Around the World - Preview
28 February 2025
This Week
You can listen to the show on Mixcloud.
Musicians from: Afghanistan, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Catalonia, Congo, Corsica, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Greece, Ireland, Macedonia, Mali, Poland, Sahra, Slovakia, South Korea, Viet Nam, and Wales.
Music By: Aziza Brahim, Cynefin, Elaha Soroor, Al MacSween & Sonita Alizadeh, Duo Ruut, Elsa Mouratidou, Germà Negre, Hajda Banda, Hartwin, Ildikó Kali, Jupiter & Okwess, L'Alba, Leonard Cohen, Momi Maiga, O Gadže Bašaven & Júlia Kozáková, Park Jiha, Saigon Soul Revival, Samba Touré, Saso Popovski, Tempus, The Baltic Sisters, The Breath, Vs Tempet & Diger, and Σtella.
Featured Album this week: La Pata Coja by The Bongo Hop
The Bongo Hop Ft. Kephny Eliacin - Dekonekte [Official Video]
Founded by the French journalist and musician Etienne Sevet, The Bongo Hop combines music and experiences from France, Colombia, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico. Sometime in 2003 or 2004 trumpeter Sevet and his friend the broadcaster Benoit de Vilmorin of Radio Nova in Paris were exploring the music of Nuyorican1 salsa singer Hector Levoe (1946 – 1993).
This was the beginning of a journey that would result in The Bongo Hop.
From Colombia to Cape Verde, The Bongo Hop integrates beats, styles, and voices into familiar and surprisingly new music. For fans of Afropop Worldwide, imagine pouring all the music we feature on our program into a blender and turning it into a tasty aural shake for your ears. You hear something that sounds like cumbia, but then highlife, but now there's an afrobeat. [Afrobeat Worldwide]
Released mid-November last year, 'La Pata Coja' is making its way up the World Music Charts Europe https://www.wmce.de/ and the Transglobal Music Chart [https://www.transglobalwmc.com/category/charts/monthly-charts/]
The Bongo Hop is French trumpeter Etienne Sevet's project with Colombian friends, vocalist Nidia Gongora (the voice of Ondatropica and Quantic), rapper Maikcel (Zalama crew) and also notable producer Patchworks, on Maxime Peron and Laurent Loudier's Underdog Records, who this year celebrate 20 years of supporting the melting pot that is France's rich musical heritage. Silky seductive vocals bring the brass together and Paul Charnay's lovely keys and break outs underlay and interject into the repetitive refrains of Boris Pakora and Oliver Granger's saxophones whilst Mario Vargas maintains a super syncopated percussive rhythm section on pretty much every track. If you love an easy funkiness you'll adore 'Dekonekte' or if you prefer a nice slowed down high life guitar rhythm 'Magica Bonita' is for you, add that to an infectious uptempo and downbeat West African grooviness and you won't be disappointed, making it a must-have. [Juno]
Events future and past
There are two events I want to tell you about and one that has passed (so keep it in mind for next year).
Belfast, Northern Ireland - 8 March 2025: Afghan Women Solidarity Concert & Fringe Programme.
On International Women's Day, 8 March, Belfast will host the Afghan Women Solidarity Concert to end oppression and violence against women and girls. Performers include Sonite Alizadeh, Elaha Soroor, Zarifa Asghar, Eve Kearney, Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey supported by Pianist Al MacSween, Guitarist Nolan Donnelly, Tabla player Shahbaz Hussain, Rubab player Saphwat Simab and Darryl (Daz) Forsythe (DJ / electronic beats). Compered by Amanda Ferguson and Niamh Campbell (Women in Media NI).
Elaha Soroor ft. Sonita Alizadeh - Naan, Kar, Azadi
A fringe programme with events 10 - 11 March will include businesses, community groups and schools.
Special guests locally and internationally will perform with musicians form the Ulster Orchestra.
Beyond Skin are creative innovators in peacebuilding, enabling the arts as the dialogue to assist the development of a more peaceful, equal and intercultural society free from racism & sectarianism.
Budapest Hungary - 10 to 12 April: Budapest Ritmo Wonders to Hear
Budapest Ritmo brings roots and rhythms, multiple genres, fusion styles, and unexpected cultural mixes to the heart of Budapest. Global lineup meets local talent, with Ritmo’s range growing each year: a showcase stage, a conference, networking events and afterparties all geared to inspire and connect. High energy, deep emotions – discover your new favourite sound at Budapest Ritmo!
I was at this wonderful event last your in what is m=one of the most exciting and impressive cities in Europe. I hope to be there this year (my credit card is a little soft after so much travel last year).
This year’s line-up of Hungarian, Balkan and other international musicians performing in concerts and showcases include: Altın Gün, Ali Doğan Gönültaş, Carmen Souza, Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino, The Breath, and Las Lloronas.
See the full line-up and concerts (tickets needed), showcases (free), and conference details here.
MENT Ljubljana was held in February 2025 and I missesd it, but it’s in the calendar (should it happen) next year.
Here’s what I missed - and here are some photos from Facebook. Maybe see you there next year.
Where and when to hear Around the World
Thursday:
LIVE DRN1 Perth Western Australia - 9:00 p.m. local time (2:00 pm CET)
Friday:
Akaroa World Radio 2:00 pm local New Zealand Time (3:00 am GMT 4:00 am CET)
NAR-GROUP Germany – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m (CET)
Mosel Radio – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m (CET)
NAR-Alf – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m (CET)
Saturday:
Flirt FM (Galway's Community of Interest & Student Station) 101.3 10:45 am - 12 45 pm
RCFM (Radio City FM) Duisburg, Germany 3:00 – 5:00 pm CET
World FM 10:00 pm local New Zealand Time (11:00 am GMT, 12:00 noon CET)
Essential Radio Midnight to 2:00 am GMT (1:00 am CET)
Sunday:
West Coast FM Namibia 10:00 pm to 12:00 noon Central Africa Time (2:00 to 4:00 GMT)
NFRS Osaka Japan: 12:00 noon local time (3:00 am UK time 4:00 am CET)
973FM in Singapore and 11:00 pm local time (3:00 pm/15:00 hours UTC – Universal Time).
Circl8 Chester: 12:00 noon
Best City Radio (Belfast) 3:00 pm
Websound Radio (Larne) 8:00 pm
Slice Audio 10:00 pm local time (11:00 pm CET)
Armagh City Radio 10:00 pm local time (11:00 pm CET)
Monday:
SparkFlame Radio: 00:00 am GMT (01:00 CET)
Circl8 Chester: 12:00 noon
Waterwaves Radio: 8:00 pm GMT (21:00 CET)
KNC Radio St Lucia 6:00 am local time (10:00 am GMT 11:00 am CET)
BR2 Pure Gold Radio – Costa Blanca, Spain 10:00 pm local time (CET)
Akaroa World Radio 10:00 pm local New Zealand Time (11:00 am GMT, 12:00 noon CET)
World FM 10:00 pm local New Zealand Time (11:00 am GMT, 12:00 noon CET)
Tuesday:
Shire Extra: 8:00 pm GMT (21:00 CET)
Wednesday:
World FM 4:00 am local New Zealand Time (5:00 pm Tuesday GMT, 6:00 pm CET)
Slice Audio 4:00 am local time GMT (5:00 am CET)
Life Right Radio (London) 7:00 pm
Stirling Community Radio 8:00 pm GMT (9:00 pm CET)
Best City Radio (Belfast) 10:00 pm
Radio Skye (Radio Garden) 10:00 pm GMT (11:00 pm CET)
Nuyorican: People of Puerto Rican descent who live in or around New York City.