This week’s podcast is a compilation of items from the radio show. First, the 70th anniversary of the start of WWII: Marco Werman interviews Svetlana Savranskaya of The National Security Archive at The George Washington University about Russian memories of WW2. You may remember Savranskaya; she helped us consider the parallels between the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in 1979 and the U.S.-led invasion in 2001 in HWGH#10. In another story pegged to the 70th anniversary of the start of WW2, The World’s Laura Lynch reports on a reunion of Holocaust survivors in London. And finally, in a footnote to HWGH #19 (about Gabon’s President Omar Bongo), The World’s Marco Werman tells us about the musical career of Bongo’s son and successor, Ali Ben Bongo. >>> Click here to join the “How We Got Here” Facebook Group Page.

The winner gets to fill the shoes of the late Omar Bongo Ondimba. He was in power for 42 years — until his death in June. One of the candidates now vying for the job is the late president’s son — Ali Ben Bongo.

He — and two other candidates — have all claimed victory. Opposition leaders have accused the younger Bongo of trying to steal the vote. Meanwhile, election officials in Libreville are urging calm — as they continue to count ballots.

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Ali Ben Bongo may be a politician now — but he’s got a past as a musician. He got his start in 1977. He was 18 years old at the time — and went by the name Alain Bongo.

His first album was called “A Brand New Man.” Here’s the title track. After releasing the record — Alain Bongo toured West Africa. He was backed up by a 30-piece American band.

Cost was no object for the president’s son. Through the years, Ali Ben Bongo also indulged his musical passion by inviting American artists to Gabon. Michael Jackson made the trip. So did Jay-Z.

And even after making the transition to politics, Ali Ben Bongo just can’t leave music behind. In fact, candidate Bongo rapped at a hip-hop festival — in front of 10,000 people. The rapping candidate may yet be proclaimed Gabon’s president.

He and the rest of the country will have to wait for the official results.

But there’s no question that Sunday’s vote was historic — after four decades of rule by the elder Mr. Bongo.

Gabonese musician Lord Ekomy Ndong marked the occasion with a rap of his own — called “30-08-09.”

The sounds of Gabonese rapper Lord Ekomy Ndong close our program today.

The last one died in June after 42 years in power. Now the country is waiting to find out who won the right to replace him. Three candidates have claimed victory.

Election officials in the capital Libreville are urging people to remain calm. One of the top candidates is the son of the late president. He’s got a musical career under his belt — supporters say he would be the first rapping president.

We’ll tell you more about him in our Global Hit segment. First you need to name the country in west-central Africa where they’re still waiting for election results…

That’s the answer to our Geo Quiz — Gabon.

A presidential vote was held there on Sunday. The winner gets to fill the shoes of the late Omar Bongo Ondimba. He was in power for 42 years — until his death in June.

One of the candidates now vying for the job is the late president’s son — Ali Ben Bongo. He — and two other candidates — have all claimed victory. Opposition leaders have accused the younger Bongo of trying to steal the vote.

Meanwhile, election officials in Libreville are urging calm — as they continue to count ballots. Ali Ben Bongo may be a politician now — but he’s got a past as a musician. He got his start in 1977.

He was 18 years old at the time — and went by the name Alain Bongo. His first album was called “A Brand New Man.” After releasing the record — Alain Bongo toured West Africa. He was backed up by a 30-piece American band.

Cost was no object for the president’s son. Through the years, Ali Ben Bongo also indulged his musical passion by inviting American artists to Gabon. Michael Jackson made the trip. So did Jay-Z.

And even after making the transition to politics, Ali Ben Bongo just can’t leave music behind. In fact, candidate Bongo rapped at a hip-hop festival — in front of 10,000 people. The rapping candidate may yet be proclaimed Gabon’s president.

He and the rest of the country will have to wait for the official results. But there’s no question that Sunday’s vote was historic — after four decades of rule by the elder Mr. Bongo.

Gabonese musician Lord Ekomy Ndong marked the occasion with a rap of his own — called “30-08-09.”

The sounds of Gabonese rapper Lord Ekomy Ndong close our program today.