Huun Huur Tu at Philadelphia Folk Festival, August 2006

Saryglar, song of unrequited love


Prayer

Justin Vali Group performs RaDeLa song about children singing while walking home from school. Performed at Seattle Bumpershoot 1997


Justin Vali Box Harp


Justin Vali shows & tells about the Madagascar musical Instruments he plays at Seattle Bumpershoot 1997

World Routes in Madagascar

Presented by Lucy Duran
Produced by James Parkin

Synopsis
Lucy Duran visits the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar to discover its remarkable music. She is joined by guides Justin Vali and Paddy Bush and hears the ancient music of Madagascar's royal court as well as the extraordinary and rarely-recorded Hira Gasy. Hundreds of villagers gather to hear a variety performance which spreads news, entertains and teaches people a lesson.

World on 3

Charlie Gillett

Listen Featuring session with Portuguese singer Sara Tavares

Bio

Sara Tavares was only 16 years old when she won two of Portugal’s most prestigious TV music contests. Born out second generation Cape Verdian immigrants, Sara grew up between two cultures. Initially known as a singer and composer of Gospel, Funk and Soul, she gradually incorporated more of her African music in her compositions. Her second album ‘Mi Ma Bô, produced by Parisian Lokua Kanza, reached gold in her native Portugal and was a mix of African rhythms and melodic pop songs. After a long wait of five years, finally her new album ‘Balancé’ is due in February 2006. In this record produced by Sara herself, she wrote and composed all the songs and played many of the instruments. Balancé is a beautiful record in which Sara shows to be a very talented contemporary singer/song writer, that has managed to combine in a subtle and honest way contemporary music with her African roots.

World Routes in Mali with Oumou Sangare

Listen to the programme

Lucy Duran visits the West African Republic of Mali, home to one of Africa’s best-loved divas: Oumou Sangare. Duran travels to the remote region of Wasulu in search of Oumou’s roots, and talks to this iconic African about her music, her background and the controversial subject of women’s rights.

World Routes in China 2008

In the first programme of two programmes recorded on location in China, Lucy Duran explores the music of three of the country's 56 different ethnic groups. Featuring the songs of the Hani and Yi people in Yunnan Province. Living high up in the mountains near the borders with Vietnam, Laos and Burma, they make instruments from grass to accompany songs that were born in the world's most spectacular paddy fields.

World Music in Mozambique

In two special programmes Lucy Duran travels to the rarely visited Southern African country of Mozambique. After decades of civil war, it's home to many diverse musical traditions which have rarely been recorded or heard by outsiders. She visits the beautiful Ilha do Mocambique to hear traditional Tufo songs of the women. Plus there's panpipe music from the very hot north, and in Maputo, the first gig in four years by the country's best-loved veteran band

Listen: Part 1

Listen: Part 2

World Routes in Zanzibar

Lucy Duran heads to Zanzibar, and gets to know the Swahili Arab-influenced musical style Taarab, and visits Ikwan Safaa, Africa's oldest music club, which celebrates its centenary.

Listen to Part 1

Lucy Duran presents the second of two programmes from Zanzibar. She visits the world-famous Culture Musical Club, and meets the singer and 2005 Womex award-winner Bi Kidude, who at the age of 94 is still teaching young women and girls the art of good sexual practice through her songs.

Listen to Part 2