African music--from hip reissues to popular to whatever...

Aster Aweke's newest song is wowing me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATdis9I9pFI

I was reading a NY Times article about special free outdoor music events that just happened in NYC on the day of the winter solstice and one jumped out at me:

a sing-along to the songs of Egypt’s favorite pop singer, Umm Kulthum, down Steinway Street in Astoria, Queens;

the events included a crowd that rang color-coded bells on command; a medley of holiday songs played by percussionists at 1/120th speed while walking the length of Broadway; a sing-along to the songs of Egypt’s favorite pop singer, Umm Kulthum, down Steinway Street in Astoria, Queens; a continuous performance of the prelude from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 on F train platforms; an early-music processional with lanterns through Central Park; and a roving brass-band performance in which players read music projected onto buildings. (Four events are reviewed below by Times music critics.)

Sounds great. I hope some video from this turns up online. It's been years since I've been to Astoria, but the last (and possibly only) time I went, I hit up a shop with lots of Greek music on cassette.

Aster Aweke = a-ok with me

Alas, it doesn't look like she's coming your way on tour. The Sunday January 1st DC gig is running so late--promoter told me doors at 9:30, opening act at 11:45--that I am not sure I am gonna go.

http://www.yebbo.com/blog/?p=3172

You can vote for your fave Ethiopian artist of 2011

the status of Senegalese mbalax music and a look at the country's politics

http://www.afriqueavenir.org/en/2011/09/10/senegalese-%E2%80%98mbalax-music%E2%80%99-icon-joins-rappers-in-opposing-wade%E2%80%99s-candidature/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/RD-Congo-Ndombolo-Coupe-Decaler-Cote-DIvoire/185018588259951?sk=app_182222305144028

Congolese ndombolo dance music vs Coite D'voire Coupe Decaler dance music with links

10. Ballaké Sissoko & Vincent Segal - Chamber Music

Whiney's 10th fave album of the year (on NPR guy Bob Boilen's list too)

Nice, tasteful Malian music

Segal adds a semi-classical, avante almost Velvet Underground feel to a bit of it

http://www.npr.org/artists/137109821/ballak-sissoko

Sissoko is a great kora player while Segal is on cello