Rita’s World Episode 55

Rita’s World – SOAS Radio – SOAS Radio

What a day for us all – it’s November the 9th, many of those listening to this program will be reeling from the results of the American presidential elections. So this episode features artists with something to say about our world along with those ushering us onto the dance floor to transcend our woes.

I’ve been away for ages mainly in Africa so this edition reflects that from the Jazz of Ray Lema and groovy Fangool from 70’s Senegal, South Africa’s Busiswa through to the conscious rap of Smockey from Burkina Faso and M.anifest from Ghana. M.anifest’s new album No Where Cool inspired by a short story by Ama Ata Aidoo, one of Ghana’s greatest authors and play writes, is one of my albums of 2016. There is Nowhere cool, everywhere has it’s downside – we have to make it cool.

Indeed this episode features lashings of Ghanaian music including veteran Pat Thomas’s glorious revitalising of High Life and new blade Bisa Kidei who is taking the genre to new heights and places. Nigeria is dominating the continent with Afrobeats and there a couple of rocking examples from thought provoking Tiwa Savage and Dancehall king Patoranking.

As Shabaka Hutchings says in the sleeve notes of his album Shabaka and the Ancestors … Yesterday is urgent. Tomorrow is now. We are our own elder. Our own saviours and sacrifices….

Welcome back to Rita’s world.

HEAD BUG – Ray Lema

JOYOUS – Shabaka and the Ancestors Wisdom Of The Elder

SMALL SMALL – Ocheame Kwame ft Mzvee

ODOO BE BA Pat Thomas and the Kwasibu Area Band

JWE – Bisa Kidei

NO WHERE COOL M.anifest

KO Waka Busiswa

NO KISSING BABE – Patoranking ft Sarkodie

IF I START TO TALK – Tiwa Savage CDR trk 6

MARIAMA Fangool – Senegal 70

FIERTE CHEVALINE – Smockey

NOW HERE COOL M.anifest ft Cina and Ama Ata Aidoo