Global A Go-Go Classico: From the campfire to the arena

Well, we had some technical difficulties with Global A Go-Go’s February 27 episode. As a result, WRIR listeners didn’t get to hear that show’s ending. We’re remedying the situation this week (Sunday March 20, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): I’m under the weather, so it’s an ideal time to rebroadcast this program in its entirety. Here’s what I originally wrote about it:

Imarhan, a band from Tamanrasset, the Sahara Desert oasis city in southern Algeria, are masters of the warm, organic, luminous subtleties of the style of music called desert blues, tishoumaren, assouf or, even more simply among the Tamashek people, la guitare. Their beautiful new album Aboogi is one of the best I’ve heard in the genre.

But the dynamic span of Toureg desert blues is as broad as that of any music today. It ranges from the fireside intimacy of Imarhan all the way to the coliseum-scaled guitar rave-ups of six-string warriors like Mdou Moctar and Bombino. This week Global A Go-Go presents a deep dive into desert blues, an hour that takes you from the campfire to the arena.

It’s an all-African show this week, with new music from Malian songbirds Oumou Sangare and Rokia Koné, the sounds of the Mande balafon and a quick tour of Lusophone Africa on the bill as well.

Podcast: radio4all.net/index.php/program/112065

All the podcasts: radio4all.net/index.php/series/Global+A+Go-Go

Show Archive

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Playlist:

Oliver Lake, “Separation”

from Matador Of 1st & 1st

Passin Thru - 1996

USA

Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros, “Global a Go-Go”

from Global a Go-Go

BMG Rights Management (US) LLC - 2001

England UK

Rokia Koné & Jacknife Lee, “Anw Tile”

from BAMANAN

Real World - 2022

Mali-Ireland-USA

Oumou Sangaré, “Sarama”

from Timbuktu

World Circuit - 2022

Mali

Rokia Traoré, “Tuit Tuit”

from Beautiful Africa

Outhere Records - 2013

Mali

Kasse Mady Diabate, “Eh Ya Ye”

from Kassi Kasse: Mande Music From Mali

Hemisphere - 2003

Mali

Burkina Azza, “Djanfa Magne”

from Wari Bo

Social Joy Records - 2021

Burkina Faso

Baba Commandant & The Mandingo Band, “Ntijiguimorola”

from Juguya

Sublime Frequencies - 2015

Burkina Faso

África Negra, “Quà Na Bua Nega Fa”

from Antologia Vol. 1

Les Disques Bongo Joe - 2022

São Tomé & Príncipe, 1983

Super Mama Djombo, “Dissan na M'bera”

from Best Of

Cobiana Records - 1980

Guinée-Bissau, 1978

Dikanzas do Prenda, “Chá Com Chá”

from Memorias de Africa: As Grandes Musicas de Anos 60, 70 e 80. Angola, Cabo Verde, Guine-Bissau, Mozambique e Sao Tome e Principe

difference music - 2014

Angola, 1973