Around the World - Preview and Show Notes
31 October
This week on Around the World
You can listen to Around the World on Mixcloud
The first hour - The second hour
Music this week from: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Estonia, Kenya, Wales, USA, Madagascar, Portugal, Ireland, Malawi, Morocco, Latvia, Guinea, Italy, France, Spain, South Africa, Lebanon, England, Armenia, and more.
Music this week by: Alaa Zouiten, BaianaSystem with Seu Jorge & Antônio Carlos & Jocafi, Cerys Hafana, Divanhana, Duo Ruut, Gillian Hills, Gisela João, Gwenifer Raymond, I’m With Her, Inni-K, Kasiva Mutua, L’Antidote, Loko Gasy, Madalitso Band, Mahotella Queens, Molly Tuttle, N’Faly Kouyaté, ‘o Rom, Okra Playground, Radio Tarifa, Raissa Fayet & Juliana Linhares, Širom, Tautumeitas, Theo Werneck, Tone of Voice Orchestra, Tuuletar, and Yasmine Hamdan.
This week’s Featured Album is Kasiva Mutua’s Desturi
NDIKWETEELA - Kasiva Mutua
Kasiva Mutua, the Kenyan percussionist whose virtuosity has long been celebrated across East Africa, steps out from behind the drum kit to claim the mantle of solo artist with her debut LP Desturi (Swahili for “tradition”). The eleven‑track record fuses the call‑and‑response patterns of coastal chakacha, the thunderous Isukuti beats of western Kenya, and the melodic finger‑picked guitar lines of Maloya, weaving them into a contemporary soundscape that feels both rooted and forward‑looking.
“This album is like a birthing ceremony for me,” Kasiva told Music in Africa. “It’s where I share my heart’s deepest conversations, honouring the rhythm that has always guided me. Desturi is about reflecting on our traditions, choosing what serves us, and giving ourselves permission to simply becomeTracks such as “Ndikweteela” juxtapose traditional rhythms against synth‑bass textures, while collaborations with vocalists Wd Abbo, Brian Sigu and Lulu Abdalla broaden the album’s tonal palette.
Beyond its rhythmic brilliance, the record signals a cultural shift: Mutua expands her artistry from percussionist to songwriter, guitarist, and producer, positioning herself as a leading figure in the renaissance of African‑centric popular music worldmusiccentral.org. Desturi thus stands as a bold statement—honouring heritage while charting a progressive path for the continent’s musical future.
Sources: Music In Africa - Odri Media - Bandcamp
Okra Playground - Varjon viemä (single teaser)
Okra Playground is a Finnish electro-folk ensemble that blends ancient Nordic traditions with modern soundscapes. From Helsinki, the group features three powerful female vocalists and a rich palette of instruments including kantele, bowed lyre, fiddle, and accordion, layered with electric bass and pulsing percussion. Their music is both haunting and exhilarating—rooted in Finnish mythology yet boldly contemporary. Their 2023 album Itku won Best European Album at the Songlines Music Awards, cementing their place as one of the most compelling voices in modern folk. Ethereal, fierce, and deeply evocative.
Sources: Okra Playground
Alaa Zouiten - SHMISHA (Fandangos) - Official Video
Alaa Zouiten is a Moroccan-born oud virtuoso and composer whose music bridges the traditions of the Maghreb with the spirit of flamenco. Based in Germany since 2009, he’s known for his genre-defying compositions that weave Andalusian melodies, jazz harmonies, and Arabic rhythms into a compelling sonic tapestry. His project Aficionado – Flamenco Moro showcases this fusion, with pieces that move fluidly between fandangos, soleás, and North African nuba forms. Zouiten’s work is both technically masterful and emotionally resonant—a bold celebration of shared musical heritage.
Sources: alaazouiten.com World Music Central folkandhoney.co.uk.
Where and when to hear Around the World
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)
Waterwaves Radio: 9:00 pm GMT (22:00 CET)
Saturday:
Best City Radio (Belfast) 6:00 am
Power 101FM Malawi: 11:00 local time
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
U Radio - Sri Lanka 8:00pm - 10:00 pm local time
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)
Power 101FM Malawi: 12:00 local time
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
The Illuminate Network 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Websound Radio (Larne) 8:00 pm
DCRFM (Dover Community Radio 7:00pm
Slice Audio 10:00 pm local time (11:00 pm CET)
Monday:
Armagh City Radio 00:00 pm local time (01:00 pm CET)
SparkFlame Radio: 00:00 am GMT (01:00 CET)
Circl8 Chester: 12:00 noon
Stirling Community Radio 8:00 pm GMT (9:00 pm CET)
Waterwaves Radio: 9:00 pm GMT (22:00 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)
Waterwaves Radio: 9:00 pm GMT (22:00 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
Best City Radio (Belfast) 10:00 pm
Radio Skye (Radio Garden) 10:00 pm GMT (11:00 pm CET)
Thursday:
Waterwaves Radio: 9:00 pm GMT (22:00 CET)