Panafrica on WORT 89.9 FM: Big Band Show

Listen live this Saturday (January 15, 2-4 PM CST)(http://www.wort-fm.org/listen.php) as we explore various music from the BigBand Era of the 50's, 60's, and 70's in Africa. These were exciting times for African music in all dimensions. On the political front, independence movements and nationalism was riding high amidst western ideological battles of capitalism, socialism and Marxist-Lenninist doctrines. Yet the biggest and often silent movement was happening in the social front with cultural exchanges fueled by Pan African movements in the US, Caribbean, and Latin America. We have some exciting original and rare records/cuts from some of Africa's foremost Big Bands of the era. 

South African Music Show

South Africa has arguably one of the most beautiful natural landscapes with varied wildlife, conducive climate, and vast wealth in the form of diamond, gold, copper, and other mineral resources. For this reasons, the tenacity of white rule in S/Africa is unparalleled on the continent and required great deal of violence/pressure to bring an end to apartheid and release of Nelson Mandela.

In the musical arena, South Africa has given us some of the most memorable voices from the African continent-the soaring, passionate alto of Miriam Makeba, the purr and pounce of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the amazing sub-bass groaning of Mahlathini and many others. Such vocal virtuosity is not surprising coming from a land where Zulus, Xhosas and Sothos have for centuries celebrated life's large and small moments with song.

Mandjou Mara and Kikeh Mato on Panafrica show

Our studio guest on Panafrica is Guinean Master Drummer and local musician Mandjou Mara and the Kikeh Mato Afropop Band. Mandjou is a professional Djembe Fola with extensive knowledge of the drum styles, beats, and dances of the Mandika and susso people of Guinea, Mali, Senegal and other West African states. He leads a professional dance company Limanya in Madison and also instructs dance classes. His band Kikeh Mato (Watch the moon in Susso language) is composed of traditional and modern string elements, with salif keita, Ibro Diabate and Espoire Coronthin (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAphQktyVxU&feature=related) as musical influences..Tune in and join us on the hour..

African Diaspora: India, Garifuna, Central America, South America & Caribbeana

On this show, we continue exploring & celebrating the African diaspora with music from the Sidis of India and Garifuna  culture of central America. Both groups have been largely ignored in discussion of the African diaspora. The Sidis are Indians of African descent, whose origins out of Africa is largely unknown; though many theories exist. The Garifuna are descendant of West African slaves who survived a ship wreck and were rescued by Amerindians. Geographically, they inhabit Honduras, Nicaragua, Belize, and Guatemala. Both groups have lost their native African languages but reconnect with African culture through music. Next stops...Bahia ( Brazil), then Colombia (Coumbia), head down to Peru (Afro peruvian) , and hit the islands from Trinidad & Tobago through Haiti, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Martinique and Guadeloupe.