Music Time in Africa - VOA Africa

After 30 minutes of Heather Maxwell's pan-African music playlist, she sits with American/Togolese singer, songwriter and bandleader Dogo du Togo to talk about his new album Avoudé that dropped November 8th. In an upbeat vibe, they listen to select tracks from the album.

In the first half Heather Maxwell plays Amapiano, Maskandi, Egyptian pop, Afrobeats, Bonga flava, Ghanaian Afropop and more. Also she brings the latest South African Music Awards (SAMA) and Grammy Awards news. At the back half Maxwell honors American music legend Quincy Joneswho passed away last week. Bill Odidi presents an in-depth conversation with Kenyan solo artist and one quarter of the group Sauti Sol, Bien.

Heather Maxwell brings presents her curated playlist and takes listeners to Ibadan, Nigeria where Seun Rave sits down with rising star The Pnuema to talk about his new EP Sambre Mesa, his connection to Togo, and Ibadan’s annual music showcase The Blast Yard.

Heather's playlist is inspired by current African his on Spotify and North American College and Community Radio charts. Also included in the mix are US Presidential Election Candidates' #1 campaign theme songs. The feature story is on the arrival of a piano in a rural Ethiopian town for the all-girls school Pharo School. World renown composer and pianist Girma Yifrashewa the installation with a live concert.

Heather Maxwell spins amapiano, Arab pop, Wassoulou, bonga flava and other pan-African styles plus the week’s American Billboard Hot 100 #2 hit. Next she and guest host David Vandy hang out with Sierra Leone’s #1 International Hip Hop Artist: Kao Denero. Topics: new album Heros, deep listens to select tracks, hip hop culture in Africa, and more.

The first thirty minutes feature Heather's pan-Africa playlist plus the week's Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit. At the back half she introduces two female artists: Gogowe, a Nigerian American songwriter based in Washington DC, and with Bill Odidi we meet saxophonist, lawyer, and woman of other talents Analo Kanga.

Enjoy Heather Maxwell's extended playlist of pan-African music and one of her favorite popular songs on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

Listen to Heather Maxwell's 30-minute playlist followed by music and news from Mozambique. Maxwell shares a vintage MTIA interview she did with marrabenta legend Dilon Djinjde at his home in Marracuene. Djinjde passed away September 18 at age 97. She also welcomes award-winning jazz saxophonist, Moreira Chonguiça to the TV studio at VOA in Washington for live music and conversation.

Listen to Heather Maxwell's extended playlist featuring African classics from 2000-2010. Akon, Gigi, Samuel Owusu, Emmanuel Jal, Sauti Sol and more: we are going to stroll down memory lane with them.

This week, travel from Ethiopia to Morocco, South Africa to Tanzania, and beyond. Heather Maxwell welcomes the band Mokoomba to her office studio in Washington DC. They sing acapella versions of new and old songs, including some from their latest album "Tracings in the Sand," a celebration of Zimbabwe's tradition and culture. We also touch base in Nairobi with Bill Odidi, who speaks with artists Winyo and Edward Kamau about their collaboration "Running for Gold," a tribute to the Kenyan running team.