Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Afropop Worldwide: Soul to Soul: Ghana's Legendary Music Festival

Soul to Soul

Ghana's Legendary Music Festival

In the spring of 1971, American soul music took flight—literally. On March 6, an extraordinary ensemble of musical legends including Ike and Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett, and the Staple Singers embarked on a historic journey to Ghana. Their destination: the groundbreaking Soul to Soul Festival, a cultural celebration that would bridge two continents through the universal language of music.


Thousands of audience members filled Accra's Black Star Square for a continuous 15 hours of music. The festival was planned in part for the annual celebration of Ghana's independence, but also as an invitation to a "homecoming" for these noted African-American artists to return to Africa.


This episode revisits the famed music festival on its 50th anniversary and explores the longstanding legacy of cultural exchange with African diasporans originally set forth in the 1950s by Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana. Tune in for interviews with noted musicologist John Collins, poet and scholar Tsitsi Ella Jaji, concert goers and more.


Produced by Brandi Howell.

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At Afropop Worldwide, we bring you the voices behind the music. For decades, we've shared the rich stories of Africa and the diaspora. Now, we need your support to amplify the next generation of artists and storytellers. Your donation helps emerging talent share their music, culture, and stories with the world.

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