Under African Skies (5 Parts)

Synopsis

Series looking at the diverse music of Africa: where it comes from, what it means and where it is going.
1 (producer Michael Raeburn): Among all English-speaking African countries, the music of Zimbabwe has made a particular impact on the West in recent years. Fusing influences as diverse as the ancient marimba and thumb piano, and American jazz, the many different sounds reflect a preoccupation with recent struggles and the political and moral issues of a newly independent country.
2 (producer Richard Taylor): Neither quite African nor Arabic, the contemporary sounds of Ethiopia draw their inspiration from ancient sources: the singing of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, amharic poetry, and the satire of Azmari troubadours.
3 (producer Mark Kidel): The blend of tradition and innovation in Mali’s music culture, showing the influence of jazz, Afro-Cuban, blues and rock, but still retaining its roots in old customs and songs. Features Salif Keita, Kassemady Diabete, Tata Bambo Kouyate, Sali Sidibe, and the Super Biton de Segou and the Super Djata bands.
4: From one of the most formal African societies a new sound, Rai is coming from a new generation intent on reconciling the world of Islam with modern urban life.
5 (producer Michael Macintyre): Kinshasa is the birthplace of Soukous, the most popular and influential music in Africa, and is home to over 300 bands. It is also the home of the Sapeur musicians, who have elevated a love of high fashion into a religion, and of ‘political animation’, a new form of traditional African praise song, created by President Mobutu. Among the 20 bands featured in this film are those of Franco, Papa Wemba, Ray Lema and Empire Bakuba.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 5 x 60 min.

Year of production

1985

Availability

Sale; 1996 sale: £99.00 (+VAT +p&p) each 1996 sale: £225.00 (+VAT +p&p) series

Notes

Broadcast on BBC2 from 22 Sep 1989.

Subjects

Music

Keywords

Algeria; Ethiopia; ethnomusicology; Mali; music - African; Zaire; Zimbabwe

Credits

Producer

Mark Kidel; Michael Macintyre; Michael Raeburn; Richard Taylor

Sections

Title

Zimbabwe

Synopsis

1 (producer Michael Raeburn): Among all English-speaking African countries, the music of Zimbabwe has made a particular impact on the West in recent years. Fusing influences as diverse as the ancient marimba and thumb piano, and American jazz, the many di

Title

Ethiopia

Synopsis

2 (producer Richard Taylor): Neither quite African nor Arabic, the contemporary sounds of Ethiopia draw their inspiration from ancient sources: the singing of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, amharic poetry, and the satire of Azmari troubadours.

Title

Mali

Synopsis

3 (producer Mark Kidel): The blend of tradition and innovation in Mali's music culture, showing the influence of jazz, Afro-Cuban, blues and rock, but still retaining its roots in old customs and songs. Features Salif Keita, Kassemady Diabete, Tata Bambo

Title

Algeria

Synopsis

4: From one of the most formal African societies a new sound, Rai is coming from a new generation intent on reconciling the world of Islam with modern urban life.

Title

Zaire

Synopsis

5 (producer Michael Macintyre): Kinshasa is the birthplace of Soukous, the most popular and influential music in Africa, and is home to over 300 bands. It is also the home of the Sapeur musicians, who have elevated a love of high fashion into a religion,

Production Company

Name

BBC Television

Distributor

Name

BBC Active Video for Learning - now BBC Learning

Contact

Carolina Fernandez Jeremy Wilcox (CF - for educational enquiries JW - channel sales manager)

Email

BBCStudiosLearning@bbc.com

Web

https://www.bbcstudioslearning.com/ External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 20 8433 1009

Address

BBC Studios Limited
Television Centre
101 Wood Lane
London
W12 7FA
UK

Notes

The BBC Active company has now been absorbed within BBC Learning, a division of BBC Studios. It was originally a joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Pearson Education. Formerly known as ‘BBC Worldwide Learning Studies’ and before that as ‘Videos for Education & Training’