GumbObama - Cajuns and Fulanis for Change

More Obama songs!

First we're eagerly anticipating the new release Mansa America by Fula Flute, which drops Dec. 1. They've kindly sprung us a sneak peak in the form of "Obama Song," which you can download free at www.fulaflute.net

You can watch the video here.

Our second new Obama song comes from Louisiana, which once was a solidly red state, but whether because of Katrina response memories or other reasons, is showing some movement toward Democratic blue.

Several prominent Cajun, Creole and Zydeco musicians have banded together to show their support for Democratic Presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama. "Oui, On Peut!" (Cajun French for "Yes, We Can!") is a zydeco two-step that bears Barack Obama's messages of hope and positivity. The video (available on YouTube) offers English subtitles for the Cajun French lyrics. Featured musicians on the track include Dirk Powell and Christine Balfa Powell (of Balfa Toujours), Linzay Young (of the Red Stick Ramblers), Jeffrey Broussard (of the Creole Cowboys), Corey "Li'l Pop" Ledet and Zydeco Joe Citizen, and the accompanying video features a myriad of musician and dancer friends from the great state of Louisiana.

[mp3] various artists: Oui, On Peut!
as seen on thewhirlybird.com

Music of Zimbabwe w/ live mbira

It was the music of Zimbabwe on last Friday's Spin The Globe, plus an interview with Myrna Capp (author of Keeping the Embers Alive: Musicians of Zimbabwe) with live mbira tunes from Sheree Seretse.

Also, congrats to listener Tina, who won this week's CD giveaway for Oliver Mtukudzi's Nhava

Playlist for Spin The Globe as heard on radio KAOS-fm
5 September 2008

Artist - Song - Album

hour 1
Afrida Marimba Band -- Makanani -- Tales of the Marimba
Thomas Mapfumo -- Mukadzi Wangu -- Rise Up
Tendai Muparutsa -- Nhemamusasa Collaboration -- Zimbabwe Acoustics
Oliver Mtukudzi -- Neria -- Ndega Zvangu
Interview with Myrna Capp & Sheree Seretse
Oliver Mtukudzi -- Todii -- Musicians of Zimbabwe: Keeping the Embers Alive
Ephat Mujuru, Myrna Capp, Sylvester Mujuru -- Improvisation -- Musicians of Zimbabwe: Keeping the Embers Alive

hour 2
Stella Chiweshe -- Chachimurenga -- Talking Mbira
Shukar Collective -- Taraf -- Rough Guide to Romanian Gypsies
Les Orientales -- Alger, Alger -- Acoustic Arabia
A Fula’s Call -- Malam Mix -- Liingu
Mo’Horizons -- Tu Fiesta Personal -- Rough Guide to Latin Lounge
Ayarkhaan -- White Crane -- Echoe of the Past
Seprewa Kasa -- Towoboase -- Seprewa Kasa
Lightning Head -- Afro Spot -- 13 Faces of Lightning Head
Lila Downs -- Nueve Viento -- Tree of Life
Mounira Mitchala -- Talou Lena -- Talou Lena
Issa Bagayogo -- Dibi -- Mali Koura

spin the globe, radio, kaos, world music, radio, playlist, zimbabwe, interview, myrna capp, sheree seretse, mbira

Monday's mp3: Labor Day USA

Today is Labor Day here in the USA, the equivalent of May Day in much of the rest of the world and a day when one is supposed to take the day of and celebrate the accomplishments of workers and (if you're not a corporate fat cat) the achievements of labor unions.

In truth, it's a day of when many in the US just go shopping. Or take one last vacation before the start of school. Or sit around and watch sports on TV. And here I am, hard at work bringing you global music; I hope you appreciate it!

Suzzana Owiyo has been compared to Angelique Kidjo and called "the Tracy Chapman of Kenya." I don't know about all that. But this Kenyan singer-songwriter-guitarist has a sound that gracefully blends traditional and modern instruments, creating a unique sound. One of the best features on this CD - and one of the most unusual to Western ears - is the use of orutu, a one-stringed fiddle that sometimes sounds like a Brazilian cuica, sometimes like a human voice.

More liner-note details on the instrumentation would have been nice and several tracks wander dangerously close to cheesy pop. But the compelling music does convey a sense that Owiyo is singing from her roots. While the Luo-language lyrics aren't translated, the summaries tell of universal themes: don't hurry, value wisdom, love your family, child labor is bad. And some not-so-universal themes, like "Kisumu 100" urging investment in the city on the shores of Lake Victoria, or "Suna Ka Ngeya" describing insect infestations. A promising, if slightly uneven, debut from an African artist to watch.

[mp3] Suzanna Owiyo: Sandore
from the album Mama Africa

I'm told this song has a video with some hard-hitting images regarding child labor, specifically "the plight of house girls at the hands of their employers," but I've been unable to locate the video online.

Since the release of this album in 2004, Owiyo has released a second album called Yamo Kudho and, in partnership with Mbilia Bel, an EP called Koko Ka, neither of which I've heard (anyone care to help with that problem and send music?)

Owiyo video of the song Koko Ko (feat. Mbilia Bel)
Owiyo's website: www.suzannaowiyo.net

Monday's mp3: The Buena Vista Rumba Club Loses its Founder

I first heard Congolese crooner Wendo Kolosoy (born Antoine Kalosoyi) some eight or nine years ago, and immediately started spinning his tunes on the radio. I mean, what's not to like about a septuagenarian singer who has also worked as a boxer and a riverboat mechanic, and was having a resurgence thanks to a Buena Vista Social Club-like musical resurrection? Not to mention that the upbeat music was a joy to the ears.

If you know anything about Kolosoy, you've probably heard the legend of his song "Marie-Louise." It's said that when he sang that song, the dead got up and danced. It became his first Pan-African hit in 1948, which illustrates the man's staying power.

His music isn't easy to find, with the exception of the album listed below, released in the last decade. If anyone has earlier Wendo, I'd love to hear it. But his sweet voice stayed with him right to the end at age 83. I haven't yet seen the recently released film On the Rumba River (movie trailer), but I understand it's a beautiful biography of both Wendo and the joyous, lyrical music of which he became the grandfather.

I was saddened to learn recently that Kolosoy passed on a couple weeks ago. The world will be a little less joyful without him singing new songs.

On this song, Wendo is joined by guitarist Vula Missy.
[mp3] Wendo Kolosoy: Soki Olingi Ngai
from the album Marie Louise

a partial Wendo Kolosoy Discography:
On the Rumba River (Marabi, 2008)
Amba (World Village, 2003)
Marie Louise (Indigo, 1999) (listen/download mp3s at Calabash)

Compilations:
The Rough Guide to Congo Gold (World Music Network, 2008)
The Very Best of Congolese Rumba (Marabi, 2008)
The Beginner's Guide to Africa (Nascente, 2006)

video tribute: Reared by the River Kongo (youtube)
2002 Afropop Worldwide interview with Wendo Kolosoy

Mauritania On Air

Mauritania has been on my mind recently. And not just because the relatively unknown nation in northwest Africa has been in political turmoil since a military coup last week. My mind was also led there by a fascinating article on Radio Mauritanie, which broadcasts from Mouakchott.

It seems that every evening from Sunday to Thursday, a man named Yahya ould Taleb ould Sioli (or, simply, Yahya) broadcasts a program called Al-Balaghat wa al-itissalat al-shaabiya (or, simply, Al Balaghat -- "the messages"). The format is simple: Short messages are sent in by listeners around the desert nation, announcing births, deaths, weather, travels, and other social news.

"Radio was what connected Mauritanians, taught us that there was a state, that there was a president, and there were ministers, and there was a parliament," says Mauritanian radio personality Mohamed Lemine Salleck in explaining the show's importance. "There were shows with singers, and we took time to sit and listen to the music, but when Al-Balaghat came on, it was more important. The other world was for leisure, but this was something that could change your life."

[mp3] Al Balaghat sample

You can read the complete story and listen to more audio here.

I can't understand the language, but I can appreciate the artistry in the musical reading of the announcements. The show has been on for 42 years and continues undaunted by the advent of high-tech forms of communication.

I don't have a lot of music from Mauritania, but one artist who has released music internationally is the singer Malouma (full name Malouma Mint Moktar Ould Meidah -- what is it with Mauritanians and king-sized names??) comes from a griot family and started to sing at age 12, inspired by traditional songs and by the singers she heard on the radio: Oum Kalthoum, Hlim Hafez, Fairouz, Dine, Nasri Cherns, and others.

Malouma's music frequently explores themes of injustice, gender inequality, and oppression, though this one is more of a love song. She sings: "With a destructive song / She wraps a scarf around her head / Or slips into her bubu to seduce me / All the time I spend loving her."

[mp3] Malouma: Welfi
from the album Dunya
(Malouma also has a newer CD out, called Nour)

Malouma on YouTube
Malouma's website: www.malouma.com

On the Cover of the Rolling Stone...

Well, not quite on the cover. But SoundRoots has garnered a mention in the Nov. 30 issue of that warhorse of music publications, Rolling Stone. The column Site Specific uses a search for the music of Ali Farka Toure as a launching point to discuss sources for global sounds, including the new National Geographic music site, the sorely-in-need-of-an-update Awesome Tapes From Africa, and SoundRoots.

Curiously, RS calls SoundRoots an aggregator. Which leaves us puzzled. Sure we comment on and link to lots of articles, sites, and mp3s from around the Web. But our content is original and mostly exclusive to SoundRoots. Oh, well. While we're basking in our 15 minutes of fame, have a listen some African music. Consider it a publicity-driven Monday bonus.

Toumast may be riding the coattails of Tinariwen's global success, but their music stands on its own. The album Ishumar was released a few weeks ago, and you can catch two songs on toumast.com.

Ismael Lo has a new album out, called Senegal. Some critics are already giving it a lukewarm reception, and I admit I haven't had a good listen yet. More on that soon; in the meantime here are some older songs from Ismael Lo for your enjoyment.

tags: worldmusic, ali farka toure, rolling stone