joy is critical or there is no revolution

Zoukous Makossa!!!! afro groove

Another night, another episode of @stewart-avenue Enjoy sounds of the drum, the horn and the string. You'll be ready to feel the love!

Stewart Ave 2.23.21

Open-World w/ Xela explores a wide range of spaces on the thresholds between contemporary electronic music and provincial, folk traditions across the globe. Each episode will focus on a particular sound, usually outside the bubble of western commercialized, 'global' music categorizations. Expect anything from Dabke, to Cumbia, Kwaito, Séga, Raï, Bhangra, Funaná and more in-between and beyond.

Special Guest ~ Roma Music Archive 

Listen live - 2nd Saturdays, 3-4PM ET on www.greatcircles.net

~Tracklist~
Fazlija - Helikopter
Muharrem Ahmet/Cita Kral - Babo
Cansever - Hey Hey
İzmirli Taylan - Haydi Şimdi Oynamaya
DJ Yılmaz/Kobra Murat - 3 MAYMUN
İzmir'li Ömer - Barbi Roman Ritim Show
EFEKAN ÜNLÜ/EROL BALPARMAK - KOŞARLI ÇİFTETELLİ
Kobra Murat - Kaliteyiz Markayız Havalıyız
Alemdağlı Alişan - Zombie
Kibariye - Tepecikli
Sotis Volanis - San to tsigaro me katastrefis
ΒΑΙΟΣ ΠΟΛΥΖΟΣ ΕΛΑ ΠΑΛΑΜΑΝΤΕ ΑΜΑΛΑ.ΣΤΟΥΝΤΙΟ ΑΝΔΡΙΚΟΣ ΣΤΕΛΙΟΣ ΣΑΛΗΣ ΣΤΟΙΧΟΥΣ ΣΤΕΛΙΟΣ ΣΑΛΗΣ
Σαραντης Σαλεας & Ελενη Βιταλη - Κι αναρωτιεμαι
Azis - Kazhi Chestno
Motrat Mustafa - Oda Mbush Me Burra
STEFCHO BEND - Ritam TALLAVA
Lejla - Zumadi
Sasho Jokera - Parenge hoilanena
Ork Djodji Bend - О клавири те пабареса
Rigó Mónika - Szép Az Élet
Vlăduța Lupău/Sandu Ciorba - Ciocolata romaneasca
Nótár Mary - Csigabiga/Rák egye ki
Horváth Family - Te Leszel A Menyasszonyom
Vali Vijelie - M-am jurat pe tiganeste
Printesa de Aur - Uita-Te la Mine
F.Charm/Nea Fane - Egalitate
Zejna - Saoroma
Fanni Tähti - Rosita
Lucas Maia - Quero Esta Cigana
Nininho Vaz Maia - Calon
Canelita/C de Cama/Tino JJ - Dale Comba - Remix
Dj Rumbero518 - Rumbas Portuguesas
Dj Jesús machado - MÚSICA CIGANA
Rumbero518 - rumba portuguesa es que casari
Romaní/MD Chefe/AJ Wav - Bandolero

Open-World w/ Xela & Roma Music Archive - 11JAN2025

Pendant qu'en Occident, de plus en plus se pensent victimes de nouvelles "invasions barbares" imaginées par des droites conservatrices, des migrants vivent au quotidien des galères bien réelles. C’est cette perspective trop rare qui se fait entendre dans cette sélection de chansons relatant des expériences de migrants africains en France.

"Aller derrière l’eau", c’est atteindre un eldorado fantasmé afin de fuir l’insécurité, la misère ou la persécution politique ou religieuse dans son pays. Ce paradis est aussi fabriqué par la frime de certains "binguistes" (terme d'Afrique de l'Ouest désignant l'Africain vivant en Europe) qui exagèrent leur richesse et leur bien-être. La désillusion à l'arrivée peut être douloureuse : selon une enquête de l’INSEE de 2023, un quart des immigrés venus d’Afrique occupent un emploi moins qualifiés qu’avant la migration tandis que 60% ne connaissent pas de changement dans leur catégorie socioprofessionnelle. En plus de ces difficultés sur le marché du travail, beaucoup subissent des discriminations allant de l'exoticisation en passant par les microagressions racistes et allant jusqu’au profilage, comme le révéla une enquête d'Africa No Filter en 2024. 

Chaque pays au passé colonial est riche des migrations dûes à son histoire, accueillant des peuples qui parlent bien souvent la même langue et ont une culture en partage. La France a longtemps été perçue comme un havre de paix par les Africains francophones, s'étant officiellement déclarée "société daltonienne" après l'abolition de l'esclavage en 1794. Les Africains ont ainsi préféré migré vers la France depuis le 19ème siècle, aussi pour échapper au racisme encore répandu aux États-Unis. En 2023, 3,5 millions d’immigrés nés en Afrique vivaient en France, soit 48 % de l’ensemble des immigrés : l'Afrique est ainsi le premier continent d’origine des immigrés en France. Le nombre d'immigrés originaires d'Afrique sahélienne, guinéenne ou centrale a doublé depuis 2006.

Les groupes de coupé-décalé et de zouglou en Côte d’Ivoire se sont emparés du sujet de la migration avec brio au début des années 2000. Sur des beats colorés d’accords mineurs, ils décrivent avec ironie les péripéties des nouveaux arrivants noirs en France. Quel choc une fois en Occident (le "Beng") de voir un blanc qui mendie dans le métro ! Et quelle suprise de découvrir les tensions entre les communautés d'immigrés qui ne serrent pas toujours les coudes : entre noirs africains et noirs antillais, ou entre noirs et immigrés d’Afrique du Nord.

Derrière le discours pleurnichard des populations hôtes en proie aux paranoïas racistes se cache la véritable souffrance d'immigrés aux parcours du combattant. À rebours des clichés les représentant comme des êtres calculateurs profitant d’aides sociales et refusant de jouer le jeu de l’assimilation, ces chansons mettent en lumière des gens courageux, perséverants, parfois naïfs et souvent isolés ("Chacun dans son chagrin" nous chante Salif Traoré), laissés à eux-mêmes face au racisme ordinaire “made in Europe”.

00:00 · Petit Yodé et l'enfant Siro - Paris
03:44 · Geo Bilongo - Affaire papiers
08:30 · Mamani Keita - Gagner l'argent français 
10:51 · Bill Clinton - Sans papier
12:56 · Lago Paulin - Sans papier
15:41 · Les Garagistes - Bengue
19:12 · Petit Yodé et l'enfant Siro - Bingue
22:45 · Magic System - Un Gaou à Paris
25:48 · Dezy Champion - Allons à Paris
28:10 · Soum Bill - Mondialisation
31:18 · Les Dirigeants Officiels - Les binguistes
34:09 · Djuny Claude - On va s’amuser
37:15 · Fally Ipupa & Youssou N’Dour - Migrants des rêves
39:54 · Djo Le Magicien, Axel Merryl & Tranquillin - Les binguistes sont là
42:46 · KDB - Les meilleurs mbenguistes
45:23 · Slimane Azem - La carte de résidence
50:25 · Akli D ft. Richard Bourreau - Laissez-les passer
51:59 · Michel Admette - Bumidom
54:35 · John William - Je suis un nègre

Photo : Institut Burkinabè des Arts et des Métiers, Ouagadougou (Burkina-Faso), 2016.

"L'Occident n'est pas un Paradis" · Expériences afro-diasporiques en musique

Open-World w/ Xela explores a wide range of spaces on the thresholds between contemporary electronic music and provincial, folk traditions across the globe. Each episode will focus on a particular sound, usually outside the bubble of western commercialized, 'global' music categorizations. Expect anything from Dabke, to Cumbia, Kwaito, Séga, Raï, Bhangra, Funaná and more in-between and beyond.

Listen live - 2nd Saturdays, 3-4PM ET on www.greatcircles.net

Due to the nature of how these tracks were found it's difficult to put together a tracklist. If you want to know a specific song just ask id on the mix and we'll do our best to send appropriate links/info.

Open-World w/ Xela - 08FEB2025

From late night sessions of frenetic drumming, singing and trumpets and teenagers shaking their "waists" by the light of the moon, to hard-driving studio simpa tracks with drum machines, vst synths and auto-tuned vocals, simpa is an evolving neo-traditional popular music of the Dagomba people of Northern Ghana that is rarely heard outside of the region. We visit Tamale and the surrounding villages, meet pioneering producer DJ Ebony at his barber shop studio and star singers including Dickson Gawan, Yaa Naraa and Bala Zaaku and dance along with the Nyanshegu simpa group See Is Believing.

Special thanks to:

“Kumtili” Latif Umar Mohammed and Saeed Alhassan Dawuni for translation. To Ebony, Tahid Abu and Mohammed Razak for all their generosity with their materials, contacts and time and Saeed Alhassan Dawuni for everything: transportation, translation, recording and filming assistance, context and friendship; thanks Mohammed Alidu for accommodations in Tamale and use of Bizung School for interviews; thanks to Dave Ewenson for sharing your research and original materials.

PA 034
Produced by Morgan Greenstreet

Planet Afropop - Simpa Sonics: Neo-traditional dance music from Northern Ghana

Open-World w/ Xela explores a wide range of spaces on the thresholds between contemporary electronic music and provincial, folk traditions across the globe. Each episode will focus on a particular sound, usually outside the bubble of western commercialized, 'global' music categorizations. Expect anything from Dabke, to Cumbia, Kwaito, Séga, Raï, Bhangra, Funaná and more in-between and beyond.

Listen live - 2nd Saturdays, 3-4PM ET on www.greatcircles.net

~Tracklist~
Bağlamacı İbo - Bomba Grani
Rojgül - Mındit Kizek Delilo
Heval Remzi - Yara Mına Bedewe
Hozan Tekin - Zırav Zırav
Azad Medya - Ez Vi Govendê Zanım
Fırat Production - Tulum Halayı
Koma Zerdeşte Kal - Narînê
Serkan Aktar - Kronos Mejwez Arabic Tulum
Havin Müzik - Ayşoke Halay
Aziz Waisi - Xeşxeş
Hozan Muzaffer - Fehima
Cahid batmani - Hoynar Tew Nar
Bismilli Zeko - Vayi Here
Bağlamacı İbo - Cida
Koma Zerdeşte Kal - Zimanê Kurdî

Open-World w/ Xela - 12April2025

🌐 Refuge Worldwide is a radio station and community space based in Berlin-Neukölln.
➡️ More info, more music: www.refugeworldwide.com

Help us stay on air by donating to our fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-refuge-worldwide-community-radio

Is This Afrobeats? - modrums - 24 Jul 2025

"Local Legends" is a mix series introducing African musicians who are considered legends in their home country, without having reached the same level of recognition and success internationally.

+ + +

Jane Nyambura (1965 – 2010) was a Kenyan benga musician performing in Kikuyu language. She was born in Kangema (Murang'a County) and started her career in 1984 as a back-up vocalist for Mbiri Young Stars. She formed her own band Queenja Les Les and released her debut album "Ndorogonye" in 1991.

I have long been addicted to the catchy melodies of her songs, in awe of the minimalistic efficiency of the guitar and keyboard hooks. Her vocals, often doubled or tripled by herself to create an eerie wall of words, cut through any sets of speakers and bounce around in playful call-and-responses with the instruments.

African Studies teacher specialized in Kenyan popular culture Maina Radasafi wrote the following in her obituary for the Daily Nation:

"Wikipedia is not representative of the space that this fallen heroine of Kikuyu popular music has occupied in the Kenyan social imaginary and the cultural scene. Queen Jane will be remembered as the trendsetter of Kikuyu secular music by women. Apart from the Nyakinyua dancers in the ’50s and ’60s, the voices of Kikuyu women were largely muted.

When Queen Jane entered the fray, she fused the old and the new, in terms of lyrics and tunes. In her initial recordings, she would include the traditional folk form "mucungw’a "within contemporary benga. On her album covers, she was dressed in traditional Gikuyu community attire; in muthuuru, which was a skirt made of skin, and huge earrings, known as hang’i. 

Most of contemporary Kikuyu musicians have been products of Queen Jane’s magnanimity. Queen Jane also mentored her younger sisters, Lady Wanja and Princess Aggie, as well as her brother Dr. Michuki, who are now musicians in their own right. 

Her thematic concerns are expressed in the musician’s mastery of the Kikuyu language, and her choice of words clearly captures the idioms of everyday life among Kenyans. In most of her songs, she has directly attacked patriarchal hegemony. Her song "Arume Majini" ("Men are Ghosts") was inspired by an increase in the number of rape and defilement cases in Kenya. This is the same theme echoed in her hit song  "Guka Nindarega" ("I refused to be married to an old man"). In "Nyumburira", she laments that the friends of her lover are discouraging him from continuing with their relationship simply because she is a musician. Queen Jane was never apologetic about her feminist stance, as she once declared: “The fact that men are among my greatest fans simply means that I am telling the truth.”

However, her strong lyrics against men’s abuses have triggered a continuous dialogue in gender relations in the Kikuyu music. Some of her songs attest to the problems she has had to contend with in a career that is male-dominated, and where female musicians are easily mistaken for pros­titutes.

Her music has also been well known for carrying social messages. In her song "Tunua Baggy" ("Loose mouths"), she denounces gossips and rumour mongers. Her repertoire is notable in depicting class consciousness: she was the voice of the voiceless such as orphans, widows, matatu drivers and hawkers who were met with brutality from state officials at the onset of multi-party democracy the early 90's.

Queen Jane died of meningitis in Nairobi after a spell of illness. In death, her music still commands a huge following on YouTube. Her stature as the leading Kikuyu popular musician will remain etched in the memories of many a fan of her benga beat."

00:00 · Hodi Hodi
02:55 · Arata Kuna
06:14 · Ndorogonye
09:00 · Nyina Wa Hardcore
13:06 · Mukingo
16:21 · Murata
19:31 · Ningwendete
22:36 · Tunua Baggy
25:01 · Nyumba Kileleshwa
27:36 · Arûme Nî Njegeni

Local Legends · Queen Jane

God bless the people & soundsystem at LSD in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Enjoy this 3hr long deep dive into music magic from the likes of Biosphere, Earthtones, Sheela Bringi, MPU101, Relaxer, Ogoya Nengo And The Dodo Women's Group, Mark Ernestus’ Ndagga Rhythm Force, The Joy, Moritz Von Oswald Trio, aya, Andrea Taeggi, NEW YORK, FFT, Chypho, Mika Vainio + Ryoji Ikeda + Alva Noto, DIPTERA, Renick Bell & O$VMV$M. 

Recorded on May 15, 2025.

Akanbi Presents Mind Expanding Sounds At LSD 051525

Miramar Mixtape 060 -  IBM Doily (U.S)

Tracklist:
Intro (featuring a word from Arrow & Ras Shorty I)

1. GBM Nutron - Calypso
2. David Rudder - High Mas
3. Leston Paul & The New York Connection - Do Wah Yuh Want
4. Fab 5 - Good Buddy
5. Calypso Rose ft. Machel Montano - Leave Me Alone
6. Devon Matthews - D Journey
7. Voice - Far From Finished
8. Olatunji & System 32 - Midnight Cruise
9. Machel Montano - Fast Wine

Bunji Speaks: Carnival is Woman

10. Alison Hinds, Destra & Denise Belfon - Obsessive Winers
11. Angela Hunte - Big Drum Beat
12. FayAnn Lyons - Girls
13. Bunji Garlin - Big Bad Soca
14. Ultimate Rejects - Full Extreme (Riddim Master Roadmix)
15. Kes the Band & Kernal Roberts - Shake
16. Weird Together ft. RemBunction - Going Back to Trinidad 
17. Rupee - I’ll Be Okay
18. Preedy - Away
19. Aaron Duncan - Can You Feel It Can You Feel It
20. Lyrikal ft. Kes - Unlimited Vibes
21. Blaxx - Rankin Ting
22. Destra - Waistline Killer
23. Lyrikal - Picture Perfect
24. Machel Montano & Bunji Garlin - Buss Head (Robzilla Edit)
25. Benjai Ft. Scarface - Tanty Say
26. Rikki Jai - Leh We Fete (Razorshop Road Mix)
27. Sekon Sta - Kings & Queens
28. Olatunji - OLTL (One Life To Live) 
29. Bunji Garlin - Carnival Tabanca (MeLo-X GodMix)

Outro

RIDDIM & SOUL, VOL. 3

Ambiance ambiance!
An all vinyl mix of some of my favorite zouk, makossa, soukous and rara/konpa. It's a sound and a feeling that took over the Francophone African diaspora in the 80's and into the '90s. From Douala, Kinshasa, Port-au-Prince and Pointe-à-Pitre to Paris, Brussels, Miami, New York. Mon ami, mon ami, écoute mon conseil:

Neng Makassi - Sam Fan Thomas
Zouke Zouke - Nyboma & Pepe Kalle
Come Back - Les Dorlanes
Ce Konsa Ce Konsa - Tabou Combo
Mannequin - Koffi Olomide
Mon Ami - Kanda Bongo Man
Matty - Lokassa Ya M'bongo
Keba - Aurlus Mabele
Soucouma - Toucouleur
Aidee - Top Vice
Rara P'M - Super Stars D' Haiti
Mama Africa - Siassia & Tokobina
Si Tcha - Sam Fan Thomas
Mayi Boya - Moni Bile
Ndol'a Su - Esa

Zoukous Makossa - modrums mix

Zoukous Makossa is the sound and feeling of the Francophone African diaspora in the 80's and into the '90s, from Douala, Kinshasa, Abidjan and Pointe-à-Pitre to Paris, Brussels, New York City. Volume II is a fast-paced, all vinyl mix of some tunes that I've been spinning a lot in the past year or so: a non-stop TGV train of guitars, drum machines and animation. Mini Diblo Dibala tribute up top, "Diblo Dibala il est malade!"

Zairean Stars Show In The US - 4 Stars
Liza - Kanda Bongo Man
Pingui Bill - Loketo
Mami Lolo - Jean Baron & Loketo
Le Monde Est Fou - Otis Mbuta & Matchatcha
Massavi - Denis Loubassou
Sauce Bloquée- Syran Mbenza
Nous Bizoin Ça Pou Kimbé - Mazout'
'Sé Dam' Bonjou - Kassav
Zouk Zombi - Zouk All Stars
Ameya - Geo Bilongo 
Zongonn - Jacob F. Desvarieux & Georges Decimus
No Make Erreur - Lapiro De M'banga
Anonfantsuelo - Monique Séka
N'kembo Ma - Heli Plaisir

Zoukous Makossa Vol. II

First of a bimonthly radio show on @stewart-avenue every other Tuesday 6-8pm EST. I'm doing this show because I miss DJing and sharing music that moves me. I plan to play more new music by friends and more jazz because I love it. I also plan to talk a bit, to contextualize the music and just connect the music with global socio-cultural realities we are living in. 
I stopped spinning in June because it felt like a distraction from the movement for Black lives. At that moment there were many daily actions, now there are fewer actions and fewer people at them, although the urgency has only increased. While my hesitancy to take up space hasn't fundamentally changed, I hope this show can help me and anyone who tunes in connect with radical love, joy and hope that we will need to keep this movement going. 
This summer has been so special, full of community, revolt and clarity and I wish it could never end. As soon as the cold creeps into the mornings, I feel depression and hopelessness emerge in my daily life, just quiet doubt and sadness, and this year it has been particularly strong. I'm fine, just sad about the world, scared for us all but particularly poor people of color. I'm hoping sharing music can help me and anyone else listening process this all.

Stewart Ave 09/15/2020

Zoukous Makossa is the sound and feeling of the Francophone African diaspora in the 80's and into the '90s, from Douala, Kinshasa, Abidjan and Pointe-à-Pitre to Paris, Brussels, New York City but this mix also includes a couple of Anglo-phone gems, from Bro Valentino and Ty-Jan that still fit into this elastic framework. Shout out to @cocomariamusic for premiering a portion of this mix on @worldwide-fm 

Frederik Caracas - Compe
Max Rambhojan - 	Tou’t Jou Pa Min
Bro Valentino - Free-Up South Africa
L'Empire Bakuba & Pépé Kalle - Mama Leki Ndaya
Laskino et le groupe Matchatcha - Mabina-M'boka
Guy Lombe - Mourir d'Aimer
Ty-Jan - Bayo On Chance
Kassav' - Aie
Yondo Sister - Mbuta Mutu
Diblo Dibala et le groupe Matchatcha - Laissez Passer
Phantoms - Trouble Maker
Empire Bakuba - Moto Pasi
Lapiro De Mbarga - Nak Pasi
Satelyte- Malimbe
Zouk Machine - On Ke Rive
Monique Seka - Missounwa
Koffi Olomide - V.I.P.
Lazair - Es Ou Maléré
Le Village Wassa de Ringo Moya - Tout Passe
Jean-Claude Naimro - Avèou Doudou

Zoukous Makossa Vol. III

It was a snowy evening, live on @stewart-avenue Another journey, from Igbo roots music to 90s Stevie and new music from Thaba, plus konpa and salsa greats.

Stewart Ave 2.2.21

Musician, DJ, journalist, based in NYC @zonalibredjs

modrums (Morgan Greenstreet) is a drummer, DJ, journalist and radio producer based in New York City. He’s a resident DJ of Zona Libre with dj tres dos. modrums approaches his DJ sets with an ear to the sonic footprint of the African diaspora, drawing on an impressive collection built from his years as a radio producer and a musician and shaped by his frequent travels through Europe, West Africa and the Caribbean. He plays with a sense of tension and release, emotion and humor, merging roots, retro pop and current aesthetics into a singular experience of communal joy.

Stewart Ave 09/15/2020

modrums

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