Editor-in-chief Simon Broughton Publisher & Managing Director Paul Geoghegan Editor Jo Frost Deputy Editor & Reviews Editor Alexandra Petropoulos Art Director Paulina Stopka Advertisement Manager James Anderson-Hanney Online Content Editor James McCarthy Editorial Assistant Spencer Grady News Editor Russ Slater Listings Editor Tatiana Rucinska World Cinema Editor John Atkinson Sub Editor Emma Baker Marketing Manager John Barnett Marketing Executive Hayley Sigrist Cover Image Laura Lewis Contributing Editors Jane Cornwell, Mark Ellingham & Nigel Williamson Subscriptions Director Sally Boettcher Editorial Director Martin Cullingford CEO Ben Allen Chairman Mark Allen SUBSCRIPTIONS UK: 0800 137 201 Overseas: +44 (0)1722 716997 subscriptions@markallengroup.com ADVERTISING +44 (0)20 7501 6683
WELCOME
Musical legacies
There are plen of stories about musical legacies in this issue, the most famous being our cover star, Anoushka Shankar, who celebrates her family dynas with a special gala marking the centenary of her father Ravi’s birthday (read more on p26).
Less well-known, but all the more fascinating, is the story of Siti Muharam, the great-granddaughter of Siti Binti Saad who is considered the ‘mother of taarab,’ the defining sound of Zanzibar. Alexandra Petropoulos recounts this terrific tale of discovery on p34. A poignant family memoir was the catalyst for Carol Isaac’s animation and music project, The Wolf of Baghdad, about her parents’ former lives as Jews living in Iraq (p38). A live performance and screening of this intriguing audio-visual memoir will feature as part of this year’s Songlines Encounters Festival line-up – more details on p24.
Two recent deaths have also served as reminders of the importance of musical heritage. Carlos Rojas Hernández, harpist and founder of the Colombian group Cimarrón passed away in January (see p13), just before he was due to tour the UK with Catrin Finch. On evidence of the young cohorts who admirably carried on with the shows, the continuation of Hernández’s life-long dedication to putting joropo music on the map looks assured. Finally Joseph Shabalala, founder of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, died in February. He leaves a tremendous legacy that is being continued by his sons who will tour with the group this June (see p14).
“Joseph Shabalala,
founder of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, leaves
a tremendous
legacy”
Visit our website for more details
about our carbon offsetting:
Jo Frost, editor
www.songlines.co.uk/
carbon-offsetting
PS Don’t forget to check our annual International World Music Festival Guide 2020-21, included with this issue. There’s plen in there to whet your musical and wanderlust appetites!
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CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE INCLUDE
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Songlines is published by MA Music Leisure & Travel Ltd St Jude’s Church, Dulwich Rd, London, SE24 0PB, UK +44 (0)20 7738 5454 info@songlines.co.uk www.songlines.co.uk © MA Music Leisure & Travel Ltd, 2020. All rights reserved. No part of Songlines may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without prior written permission of the publishing director. The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the editor or Songlines advertisements in the journal do not imply endorsement of the products or services advertised. Please read our privacy policy, by visiting http:// privacypolicy.markallengroup.com. This will explain how we process, use and safeguard your data. ISSN 1464-8113. Printed by: Pensord Press Ltd, Blackwood, NP12 2A Record trade distribution Songlines 020 7738 5454 Newstrade distribution Seymour 020 7429 4000
Catalina Maria Johnson A Chicago-based journalist and radio host and producer, Catalina covers global music particularly as it intersects with topics of culture, identi and migration. Read her festival report on Canada’s TD Sunfest (p80).
Julian May Julian is a BBC arts producer making programmes o†en about or involving world and folk music for Radios 4, 3, 2 and the World Service. This issue he interviews Jane Harbour from Spiro on p23.
Robin Denselow Robin is a journalist specialising in music and politics. His book The Electric Muse Revisited: The Story of Folk into Rock and Beyond will be published this summer. Read his interview with Carol Isaacs on p38.
Songlines was launched in 1999 and is the definitive magazine for world music – music that has its roots in all parts of the globe, from Mali to Mexico, India to Iraq. Whether this music is defined as traditional, contemporary, folk or fusion, Songlines is the only magazine to truly represent and embrace it. However, Songlines is not just about music, but about how the music fits into the landscape; it’s about politics, history and identi . Delivered in both print and digital formats, Songlines, through its extensive articles and reviews, is your essential and independent guide to a world of music and culture, whether you are starting on your journey of discovery or are already a seasoned fan.
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ISSUE 156 › SONGLINES 03
