While many genres of African music have made the crossover to the west (Afrobeat, Highlife, etc), Sierra Leone’s traditional
Muslim street songs, or Bubu music, have not. The king of Bubu is Ahmed Janka Nabay, an amazing humanitarian musician whose life has been shaped by Sierra Leone’s civil war. While the war was scarring his beloved country, Janka continued to record and play music, staying neutral. Unfortunately, the rebel forces appropriated his popular creations, luring innocent civilians into dangerous hands. These days, Janka lives in Philadelphia and can already claim the BLK JKS and Fader magazine as fans. A few weeks ago Green Owl correspondent Wills Glasspiegel (pictured above with Janka) took Janka to the park and was nice enough to ask him my burning questions, touching on Janka’s unique experience as a community figure, world music scion, and now American transplant. Listen to the fascinating audio clips below (and check out the pictures!) to learn more about the history of Bubu, Janka’s personal take on Africa’s most dire needs, and how he envisions his own induction into western music culture.
Audio Interview: Wills and Janka
janka1-discusses-eh-congo
janka2-sings-his-first-song
janka3-introduces-true-music-bubu-music_
janka4-endurance_
janka5-the-rebels-arrest-me
janka6-rebels-use-music-to-capture-people
janka7-goals-as-a-humanitarian-and-as-a-musician_
janka8-crossing-over_
janka9-bubu-myth
janka10-discusses-lek-u-culture_
Catch Janka performing with The Very Best (Radioclit and Malawian genius Esau Mwamwaya) this Saturday 7/25 at Secousse in Williamsburg!!
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