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Creole Choir of Cuba

Lopa Kothari presents the latest sounds from around the globe and the Creole Choir of Cuba in session. Their music tells stories of ancestors who worked in near slave conditions.

Lopa Kothari with the latest sounds from around the globe and the Creole Choir of Cuba in session.

The Creole Choir of Cuba, in the UK for their appearances at the 2010 London Jazz Festival, tell the stories of their Haitian ancestors who were brought to Cuba to work in near slave conditions in the sugar and coffee plantations, through a vibrant mix of singing and percussion.

The Choir sing in Creole, Cuba's second language, spoken by almost a million people, a pragmatic fusion of African, French and other languages. It's the language of a people twice exiled: first to Haiti from Africa through the iniquitous slave trade; then from Haiti to Cuba tricked into second slavery by their French masters after the Haitian Revolution of 1790. Other Haitians arrived in the 20th century fleeing political upheaval, poverty and oppression during the barbaric regime of Papa Doc Duvalier which held power from the 1950s to 70s, marked by reigns of terror and the brutality of his private militia, the Tonton Macoutes.

The Choir - five men and five women - decided to re-forge the resistance songs and laments of their forebears, to celebrate the history of their Haitian descendents enslaved to the Caribbean from West Africa. To the songs that had been passed down in their families since the early 19th century, they added more modern Haitian sounds.

1 hour, 45 minutes

Last on

Fri 19 Nov 2010 23:15

Music Played

  • Femi Kuti

    Dem Bobo

    • Africa for Africa.
    • Wrasse Records WRASS282.
  • Djoumbush

    A bit odd

    Performers: Warhol Dervish

    • Musique Gitane Tirque.
    • Counseil des arts du Canada Djoum00.
  • Thembi Seete

    Abafazi

    • Zoo City –The Soundtrack.
    • African Dope Records.
  • Alex Wilson

    Ankan Tolon

    Performers: Madou Sidiki Diabate, Djeneba Kone, Ahmed Fofana Composer: Fofana/Diabate/Wilson

    • Mali Latino.
    • Alex Wilson Records AWCD7.
  • Sara Mitra

    Sunday Morning

    • April Song.
    • Impossible Ark Records Unforldcd013.
  • Studio session

    • The Creole Choir of Cuba

      Edem Chanté

      Performers: Rogelio Rodriguez Torriente, Fidel Romero Miranda, Teresita Romero Miranda, Marcelo Andres Luis, Dalio Arce Vital, Emilia Diaz Chavez, Yordanka Sanchez Fajardo, Irian Esther Rondon Montejo, Marina de Los Angeles Collazo Fernandes, Yara Castellanos Diaz

      • ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Recording by Sound Engineers James Birtwistle and Jo Langton.
    • The Creole Choir of Cuba

      Se Lavi

      Performers: Rogelio Rodriguez Torriente, Fidel Romero Miranda, Teresita Romero Miranda, Marcelo Andres Luis, Dalio Arce Vital, Emilia Diaz Chavez, Yordanka Sanchez Fajardo, Irian Esther Rondon Montejo, Marina de Los Angeles Collazo Fernandes, Yara Castellanos Diaz

      • ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Recording by Sound Engineers James Birtwistle and Jo Langton.
  • Pura Fé

    Great Grandpah's Banjo

    Composer: Pura Fe’ Crescioni

    • Full Moon Rising.
    • Dixie Frog Records DFGCD8674.
  • Fanfare Ciocarlia

    Duj Duj

    Performers: Mitsou & Florentina Sandu Composer: Dragan Ristic

    • Queens & Kings.
    • Asphalt Rango Records CD-ATR1207.
  • Hanggai

    Dorov Moraril

    Composer: Trad, Arr. Yiliqi/Yilalata/Batubagen/Hurizha/Li Zhongtao/Xu Jingchen

    • He who travels far.
    • World Connection 43086.
  • Studio session

    • The Creole Choir of Cuba

      Peze Café

      Performers: Rogelio Rodriguez Torriente, Fidel Romero Miranda, Teresita Romero Miranda, Marcelo Andres Luis, Dalio Arce Vital, Emilia Diaz Chavez, Yordanka Sanchez Fajardo, Irian Esther Rondon Montejo, Marina de Los Angeles Collazo Fernandes, Yara Castellanos Diaz

      • ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Recording by Sound Engineers James Birtwistle and Jo Langton.
    • The Creole Choir of Cuba

      L'Atibonite Oh

      Performers: Rogelio Rodriguez Torriente, Fidel Romero Miranda, Teresita Romero Miranda, Marcelo Andres Luis, Dalio Arce Vital, Emilia Diaz Chavez, Yordanka Sanchez Fajardo, Irian Esther Rondon Montejo, Marina de Los Angeles Collazo Fernandes, Yara Castellanos Diaz

      • ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Recording by Sound Engineers James Birtwistle and Jo Langton.
  • Seu Jorge

    Errare Humanum Est

    Composer: Jorge Ben Performers: Almaz,

    • Seu Jorge & Almaz.
    • Cafeline Promo CD.
  • Idrissa Soumaoro

    Berebere

    Performers: Ali Farka Toure

    • Djitoumou.
    • Lusafrica 526442.
  • Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens

    Jive Makonga

    Composer: Marks Mankwane/Rupert Bopape

    • Jive & Soul: The very best of.
    • Nascente NSDCD022.
  • Dolores Sola

    Mananita de sol

    Composer: Mario Battistella/Alfredo Le Pera/Carlos Gardel

    • Salto Mortal.
    • Ojo Records OJO004.
  • Vitor Ramil

    Mango

    Composer: João Da Cunha Vargas/Vitor Ramil

    • Delibab.
    • Cooperdisc/Banrisul VR007.
  • Zoe Rahman

    The Cynic

    Composer: Rahman

    • The Cynic.
    • Manushi Records MANUCD001.
  • Tabu Ley Rochereau

    Aon Aon

    • The Voice of Lightness, Congo Classics 1961-1977.
    • Sterns Records STCD3027-28.
  • Mario Lucio

    M'Afrika

    Performers: Awa Sangho

    • Kreol.
    • Lusafrica 024082.
  • The Garifuna Women’s Collective

    Fuleisei

    Compser: Silvia Baltazar Rochez

    • Umalali.
    • Cumbancha CMB-CD-6.
  • Be-Being

    Sooyeongyaryu

    • World music of Korea, Into the Light.
    • Korea Arts Management Service/MCST Promo CD.

Broadcast

  • Fri 19 Nov 2010 23:15

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