Desert Passage: African Folk

This week we pack up for a ride through the African desert.

2 full hours this week of music from the fringes of the Sahara. This area is a melting pot of Arabic and African people, ideas, and music. 

Our first hour features a more folksy sound, including indigenous instruments such as kora, ngoni, and balafon. In some cases this is music of the Tuareg and other nomadic tribes of Mali and Niger. In other cases the performers are descendants from long family lines of griots, the musician class in local traditions of Mali, Guinea, Senegal, and other Western African countries. Most songs in this set are from current musical acts!

The second hour today plugs in for a more electric sound. This is mostly music from the late 70's, an era when psychedelic rock and funk fused with traditional folk songs and traditions. This is the sought-after music of the era of state orchestras in Mali and Guinea, an unforgettable chapter in African music.