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Birthdays Of Tony Allen & John Renbourn, An Afrobeat Special & South Africa's National Women's Day

Monday, August 8

Global Village marks the birthday of English folk guitar great John Renbourn and also features music from his bandmate in Pentangle, Bert Jansch. We’ll hear music they did as a duo and as part of Pentangle, along with solo projects from both, including two new reissues from Jansch, From the Outside and his classic instrumental album, Avocet. Plus more from August featured artist Tony Allen, from his third solo album, No Accommodation for Lagos, done with Fela’s Africa 70 band – and new music from Ayreheart and Constantinople.

Tuesday, August 9

Global Village marks South Africa’s National Women’s Day. Now a public holiday in that country, it commemorates the anniversary of an event that took place 60 years ago, on August 9, 1956, as 20,000 women of all races took to the streets to protest the country’s pass laws. Global Village highlights music from a number of female South African performers including Miriam Makeba, BhusiMhlongo, the Mahotella Queens, the Afrika Mamas, and Brenda Fassie.

  Wednesday, August 10

It’s an Afrobeat extravaganza this time in the Global Village, in conjunction with the Tony Allen & Afrobeat feature for the month. Highlights include music from Tony Allen as a leader and on a classic from Fela, the sound of Ghanian Afrobeat, and Afrobeat inspired sounds from Brazil’s Bixiga 70 and Spain’s Alma Afrobeat Ensemble.

Thursday, August 11

World violins and cellos are featured this time in the Global Village, including music from cellist Ophélie Gaillard’s Iberian project Alvorada, the Hot Club of the Americas led by violinist Federico Britos, violinist Daniel Weltlinger’s tribute to Django Reinhardt, the musical meeting of cellist Vincent Segal and kora master Ballake Sissoko, and an African project from violinist Jean-Luc Ponty. Plus classics from the Buena Vista Social Club and the ‘Queen of Congolese Rumba’ Mbilia Bel, and a world-rock cover from guitarist Nguyen Le.

Friday, August 12

Global Village celebrates the birthday of legendary Afrobeat drummer and August featured artist Tony Allen in a program devoted to his music – from the early highlife band, Koola Lobitos, and the original Afrobeat ensembles of Fela, to solo albums and guest appearances from throughout his career – including music from the documentary, Finding Fela, and a collaboration with one of the rising stars of contemporary African music, Sia Tolno.

Chris Heim produces and hosts Global Village, a nationally and internationally distributed world music show; the nightly jazz show Night Train, and Crossroads, KMUW’s twice-weekly blues and R&B show. Chris is also a critic and freelance writer whose work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Utne, Global Rhythm, Dirty Linen, and Option, among others.