Showing Archived Posts

Vodoo Rhythms and Angelic Harmonies: Beninese Brothers Jomion and the Uklos

Posted June 3rd, 2013 at 2:00 pm (UTC-4)
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Compared to other African countries, Benin has a small land mass. But the West African nation is a giant in music traditions and innovation. Jomion and the Uklos are a fabulous example of Beninese music with this live performance for Music Time in Africa. Jomion and his brothers come from Cotonou, the nation’s largest city. […]

Posted in Benin

Face to Face with Angelique Kidjo

Posted November 14th, 2012 at 7:29 pm (UTC-4)
1 comment

Angelique Kidjo  entered my musical world in 1991 when I was living in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. A singer myself, and thriving with my own Afro-jazz group of Ivoirians and Burkinabe, I was always listening to and even working with female vocalists from West Africa.  At Studio JBZ, which was the ultimate recording studio during those […]

Posted in Benin

Benin Roots-Alekpehanhou and Gbessi

Posted February 4th, 2010 at 4:05 pm (UTC-4)
4 comments

Benin, with artists like Angelique Kidjo, the T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rhythmo, Lionel Loueke, and the Gangbé brass band, is a small country that continues to punch above its weight on the international music scene. All of these aforementioned artists, each in their own ways, have drawn inspiration from Benin’s mother lode of traditional music; a diverse […]

Posted in Benin

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About

Heather Maxwell produces and hosts the award-winning radio program “Music Time in Africa” and is the African Music Editor for the Voice of America. Heather is an ethnomusicologist with Doctorate and Master’s degrees from Indiana University specializing in African Music. She is also an accomplished jazz and Afrojazz/Afrosoul vocalist and has been working, researching, and performing in Africa and the U.S. since 1987.

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