Afropop Worldwide

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Afropop worldwide is your source for music and stories from the African planet. We explore the the world through sound, from the ancient past to the cutting edge present, combining music, history, and culture. Distributed by PRI.

4 JAN

Johannesburg Meets Detroit: Soweto Gospel Choir's History of House

Our reporter from Texas, Akshaj Turebylu, triangulates the influences responsible for the irresistible, intercontinental, genre-bending, collaborative album called History of House. Our guides include Shimmy Jiyane, a founding member of the Soweto Gospel Choir, the pre-eminent African gospel performers in the world. We're also joined by Latroit, a Grammy-winning producer who got his start with the legendary techno wizards, Inner City. Akshaj speaks to Shimmy and Dennis to learn how Australian DJ Groove Terminator put the pieces together for this revelatory release blending Afro house, Amapiano, techno, gospel, and more into, as it were, a tapestry of "the (global) history of house." As we find out, Detroit and Johannesburg have been speaking to each other for much longer than you might imagine. In this episode we also preview Afrobeat artist Amayo’s 2025 album, Lion Awakes.

44 min
1 JAN

A Tale of Two Rebellions - Zanj, Fatamid

Our Hip Deep edition “A Tale of Two Rebellions" recounts the stories of two remarkable military campaigns in early Islamic history. Both uprisings take place in the late 9th century, both involve Africans as key players, and both set the scene for the crystallization of the Sunni-Shi’ite divide in Islam, which of course continues to this day. By Joseph Browdy and Banning Eyre. APWW #535

59 min
30/12/2024

The Zulu Factor

Beginning in 1815, under Shaka Zulu, the Zulus began a campaign of conquest that would subsume so many other groups that today, the Zulu are South Africa's largest ethnic population, numbering at least six-million. Ethnomusicologist Louise Meintjes, author of Sounds of Africa! Making Music Zulu in a South African Studio writes that the Zulu reputation for courage and style has given them "empowering significance as a defiant, self possessed, royal, and artful African people." This program will trace the rise of Zulu musical identity. We'll hear from Umzansi Zulu Dancers; Lahlumlenze, guitar picking maskanda stars Phuzekhemisi, Bhekumuzi, and top seller, Shwi No Mthekala, as well as mbaqanga stars, Isigqi Sesimanje and others. This is a story of musical innovation and virtuosity: how local musicians absorbed American fingerstyle guitar, Afrikaans concertina, the marching bass drum of the British imperialists, the backing vocals of soft soul, and made from these new elements thoroughly "Zulu" sounds. Banning Eyre. (originally aired 2007) APWW #530

59 min
26/12/2024

Planet Afropop: 2024 Wrapup

Georges, Mukwae and Banning share highlights from 2024, including new voices from Malawi and Namibia, highlights from the Nuits D’Afrique festival in Montreal, Mukwae’s song of the year, and George’s shout-out to Africans stationed on U.S. aircraft carriers. Plus a look ahead to Mali’s Bamba Wassoulou Groove, debuting at globalFEST 2025 in New York City on January 12. Great music and good cheer to end a most unusual year!

50 min
21/12/2024

Abidjan: A New Musical El Dorado

In the 70s and 80s Ivory Coast’s capital Abidjan was a major musical hub in West Africa. After a series of political crises, Abidjan is back. The Zouglou sound of the 1990s and the coupé decalé rage that followed are being reinvented in the era of Afrobeats and African hip-hop. The group Magic System is now invited to play major events in France—including President Macron’s election victory party! The group’s front man Asalfo has launched an annual music festival in Abidjan, FEMUA. On this program, we attend the festival and hear the sounds and stories of Abidjan’s cultural and commercial renaissance.Produced by Elodie Maillot and Alejandro Van Zandt-Escobar. APWW #802

59 min
19/12/2024

Proving the Bubu Myth

Every year on Sierra Leone’s Independence Day in late April, musicians and revelers descend upon Freetown from throughout the country. Parades and celebrations traverse the city, joining diverse neighborhoods with processional music, including one particular local style called bubu, a trance-inducing sound played by groups of young men blowing interlocking hocketed breath patterns into bamboo tubes. Bubu resonates with other African diasporic horn traditions, rara and gaga especially. It has long been a part of the cultural fabric of Sierra Leone, yet its deeper story has so far eluded scholarly examination. This program, supported by original fieldwork and by interviews with scholars Connie Nuxoll, David Skinner, Michael Gallope and John Nunley, begins a serious exposition and investigation of the intriguing mythology and history that surrounds this unique, hypnotic music, through a focus on musician Ahmed Janka Nabay, widely recognized in Sierra Leone and beyond as “the Bubu King.” Written and produced by Wills Glasspiegel and Drew Alt. Georges Collinet is away on assignment: Our guest host is Sahr Ngajuah, the musician and actor who starred in the Broadway show, Fela!. APWW #690

59 min
12/12/2024

Global Griots in France

Traditional Manding (Mande) griots living in France sit at the crossroads between Africa and Europe. Historically, their role has been to weave traditional, oral histories, often within music, to promote a united, peaceful society. As they have become part of the modern global community, each griot has their own way of staying true to these historical roles, while also broadening their appeal to multicultural audiences. In this program, we hear how these international troubadours spread their messages to the world by blending European music with the kora, the balafon, the guitar, and their own voices. Produced by Lisa Feder. APWW #864

59 min
10/12/2024

Planet AFropop: Celebrating Toumani Diabate

An intimate look at Toumani Diabaté through 30 years of Afropop Worldwide conversations. From his home in Bamako to concert halls worldwide, Toumani revolutionized the kora and brought West African music to new heights – winning Grammys and collaborating with everyone from Ali Farka Touré to the London Symphony Orchestra. Join us as his longtime friend and producer Lucy Durán shares personal stories, while rare recordings capture Toumani's genius at different moments in his incredible career. Through his own words and music, we celebrate a true innovator who never forgot his griot roots. Produced by Banning Eyre for Afropop Worldwide, featuring exclusive archive material and performances.

1h 3m

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Afropop worldwide is your source for music and stories from the African planet. We explore the the world through sound, from the ancient past to the cutting edge present, combining music, history, and culture. Distributed by PRI.