Pick of the Past

In this episode, Africa Beat's Armando Conte meets Nottingham-based musician Sura Susso, kora player and musician from The Gambia. He speaks of his new solo album, Sila Kang (On the Road), which was launched last week in London, and of his Griot background which carries such significance within African musical traditions. You can find out more about Sura Susso at www.surasusso.com , which contains all concert details and news. His next performance in London will be at Afri-Kokoa on the 22nd July 2011.

(Presenter: Armando Conte, Producer: Charlotte Morgan)

Africa Beat's Armando Conte interviews David McKenzie, a CNN reporter based in Nairobi, to talk about his recent award-winning documentary 'Locked Up and Forgotten', which covers the social taboo surrounding mental illness in Kenya. The documentary won the Amnesty International Media award in the ‘International Television and Radio’ category on Tuesday the 24th May 2011 for being "moving yet constructive" according to the judges. The interview explores the core issues behind the problems faced by mentally ill Kenyans today and the progress which has been made since the documentary's release.

Marina Khatibi and Nagwan Bin Tyeer from FM Chuto interview the Lebanese artist and writer Zena El Khalil . The interview is in English with Yuki Terada' s voice over in Japanese, it explores El Khalil's book "Beirut, I love " which unfolds themes of war and love in the city of Beirut through El Khalil's memoir.

CAN REGGAE CURE A HANGOVER?

This time, GRINGO has a hangover, on a school night... and not much sympathy forthcoming from MADERA.

In the studio, the charming ORLANDO SEALE & THE SWELL plays LIVE with gorgeous strings and vocal arrangements galore, followed by a chat with the lovely ONE TASTE doyennes Debbie & Stac talking about their fantastic soirees.

All this stimulation means that GRINGO's hangover is soon a thing of the past. Oui Madame!

Korean Kayageum Sanjo. Sung, Keum-yun. SEM Gramophone. SEL – RS I 45, 1984. South Korea.

This episode features Keum-yun Sung performing 7 movements in increasing speeds of one kayageum sanjo piece. It is presented by Theresa Thomasulo.

Side 1:

Tasureum, in free rhythm style
Chinyang-jo, in lento tempo

Side 2:

Choong-mori, in moderato tempo
Slow Choong-joong-mori
Choong-joong-mori, in andante tempo
Chajin-mori, in allegro tempo
Hwi-mori, in presto tempo
Tan-mori, in allegro tempo

Achik songs by Ali Ekbar Cicek
Recordings: Kudsi Erguner
Musical Atlas – UNESCO Collection (27)

This episode features a selection of songs from the LP ‘Turkey, Bektachi Music – a collection of ‘Achik’ songs, sung by Ali Ekber Cicek with saz accompaniment. Presented by Seth Richardson.

Side A

1a ‘Set no traps for him who loves’ (Kul Sergen

1b ‘Covet not this world’s goods’ (Asik Engin)

2 ‘I have professed love for fourteen thousand years’ (Sidki)

3 ‘Weep not, mine eyes, God is merciful’ (Pir Sultan Abdal)

Presented and Produced by Luke Branston and Michele Banal
The sound of Africa / sons d’Afrique series
Edited by: Hugh Tracey and the staff of the I.L.A.M. (International Library of African Music)

This episode features recordings from the Luba peoples of the Southern Congo and two Luba subgroups, the Kasai and the Bena Shimba. These recordings belong to the LP number TR-39 from the collection ‘The sound of Africa series’, a series of recordings made by Hugh Tracey in the 1950s and the 1960s.

TR- 39 side A

CONGO BELGE

In the second show from the OpenAir archives circa 2008, Khyam presents a show dedicated to the Egyptian composer Baligh Hamdi.

Do national characteristics really exist? Could this be summed up here in a bizarre musical version of "Its A Knockout" or "Jeux Sans Frontieres"? Are the Brits aka MADERA VERDE too reserved and stamp- collector like with their facts & figures? Are the French aka GRINGO DA PARADA too emotional, sharing with any one who cares to listen intimate details of their love life? And are Brasilians via Angola aka LUCIA DE CARVALHO simply the best and most charismatic entertainers in the world? The truth is out there... in this podcast... maybe.