Me mueve el tambó

Sun, Jun 8, 2025

The sound of the band Bejuco is based on currulao, the traditional marimba music of Colombia’s Pacific coast. But they’ve added a new beat to it: the polyrhythmic funk of Nigerian Afrobeat. Turns out it’s a great pairing, as you’ll hear this week when I play a track from Bejuco’s superb new album Machete, alongside new Afrobeat from Soothsayers and Femi Kuti.

Also this week (Sunday June 8, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): Comrades, get ready for Brivele’s Yiddish folk against fascism; the rediscovery of Ibex Band of Ethiopia’s Stereo Instrumental Music; champeta from Colombia’s Caribbean coast, including new tracks from veteran bands Grupo Son San and Estrellas del Caribe; another veteran band makes a comeback: Grupo Pilon from Cabo Verde via Luxembourg; and some zouk and mini jazz from the French Antilles.

Podcast: radio4all.net/program/120346
All the podcasts: radio4all.net/series/Global%20A%20Go-Go

Show archive

Playlist

Oliver Lake, “Separation”

from Matador Of 1st & 1st

Passin Thru - 1996

USA

Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros, “Global a Go-Go”

from Global a Go-Go

BMG Rights Management (US) LLC - 2001

England UK

Brivele, “Rumanye iz Amerike”

from Khaveyrim Zayt Greyt

Borscht Beat - 2025

USA

Daniel Kahn & The Painted Bird, “March of the Jobless Corps”

from Lost Causes

Oriente - 2010

USA-Germany

Goran Bregović, “Bella Ciao (feat. The Wedding and Funeral Orchestra)”

from Champagne for Gypsies

Wrasse Records - 2012

Bosnia & Herzegovina-Serbia-North Macedonia-Bulgaria

Mulatu Astatke, “Yekatit”

from Ethio Jazz

P-VINE RECORDS - 1974

Ethiopia

Hailu Mergia & The Walias, “Tche Belew”

from Tche Belew

Awesome Tapes From Africa - 2014

Ethiopia, 1977

Ibex Band, “Meleyayet Mot Naw (መለያየት ሞት ነው)”

from Stereo Instrumental Music

Muzikawi - 2025

Ethiopia, 1976

La Francachela, “Mosquita Muerta”

from La Locura de Machuca (1975-1980)

Analog Africa - 2020

Colombia, 1970s

Grupo Son San, “La Hamaca”

from La Hamaca - Single

OM Produccions Music - 2025

Colombia

Ane Swing, “La Canasta de Jordán”

from El Rey del Caribe

Palenque Records & Ane Swing - 2022

Colombia, 1994

Estrellas del Caribe, “Tiempos Difíciles”

from La Terapia de Palenque

Polen - 2025

Colombia

Abelardo Carbono, “La Negra Kulengue”

from El Maravilloso Mundo De Aberlardo Carbonó

Vampisoul - 2013

Colombia, 1982

Soothsayers, “Fly Higher”

from Fly Higher - Single

Wah Wah 45s LTD - 2025

England UK

Femi Kuti, “Corruption na Stealing”

from Journey Through Life

Partisan Records - 2025

Nigeria

Bejuco, “Me Mueve el Tambó”

from Machete

Llorona Records - 2025

Colombia

Grupo Pilon, “Cecilia”

from Nu Sta Li

El Palmas - 2025

Cabo Verde-Luxembourg

Pedrinho, “Odio Sem Valor”

from Space Echo: The Mystery Behind the Cosmic Sound of Cabo Verde Finally Revealed! (Analog Africa No. 20)

Analog Africa - 2018

Cabo Verde-Portugal, 1980