Morning Edition, August 3-7"Emerging Voices" is a five-part Morning Edition series showcasing artists, musicians and writers whose work is informed by modern African life, and in turn, is having a great impact upon their homeland.
Schedule:
Teddy Afro Monday, August 3 on Morning Edition
Teddy Afro is a wildly popular Ethiopian singer, often called the Bob Marley of Ethiopia. He is now serving a two-year prison sentence, convicted on two counts related to a deadly hit-and-run in 2006. Afro's legal troubles have been widely viewed as government payback for his songs, which are perceived as critical of Ethiopia’s current government. Afro’s predicament may be sadly illustrative of Ethiopia's political climate, where truth tellers perhaps remain free only when they're quiet. NPR's Gwen Thompkins profiles the singer.
David Kaiza Tuesday, August 4 on Morning Edition
David Kaiza is a Ugandan writer who is completing his first novel after seven years of toil. Kaiza is from Northern Uganda, a region that has seen more than its share of warfare, so it's no surprise that his first novel is about conflict. Ahead of anticipated literary success, Kaiza's reputation has been forged in conflict of another sort - that of literary critic. NPR's Gwen Thompkins has the story.
Heather Badger Wednesday, August 5 on Morning Edition
Heather Badger is a Ghanaian artist whose passion is to create shadow boxes that mix traditional and modern art forms using digital computer technology. These began as framed brass sculptures, incorporating centuries-old Adinkra symbols - wisdom that doubles up as Ghanaian proverbs - with a new artistic twist. NPR’s Ofeibea Quist-Arcton introduces us to the artist at Artivity, Badger's home and studio in Ghana’s capital.
Didier Awadi Thursday, August 6 on Morning Edition
Didier Awadi is a rapper and musician from Senegal. Awadi started with a schoolboy's youthful passion for break dancing, and progressed from DJ to head of his own African-style rap band, the hugely successful group PBS, Positive Black Soul. He launched a solo career at about the same time as his music and interests became more distinctly continental. As an African youth advocate and goodwill ambassador, he has championed many causes. NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton caught up with Awadi at his base in Dakar.
Lebogang Mashile Friday, August 7 on Morning Edition
Born in 1979 to parents living in exile from apartheid in the U.S., Lebogang Mashile returned to South Africa at the age of sixteen. It was then, she says, that she found her true voice. Now an award-winning performance poet, writer and actor on the literary and cultural stage, Lebo has become in many ways a voice for the born-frees - the youth of post-apartheid South Africa. In this conversation with NPR’s Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, she discusses her life and work.
Hear Morning Edition every weekday morning, 5 - 9 a.m., on WGVU AM/FM.
David Kaiza Tuesday, August 4 on Morning Edition
David Kaiza is a Ugandan writer who is completing his first novel after seven years of toil. Kaiza is from Northern Uganda, a region that has seen more than its share of warfare, so it's no surprise that his first novel is about conflict. Ahead of anticipated literary success, Kaiza's reputation has been forged in conflict of another sort - that of literary critic. NPR's Gwen Thompkins has the story.
Heather Badger Wednesday, August 5 on Morning Edition
Heather Badger is a Ghanaian artist whose passion is to create shadow boxes that mix traditional and modern art forms using digital computer technology. These began as framed brass sculptures, incorporating centuries-old Adinkra symbols - wisdom that doubles up as Ghanaian proverbs - with a new artistic twist. NPR’s Ofeibea Quist-Arcton introduces us to the artist at Artivity, Badger's home and studio in Ghana’s capital.
Didier Awadi Thursday, August 6 on Morning Edition
Didier Awadi is a rapper and musician from Senegal. Awadi started with a schoolboy's youthful passion for break dancing, and progressed from DJ to head of his own African-style rap band, the hugely successful group PBS, Positive Black Soul. He launched a solo career at about the same time as his music and interests became more distinctly continental. As an African youth advocate and goodwill ambassador, he has championed many causes. NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton caught up with Awadi at his base in Dakar.
Lebogang Mashile Friday, August 7 on Morning Edition
Born in 1979 to parents living in exile from apartheid in the U.S., Lebogang Mashile returned to South Africa at the age of sixteen. It was then, she says, that she found her true voice. Now an award-winning performance poet, writer and actor on the literary and cultural stage, Lebo has become in many ways a voice for the born-frees - the youth of post-apartheid South Africa. In this conversation with NPR’s Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, she discusses her life and work.
Hear Morning Edition every weekday morning, 5 - 9 a.m., on WGVU AM/FM.
