What's up with el V and Cuban music and Afropop Worldwide. 18 of el V's Cuban connection shows are now up streaming together on the Afropop website. As this starts in 1990, the sheer depth and scope of these programs in illuminating Cuban history, culture, political and music development is not to be out done by anyone.
Hello Ned,
A message from Sean Barlow:
We’re delighted to invite you to visit Afropop’s brand-new “Cuban Connection” page, bringing together our groundbreaking series of 18 programs based on the field work of producer Ned Sublette from 1990-2003. These are intriguing time capsules. You can drop into Havana in 1994, hear what was happening, and meet the stars. Or travel to Santiago de Cuba in 2003 to hear folkloric groups with direct lineage to their Haitian forebears 200 years ago. I guarantee you, music from this era will slay you with its beauty, chops and rhythmic power. (A personal favorite, “Cuban Connection #17” is co-hosted by Ned and myself featuring highlights from our Afropop tour throughout Oriente. Wow.)
As Ned points out, travel to Cuba from the U.S. was heavily restricted in 1990 with little musical communication between the two countries, so these programs gave many U.S. listeners their first taste, with interviews, premieres, and lots of excellent music. As the Havana music scene developed in the ‘90s, Afropop Worldwide, hosted by the one and only Georges Collinet, brought listeners the latest hits, most of them otherwise unobtainable in the U.S. We featured traditional music, trova, jazz, rock, Cuban oldies and more, and brought back radio travelogues from our travels around the island.
The “Cuban Connection” rollout is part of the launch of the fantastic Cuba Music Week produced byBob George and his colleagues at the ARChive of Contemporary Music. This is a mixed live and online offering--both crowd sourced and curated--with the goal of highlighting the importance and beauty of Cuban music. Check out their site to find listings of live events all over the country and lots of fun stuff, including a gallery of record covers, historic videos, music collections and more.
—Sean Barlow, Executive Producer
On air this week is “Afropop Live Highlights,” produced by Sean Barlow. We are proud to present live recordings of some of the most glorious moments in Afropop’s musical history: the New York debut of South Africa’s Mahotella Queens in 1987; Thomas Mapfumo with his mbira-heavy Blacks Unlimited in New York in 1991; Youssou N’Dour performing his international hit, “Set”; Khaled, the king of rai, in a blistering set at Central Park SummerStage; the gorgeous classic Khartoum sound ofAbdel Gadir Salim in London; the stadium-filling soukous party singer Kanda Bongo Man; Afro-jazz sax maestro Gyedu Blay Ambolley live in Accra, and the awesome Kenyan dance band Simba Wanyika.
Afropop contributor Tom Pryor is currently in Morocco for the 19th annual Gnawa World Music Festival in Essaouira, Morocco. He wrote a preview before he left. Stay tuned for a full report when he returns.
The eclectic Boston-based Ethiopian music juggernaut Debo Band releases its second studio album,Ere Gobez, in May. Banning Eyre spoke with Debo Band’s founder and leader, Danny Mekonnen.Here’s their conversation.
Ben Richmond has a review of the eponymous release by firebrand Ghanaian singer Wiyaala. She’s one to watch!
Sebastian Bouknight has a report on Malian musician Fatoumata Diawara’s recent concert at Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem.
Morgan Greenstreet has a track premiere by Afrobeat ensemble Akoya Afrobeat. Listen to “Taking it Back.”
Remembering Bob Marley on the 35th anniversary of his death, May 11, 1981, the latest installment of “Best of The Beat” brings you a deeply moving account of a journey to Nine Miles, Jamaica, Bob’s birthplace and final resting place, by Karen Benjamin.
Finally, Afropop has an opening for a part-time bookkeeper. The applicant must be able to work from our Brooklyn office. Click here for more info on how to apply. We also have a Fundraising and Development intern position available. This position is ideal for anyone interested in building skills in fundraising and development for a nonprofit organization. Click here for info on how to apply, and pass this on to anyone you think might be a good fit.
For New Yorkers: Brooklyn Afrobeat band Antibalas rocks Brooklyn Bowl May 18, with special guest Zap Mama and Ethiopop collective Debo Band. Don't miss legendary Senegalese singerYoussou N’ Dour at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, May 20-21. DanceAfrica 2016, the largest African dance festival in the country, returns for its 39th year at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, May 27-30. Senegalese singer Baaba Maal plays Celebrate Brooklyn in Prospect Park on June 16, with Haitian music collective Lakou Mizik as the opening act. Saxophonist Kamasi Washington will perform at Central Park’s SummerStage on June 18 as part of the Blue Note jazz festival.
Cheers,
Atane and the Afropop Crew
The Cuban Connection
Afropop Live Highlights
Wiyaala Review
Fatoumata Diawara at the Schomburg Center
Preview: 19th Annual Gnawa World Music Festival in Essaouira, Morocco
BOTBOA: Bob Marley, Natural Mystic—A Journey to Nine Miles
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