April 29-May 3
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Marshall Islands
Roro-Biran Jason (3:08) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEtruoUIgOM&t=8s) Roro is a traditional chant usually telling traditional legends and stores-I also found some that appeared to be to help with activities such as navigation.
Stick Dance-Jobwa (3:24) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlRKxtyPOXs&t=29s) Here is a traditional stick dance performed by the Jobwa people-often for very special occasions. This one is called 'The Unbeatable Warrior'.
LKC-Likrok Kava Club Band (7:52) found at (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVBePalmkc4) Here is a local club band from the Marshall Islands. This is a bit infectious!
Eddie Enos (4:04) (edited from film found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3GhTrDUluI) Eddie Enos is a music legend in the Marshall Islands. He passed away in 2020. Here is a video of him singing live.
May 6-10
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Namibia
Namibia is composed of at least 11 distinct cultural groups. The largest group are the Ovambo who speak Bantu (I've seen them referred to as Bantu). I have tried to choose some videos of music and dance that reflect the diversity.
Collective Singers-Namibian medley and Otse A Africa (10:00) (edited from film found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7pMWQ_LHHI) This is a well known choir from Windhoek Namibia singing a medley of Namibian songs. Their costuming seems to reflect the diversity of Namibia. Here they perform at the World Choral Expo in Portugal.
Traditional Dancing-Kavango (5:10) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG1f09czRE8) Here is some traditional dancing and costuming from the Kavango Region-the north of Namibia.
The Nama People-Nama dance (1:24) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7lNBUjgy88) There are lots of videos of this very specific style of dance and music of the Nama people.
Damara DikDing-Bakuten (4:00) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyCxxBwH66A&list=PLBAF22264DFFA001B) DikDing is a Namibian musician. I found his bio information here: https://www.musicinafrica.net/directory/damara-dikding. This was his breakout hit in Namibia. This genre of music is a dance music called Ma/gaisa.
May 13-17
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Big Drum (2:34) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66JhTOvmFcs). Big drum is a traditional ceremonial song and dance. The drums were traditionally made from tree trunks or rum kegs but I see a variety of African and Caribbean drums in the videos I found. The female singer is the 'chantwell' and there are always colourful dresses and dancing.
Skinny Fabulous-This Island Is Mine (3:40) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cypcRJPbQlU) This is a 5X Soca Monarch winner from Saint Vincent with one of his songs. Soca, a hard driving dance music, originated in Trinidad and Tobago but is popular now throughout the region. You get some Steelpan in this video/song also!
Epic Sounds Steel Orchestra (9:50) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU8Krs-1K6U) Steelpan is popular around the Caribbean, and this is an excellent orchestra from Saint Vincent.
Reggae-Joss Stone with Godfred (3:22) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8dyfKklb8w) Reggae is popular in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. English singer and songwriter Joss Stone traveled to Saint Vincent to perform this Bob Marley song with Vincentian singer Godfred Bozo Olliviere.
May 20-24
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Brunei
Adai-Adai (4:57) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXKVwrWWQa8) Adai-Adai remains one of the most famous songs of Brunei. It was traditionally sung to help the fishermen with their rowing. There is a dance that is done with the song now.
Gambus (2:30) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8rjrOxxBs4) Originating in Yemen the gambus has spread throughout Muslim Asia as one of the most popular instruments. There is a whole genre of music that goes with this instrument.
Traditional-Song-Dang Mengalai (3:03) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDsG-GoBIbs) Here is some traditional music from Brunei. Note the gulintangan or traditional set of gongs mounted in timbaran wood.
Aziz Harun-Senyum (4:34) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG_qgux-0Pc&list=PLwdGCV3gMj5fxZDZ4ZwCk8xHg268RtKC-&index=9) Harun is a singer-songwriter from Brunei who is very popular in his own country and neighbouring Malaysia. Here is a recent popular song. "Smiling, always smile--Smile, smile with me--Nothing as beautiful as a smile".
May 27-31
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Chad