World Music Matters

Ghanaian-born Blitz the Ambassador has carved out a special brand of pan-African hip hop. He talks to RFI about his latest release, Diasporadical, a collaborative work with artists from the African diaspora which can now be appreciated visually with his short film Diasporadical Trilogia. It's big on spirituality and femininity. Take a listen. Follow Blitz on facebook

Ghanaian-born Blitz the Ambassador has carved out a special brand of pan-African hip hop. He talks to RFI about his latest release, Diasporadical, a collaborative work with artists from the African diaspora which can now be appreciated visually with his short film Diasporadical Trilogia. It's big on spirituality and femininity. Take a listen. Follow Blitz on facebook

Californian bluesman Xavier Dphrepaulezz aka Fantastic Negrito plays black roots music, with punk attitude, for everyone. His album The Last Days of Oakland won this year's Grammy Award for best contemporary blues album. RFI caught up with the self-taught guitarist, whose songs about America's working poor have been praised by the likes of Bernie Saunders, at the Afropunk festival in Paris in July.

American hardcore/rap outfit Ho99o9 pumped up the volume at this year's Paris Afropunk fest. Naughty but nice Blue and Eaddy talk to RFI about cross-dressing, being yourself and why it was cool playing to French audiences even if they don't understand the language of their music. It's from their debut album United States of Horror by the way.

Les Filles de Illighadad are a female Tuareg duo from a tiny remote village in Niger... with a big career ahead. Unknown two years ago, their second album is due out in the Autumn.

The Afropunk festival was launched in Brooklyn in 2005 as a celebration of black culture and freedom of expression. Hugely successful, it's spread to Paris, London and will launch in Johannesburg at the end of this year. The Paris Afropunk Fest on 15 and 16 July, is now in its third year. RFI talks to co-president Jocelyn Cooper, editor of Afropunk web-site Lou Constant-Desportes, and Marco Prince, lead singer of FFF, one of this year's hottest bands.

The Afropunk festival was launched in Brooklyn in 2005 as a celebration of black culture and freedom of expression. Hugely successful, it's spread to Paris, London and will launch in Johannesburg at the end of this year. The Paris Afropunk Fest on 15 and 16 July, is now in its third year. RFI talks to co-president Jocelyn Cooper, editor of Afropunk web-site Lou Constant-Desportes, and Marco Prince, lead singer of FFF, one of this year's hottest bands.

This year's line up features Macy Gray, Mos Def aka Yasiin Bey, Laura Mvula, Robert Glasper, Baloji, Songhoy Blues, HO99O9, Fantastic Negrito... they're not all punk but all have punk attitude. 15, 16 July at Paris's La Villette, be there!

Music featured in today's programme: Barbés, Monkee (FFF); Overcome (Laura Mvula).

Senegal's Takeifa is a family affair: the five siblings belt out hard rock in Wolof and boast the country's only female professional bass player. Jac, Cheikh and Maah Keita talk to RFI about their new album Gass Giss and keeping the struggle for albino rights up there on stage.

With her mix of folk, funk rock and electrified desert blues, Noura Mint Seymali has done more than anyone to bring her country's traditional music to new audiences. Her strong voice and mastery of the ardine harp - unique to Mauritania and played only by women - are wonderfully showcased on her latest album Arbina. Her quartet performed on RFI's Musiques du monde programme.

Songhoy Blues is an exciting young guitar quartet from northern Mali. As they release their second album Résistance, lead singer Aliou Touré talks to RFI about how Bamako's club scene defies ethnic divides and the thrill of getting Iggy Pop on board.