Music Time in Africa - VOA Africa

Ghanaian singer Amaarae speaks with music journalist Prince Benjamine from Ghana on the release of her new, sophomore album Fountain Baby. Drop the Needle brings radio talk show, TV animator and Njang musician Ateh Bazore (Cameroon) to the microphone for his turn at Heather’s African music trivia game. Lady DJ brings the latest American music news in 60 seconds with Word on the Tweets. All this and a 30-minute playlisted by Heather of some of Africa’s greatest hits between 1990-2010 at the top of the hour.

Apple music names Gengetone artist Ssaru the Up Next Artist for East Africa. Music journalist Bill Odidi speaks with Ssaru in Nairobi about this recognition and more. Heather’s playlist includes several songs from north Africa as Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr (breaking fast) such as Bahaa Sultan (Egypt), Zina Daoudia (Morocco) and Faudel, Khaled and Rachid Taha (Algeria). To honor Jazz Appreciation Month we listen to Alune Wade’s new single “Tryptique”, Heather plays this week’s Billboard Hot 100 #2 hit “Texas Hold’Em” by Beyonce, and more.

Blast Urban 98.3 radio host Seun Rave joins Heather in conversation about trending music and related news in Ibadan, Nigeria. VOA Africa journalist John Tanza shares news from South Sudan over the unsingability of its national anthem. At the front half of the hour, Heather spins 30 minutes of pan-African music including the 1967 recording of “Mambo Ryco” by Ryco Jazz (Congo) kicks off Music Time in Africa’s celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM).

Listen to current music by Almok (Togo), Tyla (South Africa), YoMaps (Zambia), Veronica Adane (Ethiopia), America’s Billboard Hot 100 #1 song “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims and more. At the bottom of the hour there’s Heather’s Drop the Needle music quiz; and two feature interviews with female singer/songwriters: Crystal Asige (Kenya) and Wayna (Ethiopia).

Ghana’s Reggae Dancehall King Stonebwoy speaks with Heather Maxwell after performing at Cali Vibes (Los Angeles) and Rolling Cocoa (Washington DC) and honors Ghana’s Independence Day. Drop the Needle puts VOA Africa’s Pheonah Wandudu in the hotseat and Maxwell curates a pan-African playlist by artists like Telem Uncommon Sounds (Sierra Leone), Trio Mio (Kenya), Bien (Kenya), Africando Allstars and more.

Music Time in Africa is VOA’s longest running English language program. Since 1965 this award-winning program has featured pan African music that spans all genres and generations. Host Heather Maxwell keeps you up to date on what’s happening in African music with interviews and cultural information.

Music Time in Africa is VOA’s longest running English language program. Since 1965 this award-winning program has featured pan African music that spans all genres and generations. Host Heather Maxwell keeps you up to date on what’s happening in African music with interviews and cultural information.

Music Time in Africa is VOA’s longest running English language program. Since 1965 this award-winning program has featured pan African music that spans all genres and generations. Host Heather Maxwell keeps you up to date on what’s happening in African music with interviews and cultural information.

This “All Time Greatest African Hits” edition includes thirteen iconic songs from the continent. Songs like “Zangalewa” - the original “Waka Waka”, “Wombo Lombo” -Angelique Kidjo’s world music chart topper, “1ere Gaou” - the zouglou megahit by Magic System of Côte d’Ivoire, and “Jerusalema” - the South African global dance sensation by Master KG are just a few of the amazing songs define the continent’s most moving soundtrack from 1980 - 2019.

Heather Maxwell brings you 30 minutes of top hits from around the continent and abroad, including songs from South Africa, Liberia, Nigeria, and the United States during the first half of the show. American University student Anna Steinberg joins Drop the Needle. Next, the first edition of Billboard Breakdown discusses the current chart topper in the United States. Finally, VOA producer Kahli Abdu joins in-studio to talk about the music of Nigerian artist, Dabo DaProf, as well as an interview with the artist recorded in Kano, Nigeria.