Africa Beats: Putting the soul into Soweto

Take a look and listen. New music coming out of South Africa.

Africa Beats: Putting the soul into Soweto

Cleaning Up Stereotypes Of Africa

Radi-Aid | Africa for Norway

 What stereotypes do you need to help eradicate?

Todii -- What Shall We Do?

A little music for the weekend. A beautiful song about a painful and ugly subject -- AIDS.

Zimbabwe Chicken to change?

Chicken to change? Robert Mugabe mocked in pop video

Ulale Kanjani

I Need Africa

This video says it all. Every expat who has lived in Africa knows this truth. We owe Africa so much.

Banjo Roots: U.S.-Mali Fusion

U.S. banjo player Bela Fleck has done a documentary and made an album tracing the American banjo to its African roots. He was recently on NPR with Malian kora master Toumani Diabate discussing the project and playing together.

Visit: Bela Fleck And Toumani Diabate: Banjo Roots at NPR to hear some of the studio music and tracks from the new album Throw Down Your Heart.

This is some great fusion music.

Good Music

Tananas used to make some of the best music before the untimely death of Gito Baloi.

Enjoy!

Beautiful Africa -- The End?

The Beautiful Africa Carnival has its latest, and maybe last, edition out. Check it out, enjoy yourself and then let the editors know how much you appreciate their hard work.



Let's keep Beautiful Africa alive. Let's all lend a hand.

S African icon Miriam Makeba dies

This is a sad day for all who love South African music. Miriam Makeba has passed from us. She was the first South African musician I really knew. A college room mate who had served in the Peace Corp in Malawi introduced me to her music. Pata Pata was my favorite song on the album he had. It continues to be my favorite, although she did a good version of the song that gave my daughter her name, Malaika.

Read more at: S African icon Miriam Makeba dies on the BBC web site.

Beautiful Africa 10th edition

Great news! Beautiful Africa 10th edition is now available for your viewing pleasure. As always there are some great pictures, music and stories.

Drop by the carnival, enjoy yourself, and leave a word of thanks to the editors who put it together. Better yet, don't just thank them, help them out by submitting something or pointing them to a good blog entry for the 11th edition of Beautiful Africa.

Africa Celebrates U2 In the Name Of Love

For those who love U2, this is the perfect introduction to African pop music.

For those who love African pop music, this is the perfect introduction to U2.

For those who aren't yet fans or either, this is a grand revelation.

For those who love both, this is ecstasy.



My only complaint is that southern and eastern Africa are under represented.

Get this album!

Zimbabwe - You Raise Me Up

As Zimbabwe reaches a new low point, a message of hope sings out from the hearts the courageous people of the greatest land.

ZIMBABWE WILL RISE AGAIN!

Tribute to Lucky Dube

Here is some music by Lucky Dube. Let us celebrate his music as we mourn his death.

Death in South Africa

Violence and crime in South Africa is continuing to grow and claim the lives of great people and artists. The latest music star to fall victim of senseless crime in South Africa is reggae star Lucky Dube. Dube was a spokesman for peace and justice. His death is a loss not only for South Africa, but the whole world.

This culture of violence must be changed into a culture of brotherhood. The government won't solve the problem. They will only exploit it for political gain. There must be a movement of the people to reject those who perpetuate this crime and violence.

Read about Lucky Dube's murder: South Africa carjackers kill a music legend

Beautiful Africa -- Fourth Edition

The Fourth Edition of the Carnival Beautiful Africa is now out. It's got some great music as well as thought provoking posts. As always, there are also facinating photos. Stop by Beautiful Africa now.

Oliver Mtukudzi-Hear Me Lord

More great music. This time from Zimbabwe.

Lucky Dube - I Want To Know What Love Is

A bit of beautiful music from South Africa to break the ugliness of the news.

Remember Me- Lucky Dube (in concert)

Lucky Dube is a great Reggae star from South Africa. This song tells the story of a child whose father has left home to go to the city to find work in order to support his family. The result is a fatherless home and a broken home. This is the story told by the child.

This song was born in the troubles of apartheid. It is also the story of many Zimbabwean families today as family members must go to South Africa, Botswana or beyond in order to support families back in Mugabe's Zimbabwe.

Listen to the words carefully. And cry along.

Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi - Neria

Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi is one of my favorite Zimbabwean musicians. This is an especially beautiful song in which he gives encouragement to a widow to be strong in spite of her troubles.

"Musaora moyo, kaNeria, Mwari anewe."

"Don't worry, little Neria, God is with you.""