Washington D.C. is an exciting city in many ways. It experiences a steady flow of high-stake dramas — the 2013 government shutdown, the bumpy roll-out of the Affordable Care Act; the world’s first exhibition of yogic art, the naming of baby panda Bao Bao; fierce lunchtime food trucks, local hip-hop music known as go-go, and […]
Interview with D.C. Diaspora’s Finest Duo: Mongezi Ntaka and Kuku
Posted May 15th, 2013 at 5:24 pm (UTC-5)
I got a call from a friend recently who said she had a couple of musicians she wanted me to meet. Their names are Mongezi Ntaka and Kuku. I hear boisterous background chatter and laughter. She tells me she’s with them rightnow and do I want to talk to them? My mind is making […]
Nigerian Diaspora: Abiodun Koya Sings “Edelweiss”
Posted January 15th, 2013 at 3:58 pm (UTC-5)
I got a tip last week that a Nigerian “opera” singer was going to be in town and was interested in appearing on Music Time in Africa. Opera? Really? Abiodun Koya came into the studio a few days later and gives us the real deal on her career in this video clip. Turns out she […]
1Beat Brings New African Music to Washington
Posted October 22nd, 2012 at 2:56 pm (UTC-5)
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A trio of musicians from different regions of Africa joined me in VOA’s Studio 4 here in Washington for some good conversation and music. The artists (from left to right) are Nigerian Kayode Kuti on bass and vocals, Kenyan Kato Change (pronounced CHAN-GAY) on guitar, and Mozambican Helio Vanimal on vocals and body percussion. They […]
Unreleased Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson, 1965
Posted December 29th, 2009 at 9:42 pm (UTC-5)
As this year comes to an end, I would like to take a moment to thank all of you who continue to get in touch, through email, over the phone, and by letter. All of your feedback is appreciated and very encouraging. Most of the features that I’ve published on the blog have taken weeks, […]
Unreleased Fela and Koola Lobitos, 1965
Posted December 31st, 2008 at 3:52 pm (UTC-5)
I have recently fallen into the end of the year holiday-induced doldrums, and have not had the time to finish the research on several posts I have been working on. Nonetheless, I wanted to end 2008 with some good music (recordings that don’t need much commentary). I thought I would feature what is arguably the […]
Waka and Apala from Nigeria
Posted February 18th, 2008 at 11:51 pm (UTC-5)
In 1965, Leo Sarkisian launched the Voice of America radio program ‘Music Time in Africa’, a show that featured traditional and contemporary music from throughout Africa. Today, 43 years later, Music Time is still on the air, presenting, every Saturday and Sunday, music from throughout the continent, to listeners across Africa. It was also in […]
