Songhoy Blues’ Return Journey
Lopa Kothari steps into 2025 with new roots-based music, and Oumar Touré from Malian band Songhoy Blues shares two tunes: one he met on the road, and one that reminds him of home.
In the first show of 2025, Lopa Kothari shares a taster of new roots-based music that is set for release in the New Year, including a track from Mexico-based Cuban singer-songwriter Rita Donte - whose forthcoming album explores Cuban traditions and Mexican genres like son jarocho - and soulful funk, rock and soukous courtesy of Kinshasa’s Jupiter & Okwess.
Elsewhere in the show, ahead of the release of their new album Héritage, Songhoy Blues’ bass player, Oumar Touré, offers his two ‘Return Journey’ tracks: one he encountered while traveling, and one that reminds him of home.
Produced by Silvia Malnati
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3
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Music Played
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Songhoy Blues
Gara
- Héritage.
- Transgressive Records.
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Rita Donte
Paseo de las misiones
- Ritual.
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Jupiter & Okwess
Les Bons Comptes (feat. Flavia Coelho)
- Ekoya.
- Airfono.
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Zhas Gulem Ensemble
On The River Bank
- Young Flowers: Music of Kazakhs from Orenburg Region.
- Antonovka Records.
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Mari Mathias
Annwn
- When I Survive.
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Dimi Mint Abba
El Bellotou
- Musique & Chants De Mauritanie.
- Auvidis Ethnic.
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Ibrahim Hamma Dicko
Tandina
- Gao.
- Cobalt.
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Matachindé
Violencia En Mi Pueblo
- Currulao y Manacillos del Pacifico Colombiano.
- PALENQUE RECORDS.
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Ganavya
Om Namah Sivaya (feat. Charles Overton & Ganesan Doraiswamy)
- Daughter of a temple.
- LEITER.
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Abel Selaocoe
Emmanuele
- Hymns Of Bantu.
- Warner Classics.
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Park Jiha
Blown Leaves
- All Living Things.
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Kamalesh Maitra
Raag Kirwani
- Raag Kirwani on Tabla Tarang.
- Black Truffle.
Broadcast
- Sat 4 Jan 202521:30BBC Radio 3
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