Sounds of Africa: Migrant Songs

Today's Sounds of Africa combines my love of music, stories, and migration. The New York Times recently wrote about "Songs of Migration" a musical event with Hugh Masekela and many others who perform songs that were sung by migrants from all over South Africa and Africa who moved to Jo'burg to work in the mines. The performance also contributes songs of the immigrant roots of white South Africans.

I have always had a deep interest in the stories of migrants, how the separation from home and families effect their lives and those that are left behind so the fact that this performance revives songs that were buried (but not forgotten) for so many years is an amazing why to pay tribute to the past while bringing forth music that is "new" to those of younger generations.

Here is Masekela performing Coal Train....

{Photo: New York Times}