Benin: Transforming Traditions

Afropop Worldwide

This program tells the story of generations of creative musicians from Benin who translate traditional, largely Vodun occult music into popular and experimental music. We hear traditional music styles including tchinkoumé, agbadja, and kakagbo, and explore how, starting in the 1970s, Sagbohan Danialou (a singer, drummer, guitarist and composer known as "l'homme orchestre," the one-man-band) and Tohon Stanislas transformed these styles into popular music. We hear from Samuel "Jomion" Gnonlonfoun, one of the founders of the experimental super-group Gangbé Brass Band, who took the traditional approach further into jazz in the 1990s and 2000s, including new music from Jomion & The Uklos, Gnonlonfoun's current band. Plus an interview from superstar Angelique Kidjo, and music from her latest album "Eve." Produced by Morgan Greenstreet in 2014 APWW #680