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Michael Mwenso. Josh Kohn/Courtesy of the artist
Playlist
Big Bill Broonzy, Black, Brown And White
Mahalia Jackson, How I Got Over
James Brown, I Don t Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (Open Up The Door I ll Get It Myself)
Yes, Release, Release
The name Michael Mwenso should be familiar to
World Cafe listeners. Mwenso is an artist, activist and ambassador who leads the band Mwenso and the Shakes. When they were our guests last year, we heard the band perform and Mwenso told stories about being born in Africa and growing up in England. As a boy, Mwenso befriended James Brown and was invited to sing and dance with him on stage.