Episode 111: Desert Passage

Today we are returning to one of the oldest show themes here at Tropicology, the music I have always referred to as a Desert Passage. This is music from the African communities on the southern fringe of the Sahara Desert, especially along the Niger River. When gringos think of the Sahara our minds first go to the cultures on the north side of that sea of sand, along with scenery from Lawrence of Arabia or Indiana Jones. The southern fringe of the Sahara, known as the Sahel region, is quite different. And yet these cultures in the southern Sahara region are almost universally Muslim, and the music from this region shows strong influence from North Africa and the middle east, particularly in the melismatic vocal style, with single syllables stretching across multiple note changes, bending tones, styles similar to the droning call to prayer issued five times daily in the cities of Egypt, Morocco, and Algeria. This music also picks up traditions from African communities to the south, including talking drums and guitar lines built from traditional kalimba progressions. These communities on the Southern side of the Sahara can almost be thought of as coastal communities, they absorb influences from more centrally located groups to the south, but they also draw influence from a small but constant stream of traders who cross those expanses of sea or, in this case, desert. Today’s set will start with lovely acoustic sounds in the first hour, progressing to some deep desert fusion at the start of hour two, and then moving along to some deep afrobeat sounds at the end. This is more Tropicology music to set the mood for the fall season.