Ritmundo Music & Politics
About 65 years and 50 years of liberation in Africa, about Live Aid and about a special fusion.
1960 and 1975: Liberation in Africa,
This episode of Ritmundo focuses on music & politics, especially from Africa. After all, no fewer than sixteen countries will be commemorating 65 years of independence from their former colonisers, England and France, this summer. At the same time, five former Portuguese colonies, including Angola and Cape Verde, celebrate their 50th anniversary of liberation. In 2020, Ritmundo already dedicated two programmes to the 60th and 45th anniversaries of independence. They explored the new momentum and the search for a unique musical identity in all its aspects. They are repeated on 25 July and 22 August.
1985: Live Aid
Another ‘anniversary’. On 13 July, it has been forty years since the Western pop aristocracy united during Live Aid. A global television spectacle broadcast from London and Philadelphia to raise money for “starving Ethiopia”. Under the name Band Aid all kinds of national projects emerged, bringing together pop artists from various countries and continents: such as Canada, France and Latin America. African artists were ‘forgotten’, so that they manifested themselves through the band aid-project Tam Tam Pour L’Ethiopie. Since then, the pop & charity tandem has been unstoppable: from Farm Aid to Ferry Aid, from Live 8 to Live Earth.
2025
In 2025, the combination of music and politics has virtually evaporated.Therefore we will highlight an Iranian artist that had to flee his country in 2011. Hamid Reza Behzadian ended up in the Nederlands and has since emerged as a string prodigy. On his debut album Blues for Leila he reconciles two previously separate worlds – a kind of Arabicana in which Persian folklore and American blues effortlessly merge.
Playlist
- Hamid Reza Behzadian- Blues For Leila- Iran/NL– 3’25
CD: Blues For Leila (www.hamidmusic.nl – 2025)
Band Aid projects 1985
USA
- A./USA For Africa- We Are The world – 1’35
Maxi-single: We Are The world (CBS-1985)
France
- A./ Chanteurs Sans Frontieres- 0’55
Maxi-single – (Pathé/ EMI-1985)
Spain & Latin America
- A./ Hermanos- Cantare Cantare -1’00
Maxi-single: Hermanos (CBS-1985)
Canada
- A./ Northern Lights- Tears Are Not Enough- 1’00
Maxi-single: Tears Are Not Enough (Columbia- 1985)
Afrika
- A.- Tam Tam Pour L’Ethiopie – 4’05
Maxi-single: Tam Tam Pour L’Ethiopie (ZarJazz/ Virgin- 1985)
65 years and 50 years of liberation in Africa
- Le Grand Kalle &African Jazz- Independance Cha Cha (1960)- Congo – 3’05
CD: African Pearls, Vol.1: Congo, Rumba On The River (Syllart- 2006)
- Mario Lucio- Independance- Cabo Verde– 3’45
CD: Independance (Maremusica- 2025)
Africa today
- Ebo Taylor- Assomdwee – Ghana- 5’50
CD: Appia Kwa Bridge (Strut-2012)
- Peter Somuah- We Give Thanks – Ghana- 5’15
CD: Highlife (Act- 2024)
- Kankou Kouyate- Nganou Balla – Mali– 3’43
CD: N’Darila (One World Records- 2025)
- Kankou Kouyate- Maria Lulu – Mali– 4’55
CD: N’Darila (One World Records- 2025)
- Trio Da Kali- Bagola – Mali– 3’35
CD: Bagola (One World- 2025)
- Keletigui Diabate & Habib Koite- Summertime at Bamako-Mali– 2’00
CD: Sandiya (Contre-Jour- 2012)
Hamid Reza Behzadian- Miles To Find You- Iran/NL– 2’00
CD: Blues For Leila (www.hamidmusic.nl- 2025)
