Music Time in Africa – VOA Africa

Enjoy Heather Maxwell's extended playlist of pan-African music and one of her favorite popular songs on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

Listen to Heather Maxwell's 30-minute playlist followed by music and news from Mozambique. Maxwell shares a vintage MTIA interview she did with marrabenta legend Dilon Djinjde at his home in Marracuene. Djinjde passed away September 18 at age 97. She also welcomes award-winning jazz saxophonist, Moreira Chonguiça to the TV studio at VOA in Washington for live music and conversation.

Listen to Heather Maxwell's extended playlist featuring African classics from 2000-2010. Akon, Gigi, Samuel Owusu, Emmanuel Jal, Sauti Sol and more: we are going to stroll down memory lane with them.

This week, travel from Ethiopia to Morocco, South Africa to Tanzania, and beyond. Heather Maxwell welcomes the band Mokoomba to her office studio in Washington DC. They sing acapella versions of new and old songs, including some from their latest album "Tracings in the Sand," a celebration of Zimbabwe's tradition and culture. We also touch base in Nairobi with Bill Odidi, who speaks with artists Winyo and Edward Kamau about their collaboration "Running for Gold," a tribute to the Kenyan running team.

Heather spins a 30 minute playlist of fresh pan-African music. Then enjoy a jam-packed back half with Telem Uncommon Sounds (Sierra Leone) live in studio with Heather, an interview with Chimano (Kenya) by Bill Odidi, and a deep dive into "No Love in Lagos" by Show Dem Camp and The Cavemen (Nigeria) presented by Seun Rave.

Guest host Bill Odidi spins his fresh playlist of pan-African music in first half. At the back half, Bill presents top trending tunes in Uganda, Kenyan artist Charisma in an interview about his new album, and Heather's interview face to face sit down backstage with Malian celebrities and blind couple, Amadou & Mariam.

Heather spins a 30 minute playlist of fresh pan-African music. Then enjoy a jam-packed back half with Telem Uncommon Sounds (Sierra Leone) live in studio with Heather, an interview with Chimano (Kenya) by Bill Odidi, and a deep dive into "No Love in Lagos" by Show Dem Camp and The Cavemen (Nigeria) presented by Seun Rave.

After Heather's 30 minute playlist of pan-African music, she speaks with Tanzanian singer and guitarist Damian Soul who performs his new single “Mapopo” live at VOA Headquarters in Washington. Bill Odidi presents a conversation with singer, rapper & producer Elsy Wameyo who returned to settle in her homeland Kenya after living most of her life in Australia.

Heather spins 30 minute mix of pan-African music at the front half. At the back half listen to Nigeria’s Afropop superstar Yemi Alade on her new album Rebel Queen. We also meet US-based, Ghanaian musician Okaidja Afroso. Heather speaks with him by phone about his new album Abor Edin.

Maxwell's playlist includes 30 minutes of great pan-African music by artists Rema, Davido, Platnumz, Hind Ziadi, Ghali, Umafikizolo and more. The second half of the hour presents Danish-Tanzanian artist Mzungu Kichaa and his new album Fade Away and a tribute to the legendary kora musician Toumani Diabate (1965-2024) with a conversation with American blues musician Taj Mahal.

Maxwell's playlist features great music from Tanzania, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Senegal and Nigeria. The feature at the back half is a live, in-studio performance by marimba virtuoso Blessing Chimanga from Zimbabwe. He and Heather discuss his music and marimba project in Colorado, USA at the Kutandara Center.

Heather's playlist features music from Botswana, Nigeria, Morocco, Ghana, Mali, Kenya, Benin, Yemen, and Ethiopia, and Ghana. At the back half, Sierra Leone mourns the loss of Ngor Gbetuwa, Rema’s new album HEIS is making waves in Nigeria, Big 4 and from Johannesburg Metro FM Award's Best Newcomer Nontokozo Mkhize shares her feelings about her recent success.

Heather's playlist includes music from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Morocco, Uganda, Cape Verde, Kenya plus Angelique Kidjo’s new single and this week’s Billboard Hot 100 #1Hit. The back half brings conversations with Ghanaian Highlife legend Gydu Blay Ambolley and American five - time Grammy Award winner PJ Morton.

Join us for a special World Kiswahili Day episode celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Tanzania and Kenya. On July 7th we honor Kiswahili as one of the ten most widely spoken languages globally, with 230 million speakers. We also update you on the Billboard Hot 100 and the BET Awards, where South African singer Tyla won Best International Act and Best New Artist. Special thanks to Swahili speaking VOA broadcast journalists for their contributions to this episode.

This week, travel from Ethiopia to Morocco, South Africa to Tanzania, and beyond. Heather Maxwell welcomes the band Mokoomba to her office studio in Washington DC. They sing acapella versions of new and old songs, including some from their latest album "Tracings in the Sand," a celebration of Zimbabwe's tradition and culture. We also touch base in Nairobi with Bill Odidi, who speaks with artists Winyo and Edward Kamau about their collaboration "Running for Gold," a tribute to the Kenyan running team.

Heather selects a full hour playlist of music by African female artists.

This Father's Day episode features a playlist of special music, shout outs from listeners, artists like Nomcebo Zikode, DJ Akua and Olivia Ambani, and fun facts related to the holiday. Heather Drops the Needle on VOA intern Omolemo Kale who in turn shares his own Father's Day wish. From Nairobi, Bill Odidi presents a regional showcase of music and goodwill on this special day.

Maxwell spins a 30 minute playlist of current songs from Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Ethiopia, Zimbambwe, Uganda and Morocco. Then she catches up on the 25th Anniversary of The Ghana Music Awards with Prince, and presents the story of Mokoomba, the Zimbabwean band who is currently on tour in the United States, as narrated by Evans Zininga of the VOA Zimbabwe Service.

The playlist features great music from Tanzania, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Senegal and Nigeria. She also spins this week’s Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit for the second week in a row “I Had Some Help”. The back half of the show features a live, in-studio performance by marimba virtuoso Blessing Chimanga from Zimbabwe. He and Heather discuss his latest music and marimba project in Colorado, USA at the Kutandara Center.

The playlist is a mix of genres from across the continent that are unified under the theme of Africa in honor of Africa Day celebrated world wide on May 25th. Maxwell also brings you the week’s Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit “I Had Some Help” and a feature from reporter Bill Odidi in Nairobi on Africa Day in Kenya.

Music Time in Africa is VOA’s longest running English language program. Since 1965 this award-winning program has featured pan African music that spans all genres and generations. Host Heather Maxwell keeps you up to date on what’s happening in African music with interviews and cultural information.

The first half of today’s show features Heather’s special Mother’s Day music and shout outs, including the classic “Sweet Mother” by Nico Mbarga and the Rockafil Jazz. She also presents the #1 Billboard Hot 100 song, Drop the Needle with Fiona Bloom, a conversation with Nigeria’s Seun Rave about Davido and Wizkid’s social media controversy, and a lively chat with music entrepreneur Simon Javan Okello and singer/rapper Naomi Achu about the upcoming US tour of the 10th and East African Madaraka Festival.

On today’s edition, American songwriter, producer and saxophonist Kirk Whalum speaks with reporter Bill Odidi about his upcoming album release Epic Cool and his deep musical connection to Kenyan youth via the children’s music training program Ghetto Classics in Korogocho, Nairobi. Heather’s playlist includes tunes from Niger, Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Cameroon, Congo, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, and Morocco, and her weekly share of the #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit “Fortnight” by Taylor Swift.

Heather celebrates Jazz International Day with Jazz and Afropopera musicians (Yes, that’s Afropopera!) John Kagaruki and Kokui Selormey, jazz fans, and several jazz tunes such as Manu Dibango and Moreira Chongquiça’s “Soul Makossa” and Richard Bona’s “Please Don’t Stop” featuring John Legend. Also, American University Ethnomusicology students and their professor Dr. Salois join her in studio to share their experiences learning about African music by playing the Drop the Needle music listening quiz and VOA’s Anasthasie Tudieshe takes the quiz, passing with flying colors. Maxwell’s playlist at the top of the hour includes new tunes by Tems, Amadou & Miriam, Uncle Waffles, Sean MMG and the Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit “Too Sweet” by Irish singer/songwriter, Hozier.

Ghanaian singer Amaarae speaks with music journalist Prince Benjamine from Ghana on the release of her new, sophomore album Fountain Baby. Drop the Needle brings radio talk show, TV animator and Njang musician Ateh Bazore (Cameroon) to the microphone for his turn at Heather’s African music trivia game. Lady DJ brings the latest American music news in 60 seconds with Word on the Tweets. All this and a 30-minute playlisted by Heather of some of Africa’s greatest hits between 1990-2010 at the top of the hour.

Apple music names Gengetone artist Ssaru the Up Next Artist for East Africa. Music journalist Bill Odidi speaks with Ssaru in Nairobi about this recognition and more. Heather’s playlist includes several songs from north Africa as Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr (breaking fast) such as Bahaa Sultan (Egypt), Zina Daoudia (Morocco) and Faudel, Khaled and Rachid Taha (Algeria). To honor Jazz Appreciation Month we listen to Alune Wade’s new single “Tryptique”, Heather plays this week’s Billboard Hot 100 #2 hit “Texas Hold’Em” by Beyonce, and more.

Blast Urban 98.3 radio host Seun Rave joins Heather in conversation about trending music and related news in Ibadan, Nigeria. VOA Africa journalist John Tanza shares news from South Sudan over the unsingability of its national anthem. At the front half of the hour, Heather spins 30 minutes of pan-African music including the 1967 recording of “Mambo Ryco” by Ryco Jazz (Congo) kicks off Music Time in Africa’s celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM).

Listen to current music by Almok (Togo), Tyla (South Africa), YoMaps (Zambia), Veronica Adane (Ethiopia), America’s Billboard Hot 100 #1 song “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims and more. At the bottom of the hour there’s Heather’s Drop the Needle music quiz; and two feature interviews with female singer/songwriters: Crystal Asige (Kenya) and Wayna (Ethiopia).

Ghana’s Reggae Dancehall King Stonebwoy speaks with Heather Maxwell after performing at Cali Vibes (Los Angeles) and Rolling Cocoa (Washington DC) and honors Ghana’s Independence Day. Drop the Needle puts VOA Africa’s Pheonah Wandudu in the hotseat and Maxwell curates a pan-African playlist by artists like Telem Uncommon Sounds (Sierra Leone), Trio Mio (Kenya), Bien (Kenya), Africando Allstars and more.

Music Time in Africa is VOA’s longest running English language program. Since 1965 this award-winning program has featured pan African music that spans all genres and generations. Host Heather Maxwell keeps you up to date on what’s happening in African music with interviews and cultural information.

Music Time in Africa is VOA’s longest running English language program. Since 1965 this award-winning program has featured pan African music that spans all genres and generations. Host Heather Maxwell keeps you up to date on what’s happening in African music with interviews and cultural information.

Music Time in Africa is VOA’s longest running English language program. Since 1965 this award-winning program has featured pan African music that spans all genres and generations. Host Heather Maxwell keeps you up to date on what’s happening in African music with interviews and cultural information.