Mar 15, 2019
10 African Cities Known for Music
Music is the voice of a people’s culture. African music is the sound of the continent s culture.
While every community in Africa has its own kind of music, there are certain countries that have more established music centers than others.
We are going to consider African cities where music is dominant in terms of music infrastructure and the culture of music as a people’s way of life. Here we go!
10. Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou is the capital city of Burkina Faso. Baptized by the legendary Thomas Sankara, this city is famous for its traditional music setup. However, you can still find a blend of modern music, in addition to traditional musical entertainment.
THE STANDARD
BUSINESS NEWS
Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli at his Ildamat Home in Kajiado County on April 29, 2021. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]
The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli is appealing to young people to embrace labour unions.
Speaking ahead of Labour Day celebration on why safe working conditions, fair wages and representation are vital to job security among the youth, especially at such time of disruptions to business and decline of economic activity due to Covid-19, Atwoli said unions remain important in the advancement of worker rights.
Atwoli said that the labour movement is powered by young people who identify with trade union principles and values. These members, he said, have the ability to negotiate from a position of strength for, among others, protection of wages and termination when exposed to the difficult economic and social realities of the 21st century.
Youth must embrace unions – COTU boss Francis Atwoli standardmedia.co.ke - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from standardmedia.co.ke Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Four Generations of Congolese Music
[APWW #389] [Originally aired 2002]
Congo has always played an oversize role in entertaining dance lovers on the continent and beyond Franco, Tabu Ley, Doctor Nico, Zaiko Langa Langa, Papa Wemba, Pepe Kalle, and others. We start in pre-independence Congo with the beloved Papa Wendo Kolossoy (RIP), the grandfather of rumba, as he talks with us at his home in Kinshasa. We talk to the man and listen in on a recording session. After sitting out most of the 3-decade Mobutu era, Wendo put together a band of veterans with stories to tell, and sweet melodies and rhythms to share. We also talk with the legendary singer and composer Simaro Lutumba who sat at the right hand of Franco. We catch Simaro rehearsing his band, Bana OK. We also check in with dueling superstars Werrason and JB Mpiana.
But I didn t know it at that time.
So this experience at the funeral of Tabu Ley in 2013 leads you to these people, and that s where you get the idea to make this film?
Long story short, the idea of the film probably happened in two moments. The first moment was when I watched an American documentary film called
Playing for Change.
Yes. That s where musicians around the world collaborate together on covers of famous songs. Beautiful stuff.
Yes, made by Mark Johnson. I fell in love with that. I said, “Wow. The sound is amazing. How did he get that sound?” There were the microphones on camera. I loved it. I said, “One day if I could do something with that same energy, it would be amazing.” And while that film was still on my mind, I met Brazzos and Petit Pierre. Those were the first two Congolese rumba legends I met, before Kuka. And they told me about the African Jazz s trip to Brussels for the negotiations for the independence of Congo in January 1960. I had read a litt