There is not time – and I don’t have the requisite expertise – for a broad survey of African music, but we can share some examples that you might enjoy listening to, and which give you a taste for the variety of traditions and styles.

From South Africa, the choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. They have been recording for more than fifty years, winning awards around the world and collaborating with everyone from Paul Simon to Dolly Parton…

From Algeria, the master of Raï, Khaled. His 1996 megahit, Aicha…

From Mali, one of my favorite guitarists and performers, Habib Koité…

Or from Nigeria, the hugely popular Wizkid

Today’s song of the day is from Columbian electronic rock / “psychedelic cumbia” band Bomba Estéreo, teamed with Basque singer Manu Chao.  Bomba Estéreo draw from musical styles across the Caribbean.  They’ve also paired with my adored Bad Bunny for a recent song from his Un Verano Sin Ti album:

They’re playing in Detroit tonight!

OK, we can’t talk about Brazil without talking about their biggest current star, Anitta.  I wanted to show this video because I love Bahia, but also because I think it gives really interesting insight into how Anitta wants to present Brazil to the rest of the world – and make a cross-over to Spanish speaking Latin America and the U.S.

Another VERY popular genre in Brazil is forró (or musica sertaneja): the music of Brazil’s arid ranching regions.  Lots of harmonizing, accordion, and fiddle.

For more of a bossa nova vibe, check out Bebel Gilberto:

And some Brazilian rock!

Yahritza y Su Esencia are a great example of the the strength of Latino music in the US, and the way regional Latin American musical styles are being re-imagined by U.S. Latino communities.  And they are a good example of how social media can sometimes allow talented artists to gain national attention: Yahritza e Su Esencia were first discovered when a song cover they recorded went viral on TikTok.

The band is comprised of a trio of siblings from Yakima, Washington: Yahritza (the singer) is 15.  Their family migrated from Michoacán, Mexico to work in the fruit farms of Washington State.   Yahritza and her brothers grew up listening to their father and uncles’ Mexican music.  They use instruments like bajoloche and 12-string guitar to create beautiful ballads that highlight the emotions of youth: first love, breakups, and friendship.

Bruce Springsteen turned the structures of rock anthem to a critique of American foreign policy and a lament for an embattled working class in the shadow of the Vietnam War. Some folks didn’t get the irony. Two chords can do a lot of work…

A catchy tune from the Brit indie band, Cornershop. They took their name from the stereotype of British Asians running corner shops. The 1997 song, “Brimful of Asha,” was a breakthrough hit for them. The version below is a recent remix. “Asha” refers to the Indian film star Asha Bhosle and Bollywood film music, as well as the Hindi word for “hope.” A delightful example of Indian influences in contemporary Brit pop…

Dr. Shaya let me pick this Friday’s song of the day, so I immediately decided to focus on Puerto Rican / global superstar Bad Bunny’s performance at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards. Bad Bunny has been the most streamed artist on Spotify for the past two years.

Bad Bunny broadcast this performance live from his show at Yankee Stadium, and then Carmelo Anthony presented him with the award for Artist of the Year.  BB’s gave his acceptance speech entirely in Spanish, a first for the awards show.

Foregrounding his Puerto Rican identity is central to Bad Bunny’s work as an artist.  He is best know for reggaetón, but experiments with rock, merengue, cumbia and bossa nova.

I hope you enjoy this performance!

A lot of heavy stuff happening in the world. Today’s world news tells us of war in Ukraine, a failed constitution in Chile, a new wave of lockdowns in China, controversy over the recent elections in Kenya… We also need to seek music, fun, joy. Here is the 2010 hit – Raksit Leila (Leila’s Dance) – from the Lebanese alternative rock band, Mashrou’ Leila…

Salif Keita is a Malian singer and songwriter – who also has played important roles advocating for pan-Africanism, women’s rights, and human rights. He’s sometimes described as the “Golden Voice of Africa.” He tells the story of his own struggle for acceptance because of his condition of albinism. For more than fifty years he has been making influential and beautiful music. This song, from a few years ago, is a tribute to women…