World Tracks
World Tracks meets the makers and shakers in the world of music. On-the-spot reporting from the five continents, to find out what is behind the sounds shaking and shaping our world.
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A Mardi Gras song and dance about books during Christmas
In New Orleans, The Guardians of the Flame Maroon Society, a Mardi Gras Black Masking group, encourages children to read through an annual ceremony, during the Christmas holiday season, which is a feast for the eyes and ears.26/12/201807:16 -
World Tracks music chart
RFI maintains a proud tradition of monitoring what is best in the world of music with a monthly look at the top album releases making ripples in the industry. Updated at the end of each month, it has links to the artists' websites or information that provides listeners with the background to the albums.18/06/2011 -
World Tracks music chart April May 2011
RFI maintains a proud tradition of monitoring what is best in the world of music with a monthly look at the top album releases making ripples in the industry. Updated at the end of each month, it has links to the artists' websites or information that provides listeners with the background to the albums.25/04/2011 -
Brazilian beats and Cameroonian slam
Carlinhos Brown, or "Carlito Marron" as he likes to be called, is one of Brazil's most dynamic percussionists, as well as being a singer, producer and cultural promoter. Hailing from Salvador de Bahia, Brown has energy to sell. The 48-year-old has been actively involved in schooling kids in the slums of his native Candeal neighborhood for over a decade.25/03/201122:23 -
Riots replace Western Sahara festival
In Western Sahara, to the south of Morocco, a festival of music and sports was cancelled amid scenes of violence. The annual gathering in the desert town of Dakhla was supposed to feature the likes of Daby Toure, Johnny Clegg and Alpha Blondy. Instead, the youth danced to the tune of riot police, stones and rampaging mobs.18/03/201122:48 -
Rootsy riches from Senegal's Senaya and Portugal's Frei Fado d'El Rei
Senaya is a young singer from Senegal, Guadeloupe, Canada and plenty more. She has been performing in Montreal since 1996. Too bad she hasn't been able to convert all that inspiration into more recordings than those on her debut album. Its 13 songs were nominated for a prestigious Juno Award in 2006, but since then, there’s been nothing to sink our teeth into.11/03/201120:55 -
Actitud Maria Marta and Conversa Ribeira - two trios worlds apart
In Mexico and Portugal we meet two artists who perform as part of trios that are worlds apart. Brazilian band Conversa Ribeira and female hip-hopping group Actitud Maria Marta are the focus of a growing number of fans, with the latter finding most of their fanbase in Argentina.04/03/201121:10 -
Meet the artists supporting the Tunisian Revolution
World Tracks this week covers the homage by top North African artists to the revolutions shaking up the Arab world. Dhafer Youssef, Emel Marthlouthi, Idir and Souad Massi were just some of the artists adding their voices to a chorus of musicians applauding the transformations in Tunisia and Egypt, and calling for more freedom in other beleaguered nations. And we also enjoy the joyful tunes by Honduran Aurelio Martinez as he releases Laru Beya, a wonderful follow-up to his debut album Garifuna Soul.25/02/201120:56 -
Kleztory and Warsaw Village Band revive eastern European music with a modern twist
World Tracks this week goes to Mexico City to meet two artists steeped in eastern European music, double bass player Mark Peetsma of the Canadian quintet Kleztory and the lively hurdy gurdy player Maciek Cierlinski, who fronts for the Warsaw Village Band.18/02/201120:58 -
Radaid and Novalima, remixing Latin American traditions
World Tracks this week goes to Portugal and central Paris to talk to artists from Mexico and Peru about their innovative mixture of electronic and folk music.Radaid and Novalima are forging new sounds that are attracting younger audiences. They thus hope to resurrect musical traditions that have been buried for far too long in Latin America.11/02/201121:38 -
Russian Sylvia Vadimova and Tunisian Moufadhel Adhoum: artists flourishing in exile
Artists from entirely different worlds meet in today’s World Tracks: mezzo-soprano singer Sylvia Vadimova from Russia and Tunisian oud player Moufadhel Adhoum.04/02/201121:47 -
Tunisian artistes join revolution
Tunisian artistes talk of their role in the country's revolution. Haythoum Achour, aka DJ Aie Thoum, and singer Emel Mathlouthi lived through the upheavals hour by hour. They offer rare glimpses of this political and cultural revolution. Mathlouthi is part of a line-up of north African stars performing here in Paris on Monday in support of the Tunisian Red Crescent . Others to appear at the Elysées Montmartre include Idir, Dhafer Youssef and Souad Massi.28/01/201121:56 -
Thomas Vahle, Congopunq and Cae: French-based musicians explore unchartered territory
World Tracks meets three artists who mix their American, Syrian and Haitian roots with sounds they’ve picked up all over the place. Flute-player Thomas Vahle, percussion wizard Cyril Atef and singer Cae are hugely talented purists who deserve their moment in the sunshine. And it could start here ...21/01/201121:00 -
Jamaica - the birthplace of rap?
Bruno Blum is the controversial French author who's brought out a book called Rap Was Born in Jamaica. In the publication, the writer explores the role of DJs and their sound systems in laying the foundations for African American rap artists. World Tracks meets the livewire musician in his home in northern Paris to better understand his arguments.14/01/201121:35
World Tracks
World Tracks meets the makers and shakers in the world of music. On-the-spot reporting from the five continents, to find out what is behind the sounds shaking and shaping our world.