On WORT 89.9 FM PANAFRICA: Music from Senegal and Gambia

On WORT 89.9 FM Panafrica show (http://www.wort-fm.org/listen.php) this Saturday, October 29th, 2-4 PM CST, we continue our World is Africa tour with a musical and cultural  journey across the West African countries of Senegal and The Gambia. The two countries have shared cultural and historical backgrounds that predates the Mali and Ghana empires. The music of both countries is drawn from the Serer, Mandika, Wolof, Susu, Fula, Toucouleur, Jola (Diola), Soninke, and other ethnic groups in the region.

On WORT 89.9 FM PANAFRICA: Music from Cameroon, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea

On WORT 89.9 FM Panafrica show (http://www.wort-fm.org/listen.php) this Saturday, November 5th, 2-4 PM CST, we continue our World is Africa tour with a musical and cultural  journey across the West-Central African countries of Cameroon, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea. Often referred to as "Africa in Miniature", Cameroon/Cameroun is home to over 200 ethnic groups and a vast diversity of landscapes. Cameroon's music reflects its position as one of Africa's cultural crossroads. Although Makossa and Bikutsi are most popular, many other styles exist includingambasse, assiko, mangambeu, and tsamassi. Traditional instruments include bells worn by dancers, clappers, drums, flutes, horns, rattles, scrapers, stringed instruments, whistles, and xylophones. There is no African country as Bass crazy as Cameroon. In Cameroon, the bass is practically the soloist, playing blazing-fast counterpoint to the guitars and vocals.

On WORT 89.9 FM PANAFRICA: Music from Zimbabwe, Zambia and Interview with Zimbabwe Musicians Matemai and Jacob Mafueni

On WORT 89.9 FM Panafrica Show (http://www.wort-fm.org/listen.php), this Saturday, November 19th, 2-4 PM CST, we head down south to Southern African countries of Zimbabwe and Zambia to explore the rich musical and cultural heritage of these countries on our World is Africa tour. We speak with the respected master mbira musician, singer, instrument maker from Zimbabwe, Matemai (born Newton Cheza Chozengwa). Matemai's latest album Shanda Ugarike complex mbira arrangements and striking voice that can pierce hearts and the heavens. We next catch up with the up and coming talentJacob Mafueni and his Sweet Calabash sound, who plays an eclectic Afrofusion style of Zimbabwe Mbira music with West African and African Jazz influences. 

On Panafrica WORT 89.9 FM - Music from Zambia and Malawi

On WORT 89.9 FM Panafrica Show (http://www.wort-fm.org/listen.php), this Saturday, November 19th, 2-4 PM CST, we head down south to Southern African countries of Zambia and Malawi to explore the rich musical and cultural heritage of these countries on our World is Africa tour.

 

Malawi, nicknamed the 'Warm Heart of Africa' and formerly known as Nyasalaland is landlocked with Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia as it neighbors. The name Malawi derived from Maravi that comes from the Nyanja people that inhabit the area was first colonized my migrating bands of Bantu People around the 10th Century. In 1891, it was colonized by the British until Independence in 1964 with 'Life President' Hastings Kamusu Banda as president. Malawi has a rich cultural history and the country produce some of the early guitarist in Africa such as Donald Kachamba. The tendency for Malawians to travel and also as migrant workers has seen their music spread to many parts of Southern Africa, including influences on Kwela and Jazz music of South Africa. Oppressive colonial tactics and censorship under President Banda stalled the growth of Malawi music industry. Well known bands and artists of the 60's and 70's include Mulanje Mountain Band, Tony Bird, and Chimvu Jazz Band. Contemporary well-known international artists from Malawi areWambali Mkandawire, Lucius Banda, Tay Grin, Esau Mwamwaya, Black Missionaries, Real Elements, Mafilika, Ray phiri, Maskal, Dan Lu, Alan Nomoko and Young Luv. Hip hop genre and urban fusion is now the dominant music genre in Malawi

On WORT 89.9 FM Panafrica: Sierra Leone and Project1808 Students

On WORT 89.9 FM Panafrica Show (http://www.wort-fm.org/listen.php), this Saturday, December 10th, 2-4 PM CST, we head west to western African countries of Sierra Leone to explore the rich musical and cultural heritage of this country on our World is Africa tour. Sierra Leone derived from Sierra de Lyoa meaning "Lion Mountains" from the Portuguese explorer Pedro Da Cintra in 1462. The earliest inhabitants include the Sherbro, Loko, Bullom, Vai, Kru, Temne, Limba, and later Mende, Kono, Mandigo and Fulani groups, with the total number of ethnic groups at over sixteen. Located at the interface between the ancient kingdoms of Western Sudan (Mali,Ghana, Songhai) and those further south towards Liberia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone culture reflects this diverse influences. Sierra Leone was also center for the transatlantic slave trade and paradoxically became the first home for freed slaves after the abolition of slave trade. The arrival of freed slaves from the Nova Scotia, Maroons, Carribean regions, and other West African natives (Yoruba from Nigeria) brought layers of cultural influences that expresses itself in the music. Sierra Leone was nicknamed "Athens of West Africa" due to its strong educational institutions such as Fourah bay College (the first university in West Africa), the first boys and girls high schools in West Africa.  The varied musical styles include Palm Wine music popularized byEbenezer Calendar, Gumbe Music by Dr. Oloh,  Bubu Music in the north by Ahmed Nabay, and others including legendary Mende Poet Singer Salia Koroma. In the 70's congolese rumba, assiko styles, high life, afro funk, and soul combined to form popular afropop bands including Sabanoh 75, Afro National, Super Combo, and Orchestra Muyei. More recent stars include Emmerson (Bobo Belleh), Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars (SLRA), Innocent, Blind Musical Flames, Steady Bongo, Succulent, Ahmed Kabba, K-Man, and many others. 

On PANAFRICA: Afro-Cuban to Afro-Cumbia

Tune into this Saturday, April 9th, 2-4 PM CST (http://www.wort-fm.org/listen.php) for another edition of PANAFRICA on WORT 89.9 FM featuring Afro-Cuban and Cumbia music from Colombia. Long before "Salsa" emerge as a genre, Cubans played Son, Son montuno, Guaracha, mambo and other styles with strong  African roots dating back to slavery. The present African rumba emerges at that interphase and combines layers of traditional African music with elements of the various musical styles of Cuba and latin America such as Bachata, Cha Cha, Coumbia, etc.