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Mamane Barka live in session, plus Commonwealth Connections 16

Mary Ann Kennedy with a live session featuring Mamane Barka, plus the 16th instalment in our Commonwealth Connections series, from Kenya and Nigeria.

Mary Ann Kennedy with a live session by Mamane Barka, plus Commonwealth Connections from Kenya and Nigeria.

COMMONWEALTH CONNECTIONS FEATURE: KENYA
Recorded at the African Heritage House outside Nairobi, home to the finest Art Collection in Africa, two generations of the Luo tribe perform the music of their people. Ayub Ogada has reached an international market as a world musician but here he returns to his acoustic roots and the ancient nyatiti lyre. Ayub talks about his nyatiti like a friend, definitely a female friend. He loves his instrument. This is the instrument of the Luo people (famously this is the tribe that President Obama is related to), and he has evolved a softer, gentler sound' to which he adds his distinctive soft sweet voice. In contrast, The Sega Sega Band, also from the Luo people, play Benga music, the style that is at the root of Kenyan pop music from the 60s to the present day. The melodies and rhythms are shaped by the tuning of the nyatiti harp and orutu, (a single string fiddle) but they have modernised the music to create uptempo dance music and transferred the musical lines to the modern guitar.

COMMONWEALTH CONNECTIONS HERITAGE TRACK: NIGERIA
Nigeria has long been a powerhouse in terms of world music, with artists like Fela Kuti reaching audiences around the globe. Our Commonwealth athlete this week is US Olympian but has chosen to represent Nigeria because her father was born there. And Regina George's choice of music is also very much within the family. The chosen track is "Sweet Sherry" by Eddy Okonta

SESSION: MAMANE BARKA
Desert bluesman Mamane Barka from Niger joins us in the studio for a live session. Born into a family of Toubou nomads Mamane is a master of the Biram, a rare five-string harp like instrument that can only be played by an initiated few. Mamane made it his mission to learn the Biram in order to save this rare instrument from dying out he is now believed to be the only master of the biram in all Niger.

2 hours

Music Played

  • Buni (feat. Mamane Barka)

  • Cara Dillon

    Moorlough Mary

    Performer: Cara Dillon.
    • A Thousand Hearts.
    • Charcoal Records.
    • 4.
  • Sam Lee & Friends

    Moorlough Maggie

    Performer: Sam Lee & Friends.
    • More For To Rise.
    • www.samleesong.co.uk.
    • 3.
  • Tchidem (feat. Mamane Barka)

  • Boulanga (feat. Mamane Barka)

  • Eddy Okonta

    Sweet Sherry

    Performer: Eddy Okonta.
    • Vintage Tunes of the Obi of Trumpet vol 4.
    • Evergreen Musical Co. Ltd..
  • Barbara Furtuna

    I Verani

    Performer: Barbara Furtuna.
    • Si Vita Si - Corsican Voices.
    • Buda Musique.
    • 2.
  • Linas Rimsa

    About Sanctity

    Performer: Linas Rimsa.
    • Old Faith.
    • ARC.
    • 1.
  • Nancy Kerr

    Hard Songs

    Performer: Nancy Kerr.
    • Sweet Visitor.
    • Little Dish Records.
    • 2.
  • Kiauta (feat. Mamane Barka)

  • Jaune Toujours

    Ciel Orange

    Performer: Jaune Toujours.
    • Routes.
    • Choux de Bruxelles.
    • 10.
  • Noura Mint Seymali

    Eguetmar

    Performer: Noura Mint Seymali.
    • Tzenni.
    • Glitterbeat.
    • 1.
  • Ayub Ogada (nyatiti & voice)

    Dala (home)

    Performer: Ayub Ogada (nyatiti & voice).
  • Ayub Ogada (nyatiti & voice)

    Ondiek (hyena)

    Performer: Ayub Ogada (nyatiti & voice).
  • SEGA SEGA band

    Baba otonglo

    Performer: SEGA SEGA band.
  • Whiri Tu Aka

    Matariki by Whiri Tu Aka

    Performer: Whiri Tu Aka.
  • Arc Iris

    Money Gnomes

    Performer: Arc Iris.
    • Money Gnomes.
    • Bella Union.
    • 1.
  • Tcheka

    Djan Kre Bejabu

    Performer: Tcheka.
    • Ola Cabo Verde.
    • Lusafrica.
    • 7.
  • Rodrigo Costa Felix

    Fonte

    Performer: Rodrigo Costa Felix.
    • Fados de Amor.
    • ARC.
    • 2.
  • Guy Schalom

    Rannet Khol Khali

    Performer: Guy Schalom.
    • Baladi Blues Reloaded.
    • Ethnomusic Records.
    • 3.
  • Cara Dillon

    River Run

    Performer: Cara Dillon.
    • A Thousand Hearts.
    • Charcoal Records.
    • 6.

Broadcast

  • Fri 23 May 2014 23:00

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