Kassava Roots: Music from Africa, the Caribbean, and the diaspora

Mick Dagger and Roland review Burna Boy’s new album, Twice as Tall.

This is the second of our review episodes. We basically recorded a conversation we had about the album, and played some of the songs in between so you can hear what we’re talking about.  This one is pretty chat heavy: we had a lot to say!

We’d love to hear your thoughts on the record at [email protected]. We’re experimenting with this format, so feel free to let us know what you think. Contact details in the footer!

Notting Hill Carnival, led by London’s Caribbean community, is one of the biggest parties in the world. And London is a city that’s central to kind of music we love here on Kassava Roots. 
For decades, the Caribbean community has shaped the UK’s musical scene, and the classic sounds we associate with the UK like Garage and Grime, have their roots in Reggae and Dub. 

Over the last decade or so, London’s African community has had a similar presence and influence.

To celebrate Notting Hill Carnival this weekend, we look at some of our favourite Caribbean and African influenced music coming out of the UK over the last year. From Dub and Dancehall, Afropop and Afroswing, through to Garage and Grime, and finishing with a question: “What’s your favourite Carnival Classic”?

Kuduro is a high-energy dance style from Angola, with a great story behind it. The music is hard and fast, and the dancing acrobatic and expressive. 
Roland gives us a 25 minute musical documentary, following the story of Kuduro from Luanda, the capital of Angola, to Lisbon, and out to world.
Then, DYP aka Mick Dagger gives us a ripping 45-minute club mix of Kuduro and Kuduro-inspired beats from Angola, Portugal and South Africa. 
To see some great videos of the dancing, and to download the mix on its own, visit our website at www.kassavaroots.com

Zouk, Makossa, Secousse, Afro-trap… the French-speaking African Diaspora have been the creators of some of the world’s most beautiful and distinctive styles of pop music. To mark the day of the francophonie, we go through some of our favourite new and old classics.