This week we are showing Democracy in Dakar about the role that Hip Hop culture played in the last presidential election in Senegal. Even if you are not a fan of Hip Hop I think you will find this to be a meaty, thought provoking documentary, particularly in the light of the recent US election. Our own ambivalence toward the US system was in full evidence prior to November 4th.  There were fears of vote tampering, election rigging, and the campaign itself had many of us tearing our hair over any number of issues-- whether it was smear tactics or the unbelievable fixation of our media on trivialities… or our fears that the media itself was a pawn of darker forces.  So it is fascinating to get this insight into what was happening on the ground in Senegal through the eyes of MCs both established (Xuman, DJ Awadi) and on the rise.  Perhaps it will stimulate you into researching the track record of the current president there; or maybe get you wondering about the nature of power; how one gets it, and how one keeps it.

This kind of documentary that straddles entertainment and issues, is typical of Link TV.  I hope you'll take a moment to make a pledge while our Music and Culture mini pledge is still running, and show that you understand and support this very important and unusual programming.

I was very lucky that growing up, my dad loved to bring home all kinds of music. He was what was called, back then, a "hi fi nut," which meant we had the best sound system in the neighborhood. He'd put a record on and crank the speakers up so that the whole house would fill with music. He played classical music, Broadway musicals, and folk music.

One day he brought home a recording that changed my life. It was full of joy and rhythm and beauty. It was Miriam Makeba's "The Voice of Africa."  I had never heard a voice like that, or such melodies. I sang along, I danced, and the music became a part of me. On the jacket of the album I read something about her attitude toward South Africa that I did not understand; I did not know anything about apartheid.

Miriam Makeba passed away on November 10th. She left a legacy of countless recordings, and is considered one of the first "world music" stars. There is no doubt that she paved the way for the careers of the many world musicians that have since graced us with their songs. For my part, I remember the last song on that album my dad brought home. It was called "Qhude" and it's a beauty...if you can find it, give it a listen and think of Miriam, Mama Africa.

This week we're airing The Festival in the Desert: the Tent Sessions. This isn't a new program by any means, but it put me in mind of two very good friends and heroes of world music: Banning Eyre and Sean Barlow. Together, they are the heart and soul of Afropop Worldwide, the pioneering radio program and website that has been bringing the sounds of Africa and the African diaspora to millions of listeners. It was their idea to go to Timbuktu and videotape the festival. Had they ever done anything like it before? No. Did this discourage them? No. They came back with hours of remarkable footage - and with some expert editing - made the program you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home. Sean and Banning definitely "roughed it" making this film, but when you watch it, all you will feel is the joy of music - and their joy of capturing it.

This week we are airing a short profile of the band Tinariwen, and you can also see it here on our website. Usually we indicate the country that a band originates from, but Tinariwen are Tuareg (no, that's not just a car), a nomadic people who have been living in the Sahara for millennia. When you are watching these tall, swathed men playing their hypnotic rhythms, it is hard not to be carried off to an imagined, desert landscape. You can get some feeling for this in the live performance featured in the middle of the profile. The musicians have incorporated the electric guitar into their own tradition, creating a genre now called "Desert Blues." Since they came to prominence on the world music stage, there have been several others following suit. Oddly, all of them have names that start with a "t!" I invite you to write in and tell me who those bands are.

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.