Benin Roots Alive!

Published: April 16, 2015, 10:10 p.m.

In this program, we follow producer Morgan Greenstreet on a musical tour of Benin\u2019s roots-pop music and Afro-jazz, while exploring the deep cultural and spiritual traditions that inspire contemporary musicians. We will visit a midnight album launch party for a star of roots-pop music in Abomey, meet Norberka, an acclaimed singer, drummer and dancer, at the home of her patron, his majesty Hounon Behumbeza, a vodun priest. We\u2019ll visit the rehearsals, studios and homes of some of Cotonou\u2019s most creative Afro-jazz musicians, including Jah Baba, Fifi Finder and Vi-Phint; we\u2019ll visit Ouidah for the recently established Vodun Festival, and Porto Novo to meet a living legend, Sagbohan Danialou. Along the way, we\u2019ll hear original live recordings from Les Freres Guedehoungue, Gangb\xe9 Brass Band, and some previously unrecorded groups. (Produced by Morgan Greenstreet)