April 2-5
Kwela music (4:39) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuKlbQYf3q0&list=PLp1FETxCjqrO8kJsCyr5YiGei3TIyUvl7&index=1) Kwela music is important in Malawi. It was developed in South Africa by Malawian workers. There is often a penny whistle involved. The Kachamba Brothers were hugely influential Malawians and I found this old video. This penny whistle player is a virtuoso and check out the great bucket bass!
Wambali Mkandawire-Nkhujipereka (5:20) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr__w6H0AiA) Various distinctly African forms of jazz are popular in Malawi. We last Mkandawire in 2021 but here is a fairly recent song.
Eli Njuchi-Gu Gu Gu (4:00) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFvqXJ9gksU&list=PLyY75ksF0Gf72lTRmg2WeA_qBltn6WV_O&index=1) Hip hop and rap are huge in Malawi today. Here is a popular Malawian singer.
Black Missionaires-Live Show-Reggae (6:40) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06LIrOIyCD4) Reggae is very popular in Malawi and here is a very popular reggae group in live performance in Malawi (Memorial Show for Late King).
April 8-12
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Tunisia
Malouf (5:54) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4dqqKrIReg) As the musician explains at the start of the video Malouf is the Tunisian music that has its origins in Andalusia-Spain, Portugal and North Africa.
Sahara Festival in Douz (0:59) (Found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMjEzZYlkSU) This is a major music and arts festival in Tunisia-here are some scenes.
Mezwed Music (7:08) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVGWqWbaNZY) Mezwed is Tunisian music with a Pop flavour.
Artmasta ft. Cheb Bechir-Ya Hmema (4:24) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMDn1_x-nVA&list=PLRnnsW_Vi466xoaWnsNcXYDCZvqowbHn2&index=7) Artmasta is based out of the Ukraine recently, but he was born in Tunisia and is a well known Tunisia hip hop artist.
April 15-19
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Uzbekistan
Sashmaqam-Traditional (8:15) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSlkzY4vPRA). The classical traditional style of music from Uzbekistan is Sashmaqam and dates back to the 16th century.
Traditional folk music and dance (1:05) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ngEF7ZEE2Y). Some traditional dance and music filmed by a tourist in Samarkand. Samarkand is one of the oldest constantly inhabited cities in Asia. Settlements go back to 2500 BCE!
Sherali Jo'rayev-Oshiq bo'ldim (Jon ijro) (6:27) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js5e8NhGwQ8). Jo'rayev is a very popular singer of traditional Uzbek music. He has fallen into difficulty with the government and his tv and public performances have been banned since 2002 but he still performed at weddings and in other countries. He passed away in 2023 at 76 years old.
Rayhon (Rayhon Geneva)-Asalim mani (3:30) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCBdktqLhFU) Uzbekistan has a vibrant pop and rock scene. Rayhon is a very popular music and movie star. She has 15 studio albums.
April 22-26
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Finland
Sami Music-Berit Margrethe Oskal-Ancient Forces (3:06) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qA7GDkKZJk) The Sami are the people of the northern most regions of Finland, Sweden and Norway. Here is some Sami Folk with a modern twist. This is very reminiscent of a lot of indigenous music from Canada for me.
Kalevala Music-Värttinä-Lasetus (4:09) (found athttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlSPnk7j8DM) Kalevala is one of the two types of traditional folk music from Finland. Here is a well known group that does Kalevala.
Pelimanni-JPP-Hale-Bop Live (4:33) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i-3wxSWIO8) The other type of folk music is Pelimanni. This music traditionally featured fiddles and clarinets. Here is a well known group in this style-JPP.
Nighwish-Over the Hills and Far Away (3:55) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwED4C5FJuo) Metal and Rock music are popular in Finland. Here is the third best selling group of all time in Finland with lead singer Tarja Turner.