PRI: Afropop Worldwide
Welcome to the world of Afropop podcasts!\n\nWe are thrilled to offer choice segments from our Afropop Worldwide programs as weekly podcasts delivered to you. You can now hear our cultural reportage from Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas. You will also get segments from our Hip Deep series-within-a-series on history, music and ideas. If you've not yet ventured into the podcast world, it's easy to set up and flexible to fit your schedule. Happy listening! And please forward this url to music loving friends.
Subscribe: Bloglines, Google Reader, My MSN, Netvibes, Newsgator, Odeo, My Yahoo!, Desktop Reader
Unearthed Treasures 2 Sep 2010, 12:00 am
Continuing our musical treasures theme, we unearth some gems--Senegal's Royal Band of Thies, classic King Sunny Ade from Lagos, Konimo from Ghana, sublime recordings by Hugh Tracey nearly 50 years ago of villagers in Mozambique, plus a song from the same era by Edith Pinder and accompanied by her beloved brother Joseph Spence in the Bahamas, Banjo Ikey Robinson and his Bull Fiddle Band, tsapika music from Madagascar from one of the first commercial recordings in 1999, and others.
(audio/mpeg; 5.89 MB)
Treasures of Benin 26 Aug 2010, 12:00 am
Nestled between Ghana, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria, Benin is a rich sliver of West Africa too often overlooked. This program puts Afropop's spotlight on Benin for the first time, starting with the country's favorite daughter. International star Angelique Kidjo looks back on her musical education in the Benin capital, Cotonou, as she walks us through the songs on her new album Oyo, which spans covers of songs by James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Miriam Makeba, and Benin's own Bella Bellow. We meet the 70s "vodoun funk" band Orchestre Poly-Rythmo, who are still going strong, and recently played their belated US debut. We zoom to the present in a chat with Lionel Loueke, a Beninois guitarist who has moved on to become one of the most original voices in contemporary American jazz. The program ends with a remembrance of Malian guitarist and singer Lobi Traore who died tragically recently.
(audio/mpeg; 6.57 MB)
The Prehistory of New Orleans: Treasures from the Hogan 19 Aug 2010, 12:00 am
To mark the 5th anniversary of the Katrina disaster, we go way way back to honor New Orleans as the unique American treasure it is. This program tells the story of how jazz emerged in the context of all the other African American musics that proliferated in late 19th and early 20th century New Orleans: blues, ragtime, Mardi Gras Indian music, vaudeville and minstrelsy, spiritual church music, and more. With our guides Bruce Boyd Raeburn and Lynn Abbott, we'll comb through a vast world of interviews, recorded music, photographs, ephemera, and curatorial knowledge at one of the great American music collections, the William Ransom Hogan Jazz Archive at Tulane University.
(audio/mpeg; 6.87 MB)
Afropop Vignettes: Guitar Heroes 12 Aug 2010, 12:00 am
The guitar is at the center of so many Afropop styles we love. And it's still going strong even in the age of hip hop in African youth culture. In this program we'll hear from some well known guitar heroes--Djelimady Tounkara from Mali, Jaojoby from Madagascar, Dr. Nico and Diblo Dibala from Congo and others--as well as some less well known but superb artists such as Louis Mlanga from South Africa, Colbert (long lost relative) from Madagascar, and others.
(audio/mpeg; 6.8 MB)
Musiques Metisses Festival in France 5 Aug 2010, 12:00 am
This is an Afropop lover's dream come true--on three stages in four days we caught Bembeya Jazz, King Sunny Adandeacute;, Lokua Kanza, Tinawaren, Amadou and Mariam, Habib Koite, Hasna el Becharia, the Gangbe Brass Band, D'Gary, Cesaria Evora, Abdel Gadir Salim, and more! Enjoy these gorgeous live recordings and visits with the musicians.
(audio/mpeg; 9.63 MB)
The Mandandeacute; Diaspora In New York City, Part 2 29 Jul 2010, 12:00 am
In the second part of Afropop's exploration of New York's Mandandeacute; community, we look at the lives Mandandeacute; artists have made for themselves in America. This program deals with the urge to escape community, to experience American life and music. We also explore the strains of being undocumented and unable to travel. We'll hear more from ethnomusicologist Ryan Skinner, and focus on music by Balla Kouyate, Balla Tounkara, The Mandingo Ambassadors, Fula Flute, Brewed by Noon, Kakande, Source and more.
(audio/mpeg; 7.97 MB)
The Mandandeacute; Diaspora In New York CIty, Part 1 22 Jul 2010, 12:00 am
New York's Mandandeacute; community has blossomed over the past 20 years. The story that begins with the rise of the king Sunjata Keita in 13th Century Mali now extends to music-filled social gatherings among West African diplomats and businessmen in the Bronx and Harlem, not to mention electro-griots, and of course, fusion! Musicians like Mamadou Diabate, Papa Suso and Yacouba Sissoko (all kora players), Famoro Diabate and Bala Kouyate (balafon players), and the golden-throated griot vocalist Abdoulaye Diabate are so excellent that they have inevitably been invited to participate in a wide variety of jazz and pop music projects in New York City and around the country. We'll meet them, hear their stories and music, and get historical and cultural context from ethnomusicologist Ryan Thomas Skinner.
(audio/mpeg; 0.01 MB)
The Other Afro-Latino - Hidden Sounds from Ecuador, Bolivia, and Uruguay 15 Jul 2010, 12:00 am
Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian musical giants have long enjoyed the spotlight, yet throughout Latin America there are other black enclaves producing some of the New World's most vibrant music. Their stories have gone untold for far too long. In this episode, Afropop explores these lost sounds, starting in an Ecuadorian desert valley where African and Andean traditions have mixed seamlessly into fiery dance music. Then we're off to mangrove-studded Esmeraldas to search out the last marimba legends living on the jungle waterways. We continue to Bolivia, where a tiny black minority uses their music to fight for recognition by the indigenous government and last, we'll listen to the driving carnival music of Uruguay, candombe. Tune in for exclusive interviews and recordings by everyone from marimba master Papa Roncn to Candombe-jazz legend Hugo Fattoruso.
(audio/mpeg; 6.09 MB)
Afropop All Stars--Live!! 8 Jul 2010, 12:00 am
Sit back--or get up--and enjoy this fabulous hit parade of Afropop stars recorded live by Afropop Worldwide. South Africa's joyful Mahotella Queens (inductees into the Afropop Hall of Fame) performing at SOB's in New York open the show, followed by their one and only partner, the "groaner" Mahlathini (RIP). Next is an exquisite, mbira heavy set by the Lion of Zimbabwe, Thomas Mapfumo, Grammy Award winner Youssou N'Dour in a powerful set including his hit, "Set," a smoldering set by Khaled at Central Park SummerStage, soukous king Kanda Bongo Man, and Simba Wanyika out of Kenya.
(audio/mpeg; 3.93 MB)
Afropop Soundsystem, Part 4: Soundsystem Goes to South Africa 1 Jul 2010, 12:00 am
We head to Jozi (Johannesburg) to meet cutting edge South African artists that don't usually get recognized internationally. We check out the story of Shangaan music in an exclusive interview with producer Nozinja in his Soweto studio. We'll hear his latest hits and check in with Foster, the king of Shangaan electro gospel. It's on to meet upstart rappers Dirty Parafin at the Nike shop in the northern suburb Mellville. He has been sampling lately from late 80s / 90s SA bubblegum stars--Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Brenda Fassie and the Big Dudes and the Dalom Kids. We'll also feature a short conversation with South African ethnomusicologist, Gavin Steingo to talk about the relevance of kwaito today. Produced by Wills Glasspiegel.
(audio/mpeg; 7.18 MB)
Four Generations of Congolese Music 24 Jun 2010, 12:00 am
Congo has always played an oversize role in entertaining dance lovers on the continent and beyond--Franco, Tabu Ley, Doctor Nico, Zaiko Langa Langa, Papa Wemba, Pepe Kalle, and others. We start in pre-independence Congo with the beloved "Papa" Wendo Kolossoy (RIP), the grandfather of rumba, as he talks with us at his home in Kinshasa. We talk to the man and listen in on a recording session. After sitting out most of the 3-decade Mobutu era, Wendo put together a band of veterans with stories to tell, and sweet melodies and rhythms to share. We also talk with the legendary singer and composer Simaro Lutumba who sat at the right hand of Franco. We catch Simaro rehearsing his band, Bana OK. We also check in with dueling superstars Werrason and JB Mpiana.
(audio/mpeg; 7.93 MB)
Celebrating Congo's 50th Anniversary of Independence: Marking the Life and Times of Grand Master Franco 17 Jun 2010, 12:00 am
Congo, one of the epicenters of contemporary African music, became independent in June of 1960. We celebrate with a portrait of Franco--a towering figure in the cultural life of Africa. Guitar wizard. Prolific composer. Bandleader who groomed the who's who of Congolese singing royalty. Called the Balzac of Africa for his ear and way with a story. Franco passed in 1989. We'll talk to veteran singer and former Franco collaborator, Sam Mangwana, about Franco. And we'll relish recording highlights from the 50s to the 80s. This is some of the most gorgeous music ever created in Africa.
(audio/mpeg; 7.92 MB)
World Cup South Africa: South Africans Remember the Music that Helped Beat Apartheid and Celebrate Freedom 10 Jun 2010, 12:00 am
In part 2 of our marking of South Africa hosting the World Cup, we get some perspective as we celebrate one of most exhilarating events of the 20th Century, the peaceful transition from the evil system of apartheid to a democratic, non-racial country. The extraordinary wisdom and forgiveness of Nelson Mandela as he led South Africa to freedom is a miracle that we should not forget. The music of this era is a vivid reflection of the emotions and hopes of the moment. We will hear conversations with some of the veterans of contemporary SA music including Lucky Dube, Ray Phiri, Dorothy Masuka, and others. They share their recollections of the key events of the apartheid era and the long journey to freedom: the June 16, 1976 Soweto Student Uprising; the Feb. 11, 1990 release from jail of Nelson Mandela; first democratic elections April 27, 1994 for the New South Africa. Plus younger stars of kwaito music including Kabelo and Thandiswa Mazwai speak for the youth generation.
(audio/mpeg; 5.97 MB)
Cooking with Georges in Cape Town 3 Jun 2010, 12:00 am
Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities on earth. At the southern most tip of the continent, South Africa is a vast melting pot of peoples and cultures including Bantus, San, Indonesians, Indians, Dutch and English. And the cuisine reflects that. Georges Collinet goes to the home of Faldela Williams who invites us into her kitchen as she cooks sugar bean curry and roti. Faldela warns that you can't cook curry too quickly. It needs time to sweat and blend so we have plenty of time to hang out and listen to great music by Cape Town's favorite son, Abdullah Ibrahim, Outernational Meltdown, and others. Also featured are side trips to nearby Madagascar and Mozambique.
(audio/mpeg; 7.85 MB)
Reclaiming Africa: Susana Baca And Lazaro Ros 27 May 2010, 12:00 am
The "African-ness" from country to country in the Americas is very different. Afro-Peruvian artist Susana Baca and Afro-Cuban artist Lazaro Ros artistically and spiritually reclaim their heritage from strikingly different starting points. We hear Susana Baca tell her story and the story of the previously unrecognized African side of Peru. This program features Susana's high spirited New York debut performance. Lazaro Ros, RIP, was a revered singer in Cuba who performed and recorded songs from the Afro-Cuban religious traditions. We'll hear Lazaro talk about his early years when he grew up as a devout Catholic singing in the church choir. We'll hear beautiful songs he sang to the Yoruba orishas in the Santeria religion--Chango, Obatala, and others. Later in his career, Lazaro pioneered the transformation of drum and vocals religious music to the fuller sound of a modern band. His fans loved it.
(audio/mpeg; 7.95 MB)
DUB: The Medium is the Message 20 May 2010, 12:00 am
In the 1970s and 80s, while Jamaican reggae was becoming just about the most successful music ever to emerge from the African Diaspora, the genre was being transformed at its source in Jamaica's Kingston slums. "Dub" is a magnificent, jury rigged appropriation of reggae music, a remarkable nexus of technological evolution and cultural paradigm shift. From its origins in the late '60s, dub led directly to early rap and hip hop, and the post-modern, sample-based DJ culture that has reigned ever since. In this Hip Deep special, Yale ethnomusicologist Michael Veal spins the discs and guides us through the story as dub changes from a re-mix technique into a canon of original material in which the studio itself becomes a creative instrument. We explore the music and legacies of King Tubby--father of the "remix" concept--and Grammy-winner Lee "Scratch" Perry, a Bob Marley mentor and the man responsible for dub's international rise. Perry's Afro-Futurism lives on today, in part because it is such a powerful metaphor for the cultural reality of displaced people everywhere.
(audio/mpeg; 7.65 MB)
Ten Tunes that Shook Kingston 13 May 2010, 12:00 am
(First of a two part mini-series on the phenomenal story of music in Jamaica.)
This program features rare classic recordings from Jamaica--50's Jamaica RandB, ska, rock steady, toasting, dub--and inside stories from the prolific Jamaican record industry about how new styles were born.
(audio/mpeg; 5.65 MB)
Sounds of the Cities: Dakar, Bamako, Harare, Kinshasa, Santo Domingo, New York City Come Calling 6 May 2010, 12:00 am
In Afropop's book, the coolest cities in the world have a sound. You hear it in the nightclubs, you hear it coming from the radio. It could be from the past or the present. That sound becomes the soul of the city. We'll travel from Dakar to Bamako to Harare to Kinshasa to Santo Domingo to New York to soak up the sounds that make these cities one of a kind.
(audio/mpeg; 6.16 MB)
World Funk 29 Apr 2010, 12:00 am
How could you not like funk? There are reasons why funk is a mainstay at weddings, college reunions, and more--everyone can dance to it, it's sexy, and the nostalgia is powerful. Many streams fed funk in America and the world has returned the funk favor. Appearing in Afropop's Funk Dome, are funky sounds from Brazil, Nigeria, Algeria, and elsewhere including a segment on Angelique Kidjo's latest work, "Oyo," an homage to the American funk idols she grew up with back home in Benin, West Africa.
(audio/mpeg; 6.22 MB)
Live Latin Extravagnza! 22 Apr 2010, 12:00 am
Time to hit the dance floor and earn some frequent flier miles as well as we jet between three continents to enjoy some of Afropop Worldwide's favorite recordings of Latin stars--starting in London for Colombia's Joe Arroyo at the Empire Ballroom in London to Quito, Ecuador where Paulina Tamayo sings passionate love songs at a large open-air ampitheater to Havana where timba stars Los Van Van get the dance floor busy to New York where rumba maestros, Los Muequitos de Matanzas, play their debut concert before an ecstatic audience. The finale is New York's own salsa pioneer Willie Colon playing for his home town crowd.
(audio/mpeg; 7.13 MB)
Celebrating Senegal's 50th Anniversary: Mbalax Fever--The Story of Popular Music in Senegal 15 Apr 2010, 12:00 am
Afropop Worldwide travels to Dakar to celebrate the country's 50th anniversary of independence with a Hip Deep history of the nation's signature music style: mbalax. On radio, on television, from boom boxes on the street to the city's legendary nightclubs, this rhythmically explosive dance music is the defining sound of modern Senegal. MIT ethnomusicologist Patricia Tang takes us through the history, from the polyrhythms of Wolof hand-and-stick sabar drumming, through the pan-Africanist passions of Lopold Senghor, Senegal's first president, to African salsa and the rise of Youssou N'Dour, right up to the present when mbalax still holds its own in the hip hop era. We'll hear how griot musicians Youssou N'Dour and Thione Seck spurred the evolution from salsa to mbalax, and how the new music helped unify the country after decades of French colonial rule. Baaba Maal, Yoro N'diaye, and Orchestra Baobab's Ben Geloune discuss the music's themes, including Islam, polygamy, and poverty. And of course, we hear lots of electrifying mbalax music!
(audio/mpeg; 7.32 MB)
Celebrating Nigeria's 50th Anniversary with Juju Pioneer I.K. Dario and Celebrating the Legacy of Brazil's Chico Science at 2010 Sao Paulo Gathering 8 Apr 2010, 12:00 am
Seventeen countries in Africa celebrate their 50th anniversary of independence this year. We will put the spotlight on the countries whose music is best known such as the West Africa powerhouse Nigeria and some we almost never hear from such as Chad and Niger. Representing Nigeria is juju pioneer I.K. Dairo who introduced electric guitar, accordion and talking drum into the music. We will hear I.K. in Afropop Worldwide's recording of his New York City debut concert backed by his Blue Spots band. I.K. is unfortunately no longer with us but his sweet guitar and accordion playing that night stays with us. We also pay tribute to Chico Science, the fierce, ground-breaking artist from Recife in northeastern Brazil, who died in 1997 but who still inspires artists all over Brazil today. In March we went to a conference in Sao Paulo dedicated to Chico and his legacy. We'll hear contemporary artists following in Chico's footsteps.
(audio/mpeg; 8.72 MB)
Honoring Sam Mtukudzi: Afropop at Home and Abroad 1 Apr 2010, 12:00 am
Sam Mtukudzi, the 22 year old son of Zimbabwe great Oliver Mtukudzi and himself and up and coming star, died tragically in a car accident a few weeks ago. To honor him, we reprise an exclusive interview from Zimbabwe and play songs from his debut release. Timely also is the return of banjo maestro Bela Fleck and his critically acclaimed touring Africa Project. We go on the road with Bela and catch up with traditional pop star Anania and his Zanzibar-based group. Afropop.org Senior Editor Banning Eyre flies to Paris to visit with Algerian rai superstar Khaled talking about his fabulous new Libertandeacute; at the Olympia Theatre in Paris. And more!
(audio/mpeg; 8.07 MB)
Discover and Record: The Field Recordings of Hugh Tracey 25 Mar 2010, 12:00 am
In this Hip Deep edition, Afropop producer Wills Glasspiegel heads to South Africa to reveal the story of the inimitable Hugh Tracey, a field recordist born at the turn of the 20th century in England. A wayward youth, Tracey found himself in Africa in the 1920s where he became fascinated with music from Zimbabwe. Tracey became a pioneer field recordist, making over 250 LPs of traditional African music for the Gallo label in South Africa. Like John and Alan Lomax in the US, Tracey was instrumental in preserving hundreds of songs that have since gone extinct. Glasspiegel speaks with Dianne Thram, director of Tracey library in Grahamstown, South Africa; Tracey's son Andrew, a musician and field recordist in his own right; Michael Baird, an expert on the Tracey catalog; and esteemed South African anthropologist David Coplan. We'll also head to Malawi to make a field recording of our own with the help of Malawian singer, Esau Mwamwaya.
(audio/mpeg; 7.88 MB)
Brazil: The Northeast-So Paulo Connection 18 Mar 2010, 12:00 am
Afropop Worldwide travels to the sprawling megalopolis of So Paulo. Experiencing the city's 22 million inhabitants is overwhelming at first, but music helps you put things in perspective. You'll hear the story of the relationship between the musically rich but impoverished northeast of Brazil and its people who have traveled to So Paulo looking for work. We hear different takes of northeastern forr, very popular in So Paulo--forr universitario and forr electronico. We visit with Chico Cesar, a northeasterner living in So Paulo. We talk to leading music journalists who illuminate the complicated Brazilian music scene for us. Plus lots more.
(audio/mpeg; 7.95 MB)
Reggaeton Roundup: New Moves in Latin Youth Music 11 Mar 2010, 12:00 am
When Daddy Yankee released his hit single, "Gasolina," in 2005, nobody suspected what was about to happen. Reggaeton, that rollicking Caribbean dance-rap, traveled like an uncontained blaze around the world - crossing over from the Latin charts to pop and hip-hop from the U.S to Australia, thrilling and/or shocking those that came in its path. Reggaeton was the sound and swagger of a new generation of urban Latin Americans, and a whirl around Latin America in 2009 will show you that the genre is here to stay. We travel to Puerto Rico, the birthplace of reggaeton, and talk to players from the music's history and take the pulse of today's scene. We'll follow that omnipresent bass-heavy beat that wove its way from coastal Panama in the 1980s to freestyle sessions in San Juan in the 90s, and talk to Puerto Ricans who are taking the music to new places today. Interviews with Omar Garcia, Calle 13, and more, plus side trips to Brazil and Chicago to get a taste of Baile Funk and Latin House.
(audio/mpeg; 8.42 MB)
AFROPOP WORLDWIDE GOES TO COPENHAGEN FOR WOMEX 2009, PART 1 4 Mar 2010, 12:00 am
Every year WOMEX attracts some 3,000 individuals working in the world music field--artists, record label people, festival presenters, media personnel and others. And we always return loaded with cool CDs new to us, interviews with artists we've never met before, live concert recordings, and more. From the most recent WOMEX at the end of last year, we'll hear artists that really exited us--Hasna el Becharia (Algeria/France), Kenge Kenge (Kenya), Choc Quib Town (Colombia), Addis Acoustic Project (Ethiopia), and others.
(audio/mpeg; 7.96 MB)
Afropop Worldwide Winter 2010 Dance Party 25 Feb 2010, 12:00 am
It's that time of year again to dust off your dancing shoes, oil your creaky joints, liberate yourself from cabin fever and join Georges for a rollicking good time on your own personal dance floor. We'll boogie to the latest roots rai, rumba, rhumba, mbalax, kwaito, Musiki wa dansi, Brazilian soul, boogaloo, old school reggaeton, electro cumbia, baille funk and who knows where that all leads us. And it's all good for your soul and inspirational for your booty shaking. See you there.
(audio/mpeg; 5.51 MB)
Mali: A History in Music 18 Feb 2010, 12:00 am
From the ancient time of hunters to the rise of the 13th century Empire of Mali, from the coming of Islam to the era of French colonialism, from the celebration of Independence in 1960 to the rise of Malian music stars to the world stage--Mali is unique among all the nations of Africa. On the 50th anniversary of Malian independence, this program takes a step back to look at the sweep of its history. There are reasons why this landlocked region of West Africa has been the cradle for so many cultural movements, and why Mali has produced more successful world musicians than any country in Africa. With renowned Professor Cherif Keita as our guide, we trace the story from the griots of old to the stars of today: Salif Keita, Ali Farka Toure, Toumani Diabate, Habib Koite and more.
(audio/mpeg; 0.01 MB)
Music and the Story of Haiti 28 Jan 2010, 12:00 am
From Vodou to Compas to Racine to Rara and Beyond
Haiti became the first black-ruled republic in the Americas in 1804, and music has mirrored, and at times shaped, the twists and turns of Haiti's politics and culture ever since. A primary source of Haitian culture is Dahomey, the birthplace of vodou--the most commonly held world view among Haitian people today. We explore how each of Haiti's rulers has championed his own preferred music. The Duvalier dictators favored compas dance music, and suppressed the most African-identified cultural expressions. When Baby Doc was run out of the country in 1986, African-derived racine, or roots, music exploded. Elizabeth McAlister, professor of religion at Wesleyan University, and Holly Nicolas--interweave music and history to tell a dynamic, and at times heart-breaking story. Included in the mix we'll hear the sweet sound of troubadour balladeers, as well as the exuberant tones of rara bands, the call and response of a capela kombit songs of work parties, impassioned choral music of evangelical churches, and the sophisticated, improvisational rhythms used in vodou rituals.
(audio/mpeg; 6.18 MB)
Afropop Soundsystem 7 Jan 2010, 12:00 am
Afropop Soundsystem has one eye on Africa and one on the world. We dig deep into the African digital domain to uncover songs and artists little known across the Atlantic. We plunge into sexy kuduro music from Angola; bubu music from Sierra Leone, jagwa from Tanzania as well as the latest sensations in the kwaito scene in South Africa and the hyperactive ndombolo sounds from Kinshasa. Get ready to enjoy some of the continent's choice hot spots--from Lagos to Dar es Salaam. Guided by deejay Michael Ndaribamare and producer Wills Glasspiegel, Afropop Soundsystem will challenge Hawaiian-shirt-wearing world music. Expect politics, yodels, break-beats, and club crushers.
(audio/mpeg; 5 MB)
The French Caribbean--Cosmopolitan, Colonial, Complicated 31 Dec 2009, 12:00 am
In the music of the French Antilles - the islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe - you can hear influences that range from the traditional bl and gwo ka drumming of the islands' rural communities, to European additions like polka and French chanson. But when these islands produced a pop genre that took much of the Caribbean and African world by storm - the smooth and sexy dance music zouk, which exploded in the 1980s - it was an entirely new blend that uniquely reflected the complex layers of identity in these Caribbean communities that are, administratively, a full-fledged part of France. Still colonies? Many think so. Either way the Antilles have long produced artists and thinkers with deep sensitivity to the gradations of race, class, migration, and relationship to a powerful, distant metropolis. Now, musicians in Guadeloupe and Martinique are re-exploring their roots, celebrating rhythms that go back to slavery days without pulling back from the cosmopolitanism of recent years. Our guide to this music - and the rich history and ongoing debates that it reflects - is Brenda Berrian of the University of Pittsburgh, whose book, Awakening Spaces: French Caribbean Popular Songs, Music and Culture, is a definitive - and enthusiastic - treatment of the subject.
(audio/mpeg; 8.71 MB)
Afropop Road Show 2009 24 Dec 2009, 12:00 am
This is the latest in our continuing series following our favorite touring artists on the road including those who wowed the Afropop public for the amazingly rich summer season that just passed--Vieux Farka Tourandeacute;, King Sunny Adandeacute;, Femi Kuti, Alpha Blondy, Najat Attabou, Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara, BLK JKS, and others. We'll hear their music and chat with them backstage
(audio/mpeg; 9.12 MB)
The Latin Alternative Music Conference 2009 in New York City 17 Dec 2009, 12:00 am
Electro-cumbia-hop, plena-reggae, mambo-ghettotech - just some of the hybrid grooves and genre-bending experimentations on display at the 2009 Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC) in New York City, now in its 10th year, that has long been a showcase for cutting edge bands from Bogota to Buenos Aires, and this year is no different. Join the Afropop team with in-depth coverage of the festival, as we sample the sounds of a new generation of cosmopolitan, transnational Latino and Latin American artists. Music and interviews from dreamy Mexican chanteuse Natalia Lafourcade, Colombian scenesters Monareta, Cypress Hill's Eric Bobo, and a visit with the ground breaking Nacional Record's founder and president, Tomas Cookman. Plus, a live concert from Bomba Estereo, the psychodelic afro-danceparty sensation from Colombia.
(audio/mpeg; 8.38 MB)
AFROPOP GOES TO COPENHAGEN FOR WOMEX 2009, PART 2 10 Dec 2009, 12:00 am
Our annual pilgrimage to WOMEX always yields too much great material to jam into one program. We'll pick up our report from WOMEX 2009, Part 1 with more concert highlights, backstage visits, and fresh CDs.
(audio/mpeg; 5.61 MB)
Stocking Stuffers 2009 30 Nov 2009, 12:00 am
Drum roll please.Here's the moment you've been waiting for, the moment we open the envelopes to see who wins Afropop's honors for the best African CDs, Latin CDs, reissues, and "Africa in America" releases of the year. It's a wide-ranging tour of the best music released in 2009. Live from Georges Collinet's home studio in Washington, DC, Georges sample winners and near-winners with Afropop producer Banning Eyre.
(audio/mpeg; 8.32 MB)
Afropop Soundsystem 2 26 Nov 2009, 12:00 am
Soundsystem is at the crossroads. What used to be exotic is standard fare: now you hear cumbia in the West Village of New York City. Now you can hear the West Village in West Africa. For part 2 of Afropop Soundsystem, we'll be digging back into the digital Diaspora to uncover songs and artists making waves across the Atlantic (in both directions). From Uproot Andy to the electric root of Akan music in Ghana, Soundsystem 2 charts the movement and flux of Africa as it infiltrates new dance-floors and blogs across the galaxy. Expect exclusive mixes from the Brooklyn tropical scene, some Miami-bass reborn through Chico Mann, tracks from the South African avant garde, as well as a new bubu-dancehall stunner from San Fransisco's Chief Boima. Back by popular demand, we'll also feature a short interview with bubu music founder, Janka Nabay of Sierra Leone. Produced by Wills Glasspiegel, this is the Africa new wave.
(audio/mpeg; 4.91 MB)
Baaba Maal Acoustic, Live in New York City 12 Nov 2009, 12:00 am
Concert highlights from Baaba Maal's rapturous North American debut of his acoustic string and vocal focused ensemble, recorded at Joe's Pub in New York City. Baaba performs solo, in trio and sextet--joined by longtime musical companions Mansour Seck on guitar and vocals, Kowding Cissokho on kora, Mama Gaye on guitar, Barou Sall on hodu (African guitar), and El Hadj Niang on bass. Also feature is the powerful Ethiopian singer Gigi.
(audio/mpeg; 8.11 MB)
Afropop Soundsystem 3: Nu-Whirled Music 29 Oct 2009, 12:00 am
Afropop Worldwide takes us into the world of the globalistas, a far-flung grouping of polyglot hipsters, bass freaks, and digital beatsmiths who rally around the sounds of the 21st century dancefloor - rhythms such as Angolan kuduro, Brazilian funk carioca, reggaeton and dancehall, Indian bhangra and Argentine electro-cumbia.
Ethnomusicologist/DJ/Blogger/Writer Wayne Marshall calls this music World Music 2.0, highlighting how digital production technology and the internet has created new, younger, international audiences for music from other places. Marshall will guide us through the sonic circuitry of global bass music and show us why old assumptions about "world" music might no longer apply. We'll also speak with DJ Rupture, Dutty Artz founder and visionary world mashup artist, and, of course, listen to some ground shaking tracks from across the beat-o-sphere.
(audio/mpeg; 8.57 MB)
Afropop's Travels in Cuba 22 Oct 2009, 12:00 am
In this program, we experience musical personalities and styles from the capital Havana in the west to Santiago de Cuba in the east and places in between--Cienfuegos and Matanzas. In Cienfuegos, the home of the beloved singer Beny Morandeacute;, we visit with 80-something son singer Felito Molino. In Santiago, we hear the effects of another revolution, the Haitian revolution from 1791 to 1804, and the aftermath that saw Haitian planters, their slaves and free people of color flee to Cuba. We visit a tumba francesa group in Guantanamo where the 18th Century French court meets Dahomeyan drumming and Group Mystere takes us into their temple for sacred vodou songs. Back in Havana we visit a celebration of the Afro-Cuban orisha Babalu Aye's birthday and then hear tasty pop songs in his honor. Plus a tribute to the late, great Elio Reve. And lots more.
(audio/mpeg; 11.11 MB)
Traveling Spirit Masters: The Gnawa of Morocco 8 Oct 2009, 12:00 am
Gnawa musicians have carved out a unique niche within Moroccan society as people with revered spiritual power, who use music and movement to heal the sick. The Gnawasand#39; ancestors came to North Africa as slaves. Today they are an elite class of musicians and spiritualists, celebrated in an annual festival that attracts some 400,000 fans, and invited to collaborate with such notable international artists as jazz legend Randy Weston. In this program, author and scholar Deborah Kapchan guides us through the history, practices, music, lore and unique contemporary stature of the Gnawa, both in Morocco and on the world stage. Interviews with Hassan Hakmoun, historian Mohammed Ennaji, and gnawa scholar Tim Abdellah Fuson.
(audio/mpeg; 6.62 MB)
The Story of Bembeya Jazz 24 Sep 2009, 12:00 am
Guinea's legendary dance band, Bembeya Jazz, are a pillar of modern West African history. Begun in 1961 in the flush of Guinea's independence and Sekou Toure's maverick presidency, the band played under the inspired leadership of guitar giant Sekou "Bembeya" Diabate. This program delves into Bembeya history with a focus on the band's 60s and 70s heyday, right up to recent solo work by Sekou Diabate. In the current age of hip hop and digital production that is helping to supplant dance bands across the continent, Bembeya's music stands the test of time for its rich mesh of tradition and swing band drive.
(audio/mpeg; 9.65 MB)
Afro-Dominicana: Music from the Other Dominican Republic 17 Sep 2009, 12:00 am
In the 1930s, infamous Dominican dictator Rafael Truillo ordered the burning of the country's palos drums, hoping to erase the powerful vestiges of African culture in the Dominican Republic. Luckily for us, the breakneck, trance-inducing sound of palos still reverberates at Afro-syncretic religious parties across the island nation almost a century later. This week, Afropop revisits the home of styles such as merengue and bachata, but this time we'll be looking towards the most deeply African side of Dominican music--little known outside of the island. Afro-Dominican music is a secret treasure, filled with virtuosic drumming styles, heart-stopping grooves, and mystic dance parties. We'll listen to traditional genres like palos, salve, and gaga, a uniquely Dominican take on rara music from neighboring Haiti. Throughout, we'll be looking at artists who have drawn on Afro-Dominican styles to make infectious pop music, from wizened veterans of the folklore movement such as Luis Dias, to a host of hip, young bands who use Afro-inspired rock, reggae, and hip-hop to redefine what it means to be Dominican.
(audio/mpeg; 8.67 MB)
Diaspora Encounters: Kriolu in New England, The Cape Verdean-American Story 10 Sep 2009, 12:00 am
Of all contemporary Cape Verdeans, Cesaria Evora, "the Queen of the Morna" has made the biggest impression internationally. However the first Cape Verdean to grace the American imagination was the harpooner Dagoo in Herman Melville's Moby Dick (1851). Cape Verdeans first arrived in United States as whalers in the late 1700's and have been coming ever since, bringing a distinctive Portuguese-African Kriolu flavor to communities across Southern New England and beyond. We'll take a step back in time and look at the rich cultural life of Cape Verdean neighborhoods, where great bands played mornas and coladeiras at local social clubs. Our principle guide for this program will be historian Marilyn Halter, author of Between Race and Ethnicity: Cape Verdean American Immigrants, 1860-1965. She'll take us through the years as the Cape Verdean community navigated the turbulent waters of opportunity and identity in America long before the age of American multiculturalism. Then we'll jump ahead and explore current trends from the far-flung Diaspora's thriving music scene, ranging from hip-busting funan to sleek cabo-zouk. All along, we'll be hearing from Cape Verdean-American musicians, from old-time guitar master Freddy Silva to rising rapper Mo Green, as they reflect on immigration, nostalgia, heritage, and what it means to be Cape Verdean in the United States.
(audio/mpeg; 10.12 MB)
The Coca-Cola Ebony Festival in Dakar, Senegal 3 Sep 2009, 12:00 am
We go to the lively capital of Senegal, on the furthest-out tip of West Africa for three days of concerts by an extraordinary line-up of African stars, starting with Senegalese royalty--Youssou N'Dour, Baaba Maal and Didier Awadi. Other heavyweights include Meiway from Cote d'Ivoire, Rachid Taha from Algeria, Alpha Blondy from Cote d'Ivoire and many more. Live concert highlights plus visits with the artists.
(audio/mpeg; 7.17 MB)
The Music of Black Peru: Cultural Identity in the Black Pacific 20 Aug 2009, 12:00 am
The "Black Pacific" is a term coined by our guide, ethnomusicologist Heidi Carolyn Feldman. She describes the circumstance of African descendants displaced not only from their ancestral homes in Africa, but also from the Atlantic coast nations where their enslaved ancestors were originally brought. This Hip Deep edition explores the sonically vibrant realm of Afro-Peruvian music, a young genre identification that has flourished since the 1950s and has now produced artists of international renown, such as singer Susana Baca, and the black folkloric company Peru Negro. The music is sensuous and deeply beautiful, and represents a fascinating and little-understood history. We will hear from Juan Morillo--who represents Peru Negro--from Susana Baca, and from other artists and community scholars Feldman has worked with during her extensive research of this topic.
(audio/mpeg; 6.54 MB)
Under the Radar: 2009 6 Aug 2009, 12:00 am
An Afropop tour of sounds you have not heard, music found by our field correspondents, small independent labels, and music sent to us directly from artists in Africa. We'll dig into the early West African releases from the new fair trade label Akawaaba Music, hear new sounds from Brazil and Tanzania, a hot marimba band from South Africa, and a dazzling, young griot guitarist, as yet unsigned to any label. All that and more as Afropop goes under the radar!
(audio/mpeg; 5.83 MB)
Afropop Summer 2009 Dance Party 30 Jul 2009, 12:00 am
What's hot on the dance floors in Luanda? Jo'berg? Lagos? Dakar? Cairo? Havana? Rio? Caracas? New York City? Find out on this hip-swiveling, ass-shaking, cheaper-than-therapy edition of the show.
(audio/mpeg; 6.11 MB)
Afropop Vignettes: Puerto Rico 9 Jul 2009, 12:00 am
From the early days to the present, Puerto Rico has always been a creative, prolific epicenter of Latin music. And the music traveled to New York with the large immigrant Puerto Rican community. We'll hear roots styles such as bomba and plena, salsa maestro Tito Puente, the contemporary leading sonero Gilberto Santa Rosa, as well as today's reggaeton superstars out of San Juan.
(audio/mpeg; 6.68 MB)
Blues Reflections 2 Jul 2009, 12:00 am
On this 4th of July holiday weekend, we dive into a celebration of the blues--for some, the essence of the American experience and for others a link back into a lost history in Africa. We'll hear the reflections of Bo Diddley, Robert Plant, Corey Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Lobi Traore, Amadou of Amadou and Mariam and enjoy their music. Happy 4th!
Next is part 1 of our two part series highlighting the music of Puerto Rico--from roots bomba and plena to the salsa glory days of the 1970's to contemporary salsero superstar Gilberto Santa Rosa and, in part 2, a visit to San Juan, the epicenter of the hottest pan-Latin craze today--reggaeton.
(audio/mpeg; 8.44 MB)
Afropop Worldwide Concert Highlights 25 Jun 2009, 12:00 am
Over the years we have recorded many extraordinary artists passing through New York City--some well known favorites of Afropop fans and some less well known. The common denominator is a unique voice and mastership of their style. Our recordings catch these artists and their bands at golden moments in their careers. Featured are Adewale Ayuba (Nigeria), Baaba Maal (Senegal), Willie Colon (Puerto Rico/USA), The Four Stars (Congo) and others. Get ready to clear the floor, crank it up and dance your ass off!
(audio/mpeg; 5.58 MB)
The Hip Hop Generation in Africa: Ghana and Ivory Coast 11 Jun 2009, 12:00 am
We explore the current pop music of Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire, two countries where elements of hip-hop and international pop music have grafted themselves onto local styles to create whole new genres-ones robust enough to not only take over the local youth culture but also spread beyond their borders. In Ghana, hip-life--a synthesis of hip-hop and highlife--dukes it out with gospel music on the airwaves. In Cote d'Ivoire, music has blossomed despite a stubborn political crisis. The idiosyncratic local music of social comment, zouglou, has morphed into coupe-dandeacute;calandeacute;, a dance-driven style that has supplanted Congolese soukous as the sound of the moment in Francophone Africa and its Diaspora.
(audio/mpeg; 5.34 MB)
Summer 2009 Concert Previews 28 May 2009, 12:00 am
This is our annual peek at which African, Caribbean and Latin artists will be wowing us with tours this summer--some return favorites, some new. At press time, almost no festival has published their roster so we don't have much by way of specifics. Just know that by show time, you'll be buzzing with excitement about who you can see this summer.
(audio/mpeg; 6.19 MB)
Afropop Worldwide's Visit to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 21 May 2009, 12:00 am
In our visit Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, we go beyond the handful of artists who have achieved international careers and dive into the local scene. We visit azmaribets, down home music clubs featuring vivacious women artists and their ensembles of traditional players. We catch Mimi and Besat live. Competition between the leading music producers in Addis is fierce. We visit the studio of recording studio of Abegasu Shiote who breaks down the Ethiopian pop sound track by track. And for the finale we go to a performance by the revered elder singer of the classic Addis sound--Mamoud Ahmed.
(audio/mpeg; 9.72 MB)
Cesaria Evora, Live 14 May 2009, 12:00 am
Part 2 of our focus on Cape Verde is the phenomenal Cesaria Evora, making her sold-out New York City concert debut at the Bottom Line. You'll hear why they call Cesaria "the Queen of the Morna." Cesaria is backed by the lush sound of her classy group--piano, acoustic bass guitar, cavaquinho, and lead acoustic guitar. Cesaria sings her hits "Petit Pays," "Miss Perfumado," "Angola" as well as less well known songs in her repertoire.
(audio/mpeg; 6.54 MB)
The Best of The Latin Alternative Music Conference in NYC, 2004-2007 16 Apr 2009, 12:00 am
"Say it loud, I'm Latino and proud!" So says DJ Raf. Join us for highlights from the annual gatherings of the Latin Alternative Music Conference in New York City that span old ska, rock, hip, electronica, rock, bugal, and old school boleros. The common theme is the excitement of experimenting with fusions of international pop and roots from home countries--Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Los Angeles, New York and beyond.
(audio/mpeg; 6.8 MB)
Afropop Vignettes: The Caribbean 9 Apr 2009, 12:00 am
The Heads of State of the 34 countries of the Americas (except Cuba) are meeting this April in Port of Spain, Trinidad to discuss common issues. President Obama will deliver the keynote address. Afropop takes this occasion as a jumping-off point to explore intriguing musical destinations--some well known, some barely known--and musical hot spots throughout the Americas. In part 1, we go to Trinidad, Cuba, Haiti, Martinique and the Dominican Republic. Hear Trinidad's pan orchestras, action on the street at carnivals in Port-au-Prince and Fort-de-France, and lots more!
(audio/mpeg; 6.19 MB)
Zaragoza Nights, Iberian Dreams 19 Mar 2009, 12:00 am
Afropop travels to Zaragoza, Spain for the Strictly Mundial Festival. A hot spot is the Pea Flamenca club where we saw Falo, a hugely popular flamenco singer of gipsy heritage. We'll hear music and stories from Galician artists in northwestern Spain where a featured instrument is their version of..bagpipes, of course! A twisted story from Galicia is that the fascist dictator Franco was Galician but forbid the Galician language to be used in schools and business so as to encourage the use of Spanish as a unifying force. Now that Franco is gone, there's a tremendous folk revival to reclaim Galician culture. We'll also hear fado in Lisbon and visit with all the artists backstage. This program proves once again that Spain is the most African country in Europe.
(audio/mpeg; 5.82 MB)
Bugalu 12 Mar 2009, 12:00 am
Singer, composer and bandleader Joe Cuba passed recently. We honor him with this encore portrait of bugalu, also variously described as "Latin soul," that hit the scene in 1966 with an original and organic concept of combining black and Puerto Rican music. The dance club crowd went crazy and then the fad quickly faded. But what a ride along the way! Joe Cuba was one of bugalu's most popular artists, best known for the major hit "Bang Bang" that his band created on the spot one night at a club. And then there was his wacky surprise hit "I Never Go Back to Georgia." Joe was a mesmerizing storyteller. We'll also hear some of the major bugalu stars tell their stories, including Pete Rodriguez, Johnny Colon, Gilberto Cruz, Ricky Ray, and of course Joe Cuba.
(audio/mpeg; 8.98 MB)
Afropop Worldwide Winter 2009 Dance Party 26 Feb 2009, 12:00 am
This week we debut the 2009 Winter Dance Party produced by Wills Glasspiegel with tracks from across the world AND the world wide web.
Expect a carnival: rara from Haiti, Kwaito house from South Africa, bubu from Sierra Leone, soca from Trinidad and the hardest hitting African rap straight from New York. The party highlights exclusive mixtapes from the Africa blogosphere: new mashups from Chief Boima's Ghettobassquake, DJ Zhao's NGOMA, DJ Geko + Uproot Andy at Dutty Artz, and a song from the venerable Africa selector, DJ Beto.
(audio/mpeg; 6.53 MB)
The Brazilian Diaspora in the United States 12 Feb 2009, 12:00 am
(As part of Afropop's celebration of Black History Month, this is the second of a three-part mini-series on the stories of three very different African and Brazilian Diaspora communities in the U.S.)
There's a lot of fantastic music being made by Brazilian artists living in the U.S. They entertain an estimated 1.5 million Brazilian immigrants here as well as a growing number of other fans. And Brazilian music is enjoying a resurgence here--on Mazda commercials, endless bossa nova soundtracks played in upscale restaurants; inter-cultural collaborations, and so on. We'll hear many of the best: Jorge Alabe, the godfather of many samba schools; Bebel Gilberto, daughter of bossa pioneer Joao Gilberto; singer Luciana Souza; the quirky percussionist Cyro Baptista; the funky, unorthodox Forro in the Dark and others. They all have fascinating stories to tell. We'll hear them in concert, visit with them in their homes, and hear songs from records produced in the U.S. New York University's widely published Professor of Music Jason Stanyek will be our co-host.
(audio/mpeg; 5.75 MB)
Ethiopia Part 2: Diaspora and Return 5 Feb 2009, 12:00 am
(As part of Afropop's celebration of Black History Month, this is the first of a three part mini-series on the stories of three very different African and Brazilian Diaspora communities in the U.S.)
Afropop Worldwide's Hip Deep takes us into Ethiopian Diaspora communities in the United States and Israel, and also in Addis Ababa itself, where new winds are blowing. Harvard's Kay Kauffman Shelemay and Ethiopiques CD producer Francis Falcetto provide expert insights. We visit Dukem Reastaurant and Nightclub in Washington, DC, and meet singer Hana Shenkute. We also speak with Idan Raichel of Israel. Produced by Banning Eyre.
(audio/mpeg; 5.71 MB)
Adventure in Madagascar 15 Jan 2009, 12:00 am
In an encore of our extraordinary 2001 musical journey across this most extraordinary musical island, we travel from the capital Antanarivo ("Tana") in the highlands to the southwestern coastal city of Tulear to experience guitar-driven tsapika dance music (that the rowdy emerald miners love) to the southeastern city of Fort Dauphin for surf roots music, then back to Tana for a finale.
(audio/mpeg; 5.1 MB)
A Visit to Madagascar 8 Jan 2009, 12:00 am
Madagascar is a big island with a big heart, occupying a special place in Afropop's musical imagination. We have visited this one-of-a-kind island in the Indian Ocean several times and brought back joyous music and fascinating stories. We'll hear Dame of the ground-breaking roots revival group Mahaleo give us a musical landscape of different Malagasy instruments--kabosy, valiha-- and styles--salegy, tsapika, sova, hiragassy--in the amazingly diverse Malagasy cultures. We'll visit other artists and hear private performances, plus a feast of the valiha (kora like string music). The show features long stretches of songs to dance your heart out to.
(audio/mpeg; 6.73 MB)
The Golden Age of Cuban Music 25 Dec 2008, 12:00 am
(Part 1 in a two-part series marking the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution.)
On January 8, 1959, Fidel Castro and his ragtag army marched into Havana and proclaimed victory in the Cuban revolution. Much of the world knew Cuba primarily from its 1930 megahit "El Manicero" ("The Peanut Vendor") and from the mambo craze of the 1950's. After Castro came to power, the economic, political and cultural doors between Cuba and the U.S. would soon be shut. The doors opened briefly for tours by Cuban artists in the U.S. under the Carter and Clinton administrations. They've shut again tightly under President Bush. What will happen in the new world of President Obama? Time will tell, but indications are that change is coming. In this encore broadcast, we savor sounds from the pre-Revolutionary golden age of Cuban music that sets the scene for the international success of Cuban music. We illustrate how popular music in Africa and the Americas is not imaginable without the influence of Cuban music--copied and adapted on three continents. We'll hear the stories and rare recordings of such core styles as son as well as luminaries such as Beny Morandeacute;, Arsenio Rodriguez, Celia Cruz and the Sexteto Habanero; along with less well known artists.
(audio/mpeg; 5.35 MB)
The Rise of the Religious Music Industry in Kenya: Gospel From Roots to Rap 18 Dec 2008, 12:00 am
Missionaries and nationalists rubbed shoulders in Kenya as early as 1906, when Kenya was a young, British colony. Christianity has long been closely allied with local, cultural expressions: however, it was only with the spread of radio in the 1940s that choral makwaya groups began to be heard by mass audiences. Hymns, arranged in 4-part harmony and translated into African languages, mark the humble beginnings of what has become a robust industry in Kenya. Today, Christian-themed music dominates the country, from traditional drumming and singing, to Kenyan country music, to guitar band pop, to reggae and rap. Our guest on this program is author and ethnomusicologist Jean Kidula. Kidula will trace Kenyan music's development from the 1940s to the present, placing rare and unavailable musical examples from her extensive collection in historical context. Produced by Siddhartha Mitter.
(audio/mpeg; 7.02 MB)
Afropop Roadshow 2008 11 Dec 2008, 12:00 am
With new visa fees, a weak dollar, and the decline of the CD business, it's not easy for foreign musicians to mount a successful U.S. tour these days. And yet they keep on coming! On this program we catch up with an exciting collection of hearty, traveling Afropop musicians. We'll hear insights, memories and fabulous music from Zimnbabwe's Chiwoniso, Umalali and The Garifuna All-Stars, Lobi Traorandeacute;, Joep Pelt, and more.
(audio/mpeg)
Afropop Artists Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the U.N.'s Universal Declaration of Human Rights 4 Dec 2008, 12:00 am
In this special edition of Afropop Worldwide, cutting edge African artists Emmanuel Jal from Sudan, K'Naan from Somalia, Angelique Kidjo from Benin, El Hadj N'Diaye from Senegal as well as Michael Franti from the U.S. celebrate the 60th anniversary of the landmark Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed on Dec. 10, 1948 in the wake of the horrors of World War II. The artists share their thoughts and feelings about the fight for human rights in their countries and around the world, and share their songs that these struggles have inspired. Produced in collaboration with Amnesty International and Link TV Television Without Borders.
(audio/mpeg; 5.52 MB)
Stocking Stuffers 2008 27 Nov 2008, 12:00 am
Here it is--the moment you've been waiting for! It's the moment we open the envelopes to see who wins Afropop's honors for the ten best African, Caribbean, and Latin albums of the year. Plus we'll play selections for the guitar lover, dance fanatic, Arab music lover, percussion discussionist, etc. on your holiday shopping list (including yourself)!
(audio/mpeg; 6.86 MB)
Afropop Vignettes: Festivals Around the World 20 Nov 2008, 12:00 am
In the next installment of our ongoing celebration of Afropop's 20th anniversary, we travel to our favorite African music festivals. In terms of ambience and fantastic artists not yet known on the international world music festival circuit, they can't be beat. We travel to festivals in Stonetown, Zanzibar; New York City; Detroit; Dakar, Senegal; Fes, Morocco; Recife, Brazil and others to enjoy concert highlights and soak up the scene.
(audio/mpeg; 7.24 MB)
Venezuela: The Rise of Afro-Venezuelan Music to the Present Day Hugo Chavez Era 13 Nov 2008, 12:00 am
Venezuela has the longest Caribbean coastline of any nation, and yet the vibrant African musical heritage thriving along that coast has been largely ignored by the nation's media and music industry, and remains under-recognized internationally. That is now changing rapidly. Long sidelined as a realm of quaint relics and exotic folklore, Afro-Venezuelan culture is becoming a larger part of the national life of this petroleum-rich nation. The controversial Hugo Chvez Fras is Venezuela's first president with acknowledged African heritage. His rise has triggered intense self-examination of Venezuela's stark social and ethnic divisions, and a cultural renaissance as well. In this Hip Deep program, ethnomusicologist T.M. Scruggs guides us through the history and music behind the present upsurge in Afro-Venezuelan consciousness.
(audio/mpeg; 6.96 MB)
Africa In America 2008 6 Nov 2008, 12:00 am
Amazingly, some of the most creative and interesting African music acts springing onto the scene are not based in Africa. For years, Afropop Worldwide has spotlighted the work of Africans making bands in the United States, and talented American musicians creating African music. The crop keeps getting better. This music-rich edition samples the techno roots fusion of Burkina Electric, the Kenyan benga meets rock 'n' roll fusion of Extra Golden, desert blues innovations from Markus James, new music from Toubab Krewe, US based afrobeat bands, new work from the country's burgeoning Shona music community, and more.
(audio/mpeg; 5.36 MB)
Megaconcert In Dakar, Senegal 30 Oct 2008, 12:00 am
In our continuing celebration of Afropop Worldwide's 20th anniversary, we return to one of our favorite cities--Dakar, Senegal--to hear an extraordinary all-night concert in front of 70,000 fans at the national stadium. Featured are Senegal's artistic royalty--Youssou N'Dour, Baaba Maal, Thione Seck--as well as lesser-known artists. We also visit the home of the one and only Baaba Maal.
(audio/mpeg; 5.35 MB)
Music and Islam: From Prohibition to the Science of Ecstasy 23 Oct 2008, 12:00 am
Islam's complex relationship with arts and culture across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia presents special paradoxes and intrigue in the realm of music. Islam has been used both to nurture and curtail musical expression. This program delves into the historic roots of this debate, all the way back to Baghdad in the early centuries of Islam. Case studies highlight sublime and ecstatic music from Iraq, Iran, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Pakistan and more. Author and Middle East specialist Joseph Braude discusses the history and issues with two Islamic scholars.
(audio/mpeg; 7.33 MB)
Afropop Worldwide Celebrates 20 Years on Public Radio!! 16 Oct 2008, 12:00 am
It is almost exactly 20 years ago that the very first Afropop program, "Music from South Africa", hit the air on public radio stations all across the country. In celebration, we've put together some of our favorite moments from over the past 20 years, including special appearances by artists who have gone on to internationally acclaimed careers!
(audio/mpeg)
Zambia - Rumba Roots to RandB Renaissance 9 Oct 2008, 12:00 am
From rootsy, copperbelt guitarists to electric guitar dance styles like kalindula, to roadside skiffle, and now, a powerful new wave of RandB, Zam-raga, and rap, Zambia offers a rich and generally overlooked world of popular music. This program will delve deeply into the history with hot combos of the past like The Big Gold Six and Emmanuel Mulemena, as well as sample the fruits of Zambia's current musical renaissance with acts like Black Muntu, JK and Danny. We'll get the inside line from Chisha Folotiya our man at the country's top pop label, Mondo Music. Also insights from producer and Zambian music compiler, Michael Baird.
(audio/mpeg; 9.22 MB)
A Capella Night - Live from the Melkweg 2 Oct 2008, 12:00 am
Zap Mama, led by Marie Daulne, is a force to be reckoned with. Their fierce vocal power and poise is always delivered with a sense of theatrical whimsy. Zap Mama deliver a brilliant set at the Melkweg Club in Amsterdam followed by Black Umfolosi, the powerful 12-man group from Zimbabwe. Other a capela wonders include Cuba's Vocal Sampling with an impressive percussion sound, all done through vocals.
(audio/mpeg; 5.24 MB)
Afropop Vignettes: Madagascar, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa 18 Sep 2008, 12:00 am
We make a grand swing through southern Africa, stopping at musical hot spots in Jo'burg, Harare, Antananarivo and Maputo. We'll hear timbila maestro, Vinenzio Mbande, in Mozambique, two of the ebullient dance bands--Leonard Dembo and the Four Brothers--from happier times in Zimbabwe, our live recording of S.A. jazzers the Elite Swingsters in Jo'burg, and more.
(audio/mpeg; 5.11 MB)
GlobalFest 2008 and Looking Down the Road Ahead 11 Sep 2008, 12:00 am
We go to New York City for the annual globalFEST concert marathon, the biggest one day global music extravaganza in the country, to take in some choice concerts by: Fallou Dieng, a rising star of Senegalese mbalax; 84-year-old Dominican son maestro Puerto Plata; master accordionist Chango Spasiuk playing Argentina's chamamandeacute; style; and others. Plus we hear some of our favorite new projects by major artists such as Orchestre Baobab, Toumani Diabatandeacute; and other landmark African releases for 2008.
(audio/mpeg; 8.75 MB)
Afropop Worldwide's August Dance Party Marathon, Part 3: Summer Cooking and Dancing with Georges 28 Aug 2008, 12:00 am
Our August dance party continues with a new twist. Georges invites us into his home where he's cooking n'dolandeacute;, the national dish back home in Cameroon. And of course what's cooking without cooking music?! We'll be swinging to tunes from Kinshasa, San Juan, New York City, Paris, Lagos, Addis Ababa, and beyond.
(audio/mpeg; 5.89 MB)
Afropop Worldwide's August Dance Party Marathon, Part 2 21 Aug 2008, 12:00 am
Don't stop. The dance party continues with soukous Congo style, soukous Dar es Salaam style, Ricardo Lemvo with Congo-meets-Latin in Los Angeles, Hugh Masekela's update of his smash hit "Grazing In the Grass," Manu Chao's anti-globalista jump-up, Vieux Farka Tourandeacute;, Daddy Yankee's massive reggaeton, and more.
(audio/mpeg; 5.76 MB)
Afropop Worldwide's August Dance Party Marathon Kick Off 14 Aug 2008, 12:00 am
August is a flat out dance party marathon on Afropop Worldwide. We'll groove for three weeks in a row, starting with handpicked gems from summer dance parties past. Get ready for a fast-paced set sure to make your heart smile and your hips swivel. Featured artists include a Papa Wemba classic from a 1996 set, Eddie Palmieri at the heart of the New York salsa scene, the African-Latin boundary breakers Africando (featuring Guinea's Sekouba "Bambino" Diabate on soaring vocals), Cheb Mami hotting up the Arab music scene in Paris in 2001, the late great S.A. diva Brenda Fassie in her final year (2003), Magic System's mega-hit "Premier Gaou" (which became the soundtrack for much of West Africa), and Cheik Lo groovin' on peace and love, and more!
(audio/mpeg; 5.02 MB)