ON THE AIR THIS WEEK Hip Deep Madagascar: Songs of the North

View it in your browser. Greetings and what a week it has been for Afropop Worldwide as we continue to grow and bring you more of what you want: African and African-inspired music globally mixed with award-winning journalism.  Up next, this week's show is from Madagascar. Salegy may be the most popular dance music of Madagascar. It’s a churning, harmonious groove with spine-stiffening vocal harmonies that emerged from towns and cities of northern Madagascar in the mid-20th century. On a trip to Diego Suarez, we learn that salegy’s older origins are both fascinating and mysterious. We meet young salegy stars Ali Mourad and Jacs, and speak with the genre’s reigning legend, Jaojoby, on the roof of his nightclub in Antananarivo. Along the way we visit a music school in Diego and hear blazing guitar riffs and get a finger-picking tour of the entire island with guitar maestro Hajazz. Working ourselves backwards, the week ended with a bang and a first for African contemporary music. Check the show out here  Afropop Worldwide recognized Earth Day, and Mukwae reviewed Bomba Estéreo’s new single, “Tierra” off the album Deja (Sony, 2021). The album is a spiritual quest of an electronic Colombian fusion band to save the planet one song at a time. Exploring ritual and the elements of the earth: Agua (Water), Aire (Air), Tierra (Earth), and Fuego (Fire), Bomba Estéreo shares a potpourri of alternative rap, reggae, reggaetón and other African-inspired genres, culminating in a song deftly mixed by Damian Taylor. Mista Savona on Havana Meets Kingston, Part 2. Jake Savona is the producer behind Havana Meets Kingston. After the project’s debut album release in 2017, a version of the band—combining musicians from these two musical powerhouses in the Caribbean islands—toured twice. Then came the pandemic. By then, Savona was well into creating a follow-up album—Havana Meets Kingston, Part 2. But after a pause the work continued, and now the follow-up album is here. It’s an ingenious, varied and rollicking set of tunes featuring some extraordinary artists, including the legendary Jamaican rhythm section of Sly and Robbie, and Cuban-funk rising star Cimafunk. Afropop’s Banning Eyre reached Savona—who goes by Mista Savona—at his home in Australia to discuss the project. Here’s their conversation with Afropop Worldwide's Banning Eyre.   If you couldn't get a tickets to see Burna Boy you can catch his free Youtube livestream here.  If you happen to be in New York this coming week, World Music Institute presents, Amadou & Mariam and the Blind Boys of Alabama on May 5, 2022 at thetownhall.org  Valerie June makes a visit to the Town Hall May 4.  thetownhall.org  Youssou N’dour performs at Carnegie Hall on May13. carnegiehall.org Vieux Farka Touré is at Le Poisson Rouge on May 20 www.lpr.com Natu Camara plays City Winery on May 22. citywinery.com citywinery.com   Dance Africa at Brooklyn Academy of Music May 27-30. https://www.bam.org/danceafrica2022 Have a great week! -Sean and the Afropop Crew We're social:   Copyright © 2022 Afropop Worldwide, All rights reserved.   Our mailing address is: Our mailing address is: Afropop Worldwide 463 Lincoln Place, Unit # 246 Brooklyn, New York 11238   Hey there, you're receiving this e-mail because you signed up via our website or in person. We send out weekly newsletters to keep our listeners and followers updated with the latest in music from Africa and the diaspora. Don't Forget to Support Afropop Here! Afropop Staff: Sean Barlow, Executive Producer Banning Eyre, Senior Editor Michael Jones, Chief Audio Engineer (jonesaudio.com) Mukwae Wabei Siyolwe, Director of New Media and Operations CC Smith, Editor at Large