Its about time

By Mina Yirga

The Planet Award, eagerly sought after by all in World Music was designed and made by Croatian sculpture Anita Sulimanovic. In November 2003,Anita won the Radio 3 sponsored competition to design the award for World Music. Dubbed, ‘The Planet’, the sculpture is now synonymous with the event.
“I wanted to combine several forms associated with global music,” said Anita. The shape of the trophy imitates the shape of the heart .The ball reminds one of the globe and refers to the international character of this event and the sculpture is reminiscent of a harp, lyre or maybe some fancy musical instrument.
To mark 20 years of World Music for the first time this year, Radio 3 staged a whole weekend of awards related events at the Barbican ( 26-27 May). Free staged activities each afternoon in the barbican foyer culminate in the poll winner’s concert starting at 6pm on Sunday 27th May.
This year at Britain’s biggest and best loved world festival, it was Ethiopia’s Mahmud Ahemed who provided it. Referred to as Ethiopia’s best kept secret for decades, the legendary artist has now won the BBC Radio 3 World Award.
Born on May 8,1941in Addis Ababa, before he reached the top of the success ladder, he began as a shoeshine boy. A series of jobs followed until he ended up handy man at the Arizona club. One evening Mahmud persuaded the house band to let him sing and soon he was a member of Haile Selassie’s ultra official Imperial Band, remaining there until the military coup of 1974. Mahmud cut his first single in 1971 and quickly became a favorite across Ethiopia. Mahmud is the most famous product of this ‘golden age’ and despite making music for nearly 50 years, his voice is still sensational…

What have you been doing in the past few years?
I was traveling with my band 3M to different countries. I have been performing in Holland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, England and other countries.
Tells us about the BBC Radio 3 Award?
The award took place at London’s Barbican. Ballots were counted up and the four artists with the most votes in each category become the nominees for that year’s BBC Radio 3 Award for World Music. Then I won the 2007 in the African category. I was nominated on March and I received the award on May 27,2007.
How do you see the development of music. Where is it heading?
Well, we don’t see the old ones now and the new artists have skilled themselves up with the help of music education. The problem is, they are working separately. They have to unite and should form a big band. That is what is missing. All the skilled artists should come as one and form bands. We don’t find this here in Ethiopia. And we don’t find any organ that takes on such responsibilities of gathering the artists. Music needs good coordination. The new artists have there own arrangements, composition…this needs to come under one umbrella. The first question must be, ‘Do we have one big orchestra that is organizing the different and talented artists?’ The answer is, so far no! We see talents hidden in each house and they need to come out. Mega, Yared, and some private music schools are playing their parts.
How was it in the old days?
We had ‘Kebur Zebega’, ‘Police’, ‘Meder Tor’, ‘Beharawi theater’ and all were huge orchestras and iconic musicians. Artists have like Sahele Degago, Shambel Assefa, Tilahun Gessese, Bezunesh Bekele… there was great competition among the different orchestras. The artists now work individualy. Yes development in music is visible but artists need to come together and work as one.
Is there any particular young artists that you admire?
I admire them all. I listen to their music and give my advice because they need to develop.
How long have you been on stage?
For 54 years…..
How many albums do you have? Do you have plans for a new one?
Almost 70 albums …and yes I am going to release a new album in 2 or 3 months.
Many like your song ‘Ashkaru’. What does ‘Ashkaru’ mean?
‘Stand up and lets play’, ‘it is nice’ is the meaning in Guragega.

Africa 2000

Congo Brazzavile

Congo Brazavile is about to celebrate the 6th Festival of Pan-African Music FESPAM, from July 7-14,2007 in Brazzaville. In part, FESPAM pays homage to Nelson Mandela and also to past and future leaders of Africa in the believ that Music can allevate social crisis in time of conflicts and promote developemnt . Capital extends best wishes!

The Congo Republic has always been confused with its much larger cousin to the east, the Democratic Republic of Congo. This state of mistaken identity was exacerbated when Kabita decided in 1997 to drop Zaire and –rename his country Congo.
For clarity's sake, we shall refer to this week’s Africa 2000 profile country as Congo –Brazzaville and the DRC, if mentioned, shall be Congo Kinshasa.
The two capitals are almost twin cities if it weren’t for the international border splicing down the middle of the Congo Brazzaville river smaller of the two and is less chaotic but still the unique characteristics of a riverside town. Kinshasa weather and more commonly, security, is a short ferry ride away on one of the hundreds of riverboats steaming up and down the river from as far as north as Kisangani.
Congo Brazzaville has had an eventful post-independence history. Colonized by France in 1885, the area was known as the Middle Congo. Previously the robust kingdom of Loago had flourished up to the 15th and 16th centuries only to wane and fall in the late 17th century.
Congo-Brazzaville and Congo-Kinshasa are geographically one entity but condemned to separation by the wiles of colonialism. The Belgians had already secured the lions share of the Congo by the time the French set up shop across the river.
Granted independence in the historic year of 1960, it was not long after that Congo –Brazzaville became caught up in the cold war and declared itself Marxist – Leninist. It was one of first of many African countries which gravitated to the East –bloc during the 60s and up to the early 80’s.
Although the country was officially a Marxist state, it did hold on to trade and some political relations with its former colonial masters. French business interests to this day maintain a strong presence in the country.
The international collapse of communism also meant that Congo-Brazzaville had to undergo political change. The country rejected Marxism in 1990 and opposition parties were allowed to exist. The first democratic government was elected in 1992. However, a fierce battle broke out between opposing political factions and partly along tribal lines in June 1997 and destroyed the capital during months of severe fighting. The confrontation was mainly between the ‘Ninja’ rebels of the pool region and the army of former Marxist ruler Denis Sassou-Nguesso. The latter captured Brazzaville later in 1997 and in 2002, claimed electoral victory. A formal ceasefire was signed between the government and ‘Ninja’ rebels in 2003.
Congo-Brazzaville is richly endowed with fertile soils, fresh water and hydro power resources. It has all abundant spectrum of minerals ranging from oil to uranium to precious stones. It is by African standards, a rather well-off country and if political stability could be maintained, has potential for great prosperity.

Titos Sompa

(Founder and Artistic Director of Mbongi Dance Theater Project)

Originating from the Congo (Brazzaville), Titos Sompa is a charismatic and extraordinarily gifted performing artist, teacher, and healer. Since arriving in America from Paris, where he taught music and dance and toured Europe with his band, Les Echos Noir, he has inspired artists, students and audiences with his African cultural orientation that holistically integrated music, dance, singing, folklore and spirituality. Mr. Sompa was the first to introduce the earthly and fluid Congolese style of simultaneous dancing and singing to America audiences. In the early 1970's, he and lead drummer, Coster Massamba, brought Congolese culture to the New York artistic scene.
A renown dancer, choreographer, and musician, noted especially as a master Congolese drummer, percussionist, and kalimba player. Mr. Sompa utilizes his multiple talents to make known and keep alive Congolese musical and cultural traditions that offer healing, spiritual grounding, and affirming community to the Western world.
He is a supremely gifted singer, composer, recording artist, choreographer, storyteller, artisan of African folk crafts, producer, director, trainer, and teacher. Mr. Sompa founded the first Congolese dance company (Tanawa Dance Company) in America.

Facts and Figures

Location-West-Central Africa, Gabon and Cameroon on West, CAR on North, DRC on east and Angola on Southeast.
Area - 341,000 sq km
Topography - Thick tropical forests, Coastal plains, fertile river valleys, Central plateau, Congo river flood plains and savannas
Population - 3,702,104
Distribution - 31.6% urban
Principal Ethnic Groups = More than 200; Mongao, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu) and Mangbetu- Azande 45 % of population
Principle Languages –French (official), Lingala, Monokototvpba, Kikongo
Main Religions – Christian 50%, animist 48 %, M’Bochi 12%, Muslim 2%
Capital City – Brazzaville, pop 1,173,000
Other Cities – Pointe – Noire, Louboma
Government Type – Republic
Head of State and Government – President Denis Sassou- Naguesso, since 1997
Economy - Crops= cassava, sugar, rice, corn coffee. Industry – Oil, Cement, lumber, uranium
Currency –CAF, Franc (XAF) 512.47= $1USD
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – 4.6 bln
Per Capita GDP -$1300
Electricity Production – 350 mln kwh
Life Expectancy – 51.6 male, 54.0 female
AIDS Rate – 5.3%
Literacy – 83.8%
Railroads – 895 kms
Vehicles – 53,000 units
Telephones – 13,800 lines
Radios – 126 per 1000
TV sets – 13 per 1,000
Daily Newspaper Circulation – 6.4 per 1000
Internet – 36,000 users
Facts and figures are the latest available at time of publication and may not necessarily be the most accurate.