We’re showing some fascinating music documentaries this week, and all of them deal in some way with cross-cultural influences. “Gilles Apap: Renegade Fiddler” spotlights a brilliant but controversial classical violinist whose musical interests are too eclectic to be contained by the western written tradition alone. “The Pied Piper of Hutzovina” focuses on the meeting point between “traditional” Russian Gypsy music and Punk. “Fangafrika” takes us to a huge hip hop festival in Burkina Faso, where that quintessentially American synthesis (rap) is being synthesized yet again. “Guca” introduces us to the brass band repertoire of the Balkans, a joyous offspring of the Turkish Janissary bands that accompanied the Ottoman troops so many generations ago. And as if to bookend our survey, “Brasileirinho” is about choro music, the cross between the western classical tradition, African improvisation and rhythms, and the saudade of Portuguese folk music. While we are sometimes daunted by the monolithic and jaded pop music of our time, it is incredibly refreshing to dip into these hybrids, and to know that music itself is always capable of infinite combinations, and that musicians will ever remain open to that process.

This week, to coincide with our coverage of the Democratic convention, we are rolling out programming about positive change. My favorite (but of course, I am somewhat biased towards music) is Fangafrika, about a Hip Hop festival in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. In this documentary you will meet passionate, engaged, and engaging young people who are dedicated to using the microphone as a platform for social comment. You won't see any bling, but you will hear a lot of singing, rhyming, and improvising about serious issues. The film is a Who's Who in African hip hop, from veterans like Pee Froiss, the members of Daara J, and Positive Black Soul to up and coming hot acts. And while it's true that the countries of Africa still have their problems, I'm an optimist, and think that we are going to see a steady improvement. Maybe it's the inevitability of the globalized economy - or maybe the MCs of Fangafrika give me hope.

Africa is a continent withover 50 countries, each with a myriad of faces and issues, and as it assumes a more and more important role in the world it is fascinating to see the cultural markers that are coming out of it, in the form of movies and documentaries. This week we are showing three films that represent such markers.

Our music documentary Fangafrica takes a look at a hooked up and urbanized pop culture, specifically a hip hop festival in Burkina Fasso. Karoo Kitar Blues, on the other hand focuses on an insular and isolated community in the South African desert, where music is an hermetic blend of local sensibilities and old colonial pop tunes.

The Cinemondo entry Waiting for Happiness is a reverie about cultural dislocation in Mauritania, as an urbanite visiting his mother's home town encounters traditions and attitudes he can no longer recognize or relate to. In particular check out the transmission of music from one female bard to another. To hear more of this kind of striking music, check out Ouleya Mint Amartichitt at YouTube here.

For videos that showcase some of the many faces of Africa, check out:
Daara J "Boomerang"
Issa Bagayogo "Diama Don"
Wazimbo "Nwahulwana"
K'Naan "Soobax"
Sobanza Mimanisa "Kiwembo"