After seeing Ethiopian-American jazz legend Hailu Mergia perform this past weekend, I was inspired to make a mixtape featuring work by musicians from across Africa. I think you'll really dig this one. Thanks for listening!
An embarrassing caveat: I did my best to research how to pronounce the songs and artists on this mix, but either couldn't find helpful pronunciation aids or still struggled with the unfamiliar phonemes during the show. I already apologized for this (too many times) during the broadcast, and that's not why I'm writing this note. In the process of my fumbling, I self-consciously ad libbed without fully thinking through what I was saying. So I said phrases like "African words" or "African names." Please forgive these slips of the tongue as performance anxiety and not cultural insensitivity. There are an estimated 1500-2000 languages spoken on the African continent and none of them are "African." I'll try not to make this mistake again. – Sasha
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Playlist
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Dickson Omuranda, ft Zachariah Omufumbwa by Fanuel Amimo on Usiende Ukalale: Omutibo From Rural Kenya (Olvido) -
Sunjata by Trio Da Kali and Kronos Quartet on Ladilikan (World Circuit) -
Inssegh Inssegh by Les Filles de Illighadad on Eghass Malan (Sahel Sounds) -
Magnokouto by Orchestra Baobab on Tribute To Ndiouga Dieng (World Circuit) -
Genes and Spirit by Moses Taiwa Molelekwa on Genes and Spirits (Melt) - Break
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Danaya (à Sidi Konaté Pour Toujours) by Na Hawa Doumbia on La Grande Cantatrice Malienne Vol 3 (Awesome Tapes From Africa) -
Yersi Yadda by Songhoy Blues on Résistance (Fat Possum) -
Nganshe by Mbongwana Star on From Kinshasa (World Circuit) -
Ninkaan Ogayn (He Who Does Not Know) by Gacaltooyo Band, ft. Faduumina Hilowle on Sweet As Broken Dates: Lost Somali Tapes From The Horn Of Africa (Ostinato) -
A Me Bayela Do Me by Guy One on Suro Yuama / A Me Bayela Do Me (Philophon) -
Yelmengere De La Gu'usi by Guy One on #1 (Philophon) -
3roos Elneel by Alsarah & The Nubatones on Manara (Wonderwheel) -
Chaghaybou by Tinariwen on Emmaar (Anti-) -
Roddih by Bargou 08 on Targ (Glitterbeat) -
Thus Spoke The Ancestors by Kasai Allstars on Beware The Fetish (Crammed Discs) -
Yefikir Engurguro by Hailu Mergia on Lala Belu (Awesome Tapes from Africa) -
Noumou Foli by Awa Poulo on Poulo Warali (Awesome Tapes From Africa) -
Kunyemo by Msafiri Zawose on Uhamiaji (Soundway) -
Zara Zarakoy by Mamman Sani Abdoulaye on Taaritt (Sahel Sounds) -
Thogolobea by The Kondi Band on Salone (Strut)