A new community radio program called Global Village has begun syndication through ComRadSat. It features world music and is presented by Habib Massad from the 2RRR studios in Ryde, Sydney.
Say the words “World Music” and people think of Nusrat Fateh
Ali Khan, or perhaps Youssou N’Dour. Some may even conjure up images
of Peter Gabriel and a dancing chicken. But Global Village’s definition of world music “is so broad that it cuts across
many musical genres and typical classification schemes. Broadly defined,
world music can originate from any country on this planet.”
Traditionally world music drew its roots from indigenous music (such as
tribal or folkloric), and native dance (such as salsa, bossa nova, cha cha
cha, mambo, rumba, merengue, samba, tango, calypso). More recently,
the influence of traditional world music styles on contemporary
movements, such as drum ‘n bass, chill, lounge, jazz and even house, have
formed interesting fusions and hybrids, such as global roots, world beat,
global chill-out etc.
“The origin of the artist and their music is what makes music exotic and
unique. Sadly, this uniqueness has prevented world music from normally
being played on commercial radio,” says Massad.
“Contrary to commercial radio’s programming constraints, Global Village
celebrates world music’s cultural diversity. A random selection from
Global Village’s play list may include a track from Misia singing in the
Portuguese Fado style, followed by The Afro-Cuban All Stars performing
a Cuban salsa, followed by Cheba Fadela and Cheb Sahrawi playing some
brassy, foot-stomping Algerian Rai.”
Global Village takes listeners on “a 1 hour musical carpet ride ideal for
armchair travelers. A celebration of cultural diversity, that breaks down
the barriers, both geographic and in genre, between music from all
corners of the globe.”
Global Village received the 2002 Duke Farrell Award for Best New
Program on 2RRR and was running for over 12 months before being offered to other stations.
Email [email protected] or contact Jim Beetson at the CBAA for more information.