's speakers. So allow me to share with you some of the tunes that keep me sane on even the most trying of journeys.

Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I-IV) by Pink Floyd
There's nothing like a 13 minute song to whittle away the kilometers. And even better if that song happens to be a rock masterpiece.

It Was A Good Day by Ice Cube
I was sharing my earbuds with a Cameroonian kid on a recent voyage and the shuffle brought us to this song. After hearing it once he wouldn't let me go on to the next track, and we ended up listening to it about 5 times. Nothing like some hardcore hip hop to help bridge cultures.

Rock the Casbah by The Clash
The first and only rock song that I've witnessed a Cameroonian enjoy.

Carolina On My Mind by James Taylor
A little nostalgia never hurts when the voyage gets to be too much.

Country Roads by John Denver
See previous.

Sun Is Shining by Bob Marley & The Wailers
I can't think of any time when listening to Bob wouldn't be appropriate, but I think this song was made for the parched highways of the Extreme North.

Lucky Star by Madonna
Yes, this is a personal favorite and I am not ashamed of that in the least.

Rosa Parks by Outkast
This was my 14 year old host brother's favorite song on my iPod. Last time I visited them I brought him some CDs I made, one of which contained this track. Picturing him breaking it down in his living room while his mother looks on in horror brings a smile to my face.

Don't Wake Up Policeman by Junkie XL and Peter Tosh
A little tribute to those gendarmes and police at the checkpoints who make travel in Cameroon oh-so efficient!

Jazz (We've Got) by A Tribe Called Quest
When the chauffeur starts to drive a little nutty, which is a certainty, the Tribe can be counted on to keep me mellow.

Africa by Toto
Yes, I am that cliché. I ride across the country blasting "I've got some rains down in Africa!!"

North American Scum by LCD Soundsystem
When sitting next to a Cameroonian guy between the ages of 15 to 30 they will inevitably ask to share earbuds. I have no problem with this and it can lead to hours of entertainment for us both. However from time to time I get one of those guys who wants to listen to Thriller 50 times in a row (I'm not knocking Michael). I "accidentally" skip to LCD Soundsystem and within 1 minute I have the earbuds to myself again.

Get By by Talib Kweli
This song makes Cameroonians dance in their seats. Works every time.

Friend of the Devil by Grateful Dead
An anthem for the wayward.

Soon the New Day by Talib Kweli & Norah Jones
An unlikely collaboration to say the least but it's the only Norah Jones song that has received a thumbs up from my adopted countrymen.

Louisiana Saturday Night by Alabama
I was curious as to how the fellow sharing headphones with me on my latest bus ride would receive country music. I think I can mark that experiment down as a complete failure.

Over the Hills and Far Away by Led Zeppelin
When the woman to my left starts breastfeeding her child in plain view of everyone and the gentleman to my right has obviously not showered since the rainy season, this tune takes me to exactly where the title suggests.