Music Time in Africa - VOA Africa Voice of America (VOA)

The playlist features great music from Tanzania, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Senegal and Nigeria. She also spins this week’s Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit for the second week in a row “I Had Some Help”. The back half of the show features a live, in-studio performance by marimba virtuoso Blessing Chimanga from Zimbabwe. He and Heather discuss his latest music and marimba project in Colorado, USA at the Kutandara Center.

The playlist is a mix of genres from across the continent that are unified under the theme of Africa in honor of Africa Day celebrated world wide on May 25th. Maxwell also brings you the week’s Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit “I Had Some Help” and a feature from reporter Bill Odidi in Nairobi on Africa Day in Kenya.

Music Time in Africa is VOA’s longest running English language program. Since 1965 this award-winning program has featured pan African music that spans all genres and generations. Host Heather Maxwell keeps you up to date on what’s happening in African music with interviews and cultural information.

The first half of today’s show features Heather’s special Mother’s Day music and shout outs, including the classic “Sweet Mother” by Nico Mbarga and the Rockafil Jazz. She also presents the #1 Billboard Hot 100 song, Drop the Needle with Fiona Bloom, a conversation with Nigeria’s Seun Rave about Davido and Wizkid’s social media controversy, and a lively chat with music entrepreneur Simon Javan Okello and singer/rapper Naomi Achu about the upcoming US tour of the 10th and East African Madaraka Festival.

On today’s edition, American songwriter, producer and saxophonist Kirk Whalum speaks with reporter Bill Odidi about his upcoming album release Epic Cool and his deep musical connection to Kenyan youth via the children’s music training program Ghetto Classics in Korogocho, Nairobi. Heather’s playlist includes tunes from Niger, Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Cameroon, Congo, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, and Morocco, and her weekly share of the #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit “Fortnight” by Taylor Swift.

Heather celebrates Jazz International Day with Jazz and Afropopera musicians (Yes, that’s Afropopera!) John Kagaruki and Kokui Selormey, jazz fans, and several jazz tunes such as Manu Dibango and Moreira Chongquiça’s “Soul Makossa” and Richard Bona’s “Please Don’t Stop” featuring John Legend. Also, American University Ethnomusicology students and their professor Dr. Salois join her in studio to share their experiences learning about African music by playing the Drop the Needle music listening quiz and VOA’s Anasthasie Tudieshe takes the quiz, passing with flying colors. Maxwell’s playlist at the top of the hour includes new tunes by Tems, Amadou & Miriam, Uncle Waffles, Sean MMG and the Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit “Too Sweet” by Irish singer/songwriter, Hozier.