July 18th is Nelson Mandela’s birthday — we celebrated a couple days early with some songs written about him and in tribute to him, from artists from South Africa and around the world. Plus some new releases and concert previews in hour 2.

I actually had a chance to meet Nelson Mandela some 20 years ago. I was working a The Christian Science Monitor in Boston when he made his first trip to the USA after being freed from prison. He deviated from his tightly planned schedule to drop by, and when he was spotted outside the newsroom, seasoned reporters jumped up and ran outside, neglecting duty and deadlines to meet this iconic figure.

Happy birthday, Madiba!

Hour 1
Dhol Foundation  -  Colours of Punjab (theme)  -  Big Drum Small World
Hugh Masekela  -  Bring Him Back Home   -  Hope
Marianne Antonsen  -  Nelson Mandela  -  Blomster i Soweto
Johnny Clegg & Savuka  -  Asimbonanga (Mandela)  -  Third World Child
Khadja Nin  -  Mzee Mandela  -  Ya…
Daniel Waro (La Reunion)  -  Mandela  -  Bwarouz
Zulu Spear  -  Mandela  -  Welcome to the USA
The Special AKA (The Specials)  -  Free Nelson Mandela  -  The Singles Collection
Salif Keita  -  Mandela  -  Folon … The Past
Abdullah Ibrahim & WDR Big Band Cologne  -  Mandela  -  Bombella
Hukwe Ubi Zawose  -  Nelson Mandela  -  The Art Of Hukwe Ubi Zawose
Linda Kekana  -  A Song For Madiba  -  South African Women With A Voice Chapter 2
Youssou N’dour  -  Nelson Mandela  -  Nelson Mandela (1986)

Hour 2
Brenda Fassie  -  Black President  -  Best Of
Bright Blue  -  Madiba 1990  -  Single
Ndeye Mbaye (Senegal)  -  Nelson Mandela  -  Ndaamal Daaru
Sechaba (Zambia)  -  Welele  -  Sechaba (cassette)
Vusi Mahlasela  -  When You Come Back  -  The Voice
Mahube  -  Mayibuye  -  Qhubeka!
Herbie Hancock w/ K’naan, Los Lobos & Tinariwen  -  Tamatant Tilay / Exodus  -  The Imagine Project
Brass Menazeri  -  Cocekahedron  -  Vranjski San
Djoumbush  -  Tekirdag Karsilamasi  -  Djoumbush
Santana  -  Mandela  -  Freedom
CeU  -  Concrete Jungle  -  Tribute to a Reggae Legend
Ziggy Marley  -  Africa Land  -  Wild and Free
Somi  -  Prayer to the Saint of the Brokenhearted  -  If the Rains Come First

Putumayo has a new compilation CD of music from South Africa; we took things a step farther today, spinning everything from Safrojazz to kwaito to Zulu choirs and beyond, to give you an idea of the South Africa beyond the soccer stadiums and TV soundbites. Congrats to Andrew of Olympia who won our giveaway of the Amabutho CD.

Congrats to our listeners who are Netherlands & Uruguay fans; sorry to the Brazil & Ghana supporters, and to the rest of the African continent supporting Ghana. If only….

Hour 1
Dhol Foundation  -  Colours of Punjab (theme)  -  Big Drum Small World
Madame Afrique  -  Island Style  -  She’s Hot!
Joseph Mazibuko  -  Vrede OFS  -  Greatest Accordion Hits Vol 3 – South Africa (1972)
Paulus Masina  -  Umalusi  -  Greatest Accordion Hits Vol 3
Shaluza Max  -  Mangase  -  Tales of Urban S.A.
Juluka  -  Shake My Way  -  Scatterlings
Hugh Masekela & the Union of South Africa  -  Johannesburg Hi-Lite Jive  -  Hugh Masekela & the Union of South Africa (1971)
Arling & Cameron  -  Voulez-vous?  -  Euro Lounge
Tebogo  -  Phambili Ma Afrika  -  Kwela Tebza
Dark City Sisters  -  Change Jive Bafana  -  South African Jive Vol. 1
Amampondo  -  African Pride  -  Ruyani
Allen Kwela Octet  -  Question Mark  -  Next Stop Soweto…Vol. 3
Zamajobe  -  Ye Wena Sani  -  South African Women With a Voice Chapter 2
Lucky Dube  -  Hero  -  The Other Side
Ladysmith Black Mambazo  -  Imbube  -  In Harmony

Hour 2
Brenda Fassie  -  Sum’bulala  -  Greatest Hits
Lungiswa  -  Fundal / Ilonga  -  Lungiswa
Judith Sephuma  -  Naka Di A Lela  -  A Cry…A Smile…A Dance
Miriam Makeba  -  Liwawechi  -  Homeland
Amabutho  -  Amabutho / The Warriors  -  Sikelela
Rocky Dawuni  -  African Reggae Fever  -  Hymns for the Rebel Soul
Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited  -  Moto Uyo  -  Chimurenga Explosion
Dollar Brand  -  Anatomy of a South African Village (excerpt)  -  Anatomy of a South African Village
African Rhythm Travellers  -  Khululuma  -  African Groove
Konono No. 1  -  Guiyome  -  Assume Crash Position
Africa Unite  -  Play Another Game  -  Play Up
Vieux Farka Toure  -  Diaraby Magni w/ Yossi Fine  -  Live

Spin the Globe Playlist for 5 March 2010
The Life and Music of Miriam Makeba

Born on March 4, 1932, South African singer Miriam Makeba was a pioneer of “world music” and her life reflected the troubled and triumphant path of her nation. While we didn’t get deep into the biography of Mama Africa, we spun some of her music from different periods of her life, and a couple of musical tributes to her as well. Plus new releases, concert previews and reviews, and more. Having seen Vusi Mahlasela and Zakir Hussain in the past week, I had to share more of their music. Plus a preview and ticket giveaways for Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Artist – Song – Album

Hour 1
Dhol Foundation – Colours of Punjab (theme) – Big Drum Small World
Varttina – Ukko Lumi – Oi Dai
Oreka TX – Saapmi – Oreka TX
Rikard Wolff – Du Ijuger – Tango
Taffetas – Taffetas – Fanta
The Mothers – Breathe Together feat. Miriam Makeba – Township Sessions
Miriam Makeba – The Click Song – The World of Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba – House of the Rising Sun – Miriam Makeba
Angelique Kidjo – Lakutshn Llanga – Oyo
Miriam Makeba – Unhome – South African Legends
Actitud Maria Marta – Quimeras w/ Marina – sampler
Miriam Makeba & unidentified musicians – Mansane Cisse – Africa & Mansane Cisse EP
SambaDa – Mare – Gente!
Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Why Aren’t You Happy? – Thuthukani Ngoxolo
Vusi Mahlasela – Two Birds – Wisdom of Foregiveness

Hour 2
Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabate – Be Mankan – Ali and Toumani
Dela – Yeye Ndiye – Paukwa
Nani Ajdinovic Orchestra – Cocek Zora – Golden Brass Summit
Balkan Beat Box – Smatron – Blue Eyed Black Boy
Zakir Hussain et al – Taal Vadya Kutcheri in Adi Taal – In memory of Alla Rakha, the wizard of Tabla Live Vol. II
Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Hello My Baby – Live at Montreaux
Bokoor Band – Onukpa Shawarpo – Afro-Rock Vol. 1
Te Vaka – Katakata Mai – Haoloto
Amos Hoffman – Hamsa – Evolution
Meesak Nakaratch – Luk Ron (Love Hot) – Thai Funk Zudrangma Vol.1
Razia – Tiako Ro – Zebu Nation
Urban Legend – El Matador feat. Destani Wolf – Tropical Techniques