West Africa

Lead Recycling Exacts High Price for Health

By The World ⋅ March 4, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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In the West African nation of Senegal, an informal recycling industry has poisoned children and left a neighborhood severely polluted. Residents caused the contamination by pulling apart car batteries to extract the lead. The government is now cleaning up the site, but many of the children will never be the same. Jori Lewis reports. Download MP3 (Photo: Jori Lewis)

Best Global Music 2009

By The World ⋅ December 18, 2009 ⋅ 3 comments ⋅ Transcript

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Just under a week to go before Christmas is upon us. We brought in Tom Schnabel, music programmer at KCRW, to discuss our top World music picks of the year. And maybe, just maybe it will spur you to make a last minute addition to your list. Download MP3

Best Global Music 2009
Best Global Music 2008
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Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou

By The World ⋅ November 4, 2009 ⋅ 3 comments ⋅ Transcript

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Even though the music business continues to suffer economically, record labels are still releasing lots of old music that’s been re-mastered and tweaked so it sounds fresher than ever. Columbia is about to re-issue everything Miles Davis recorded for them. 70 CDs in total. But I want to talk about the music of an old band that few people in the west have ever heard of: “Orchestre Poly Rhythmo de Cotonou.” We hear more today about Orchestre Poly Rhythmo de Cotonou. Download MP3

Guineans in New York City look toward home

By The World ⋅ October 13, 2009 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

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The violence that has rocked the West African nation of Guinea in the past weeks has left many Guineans living outside the country anxious about their friends and families back home. Mamadou Sidy Barry (pictured) lives and works in New York City. He’s trying to organize opposition to Guinea’s military rulers. The World’s Alex Gallafent takes the pulse of Guineans in New York. Download MP3 Photo: Alex Gallafent.

Senegal’s fishing crisis

By The World ⋅ August 21, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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People in the West African country of Senegal have made their living from the sea for generations. But overfishing has put the region’s fish stocks in crisis. And the Senegalese are struggling to find a solution. Jori Lewis has this report. >>> See photos from Senegal

US re-trains and re-arms Liberia’s military

By The World ⋅ August 10, 2009 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅ Transcript

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The US government is conducting an experiment in peacekeeping in Liberia. It’s retraining and rearming the Liberian army. The plan is to turn what was a notoriously criminal military into a force for stability. As Anna Sussman reports, the plan has raised hopes — and concerns — in the West African nation.

Global Hit: Tcheka

By The World ⋅ July 27, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Madeleine Bair reports on a young guitarist from the West African archipelago of Cape Verde. His name is Tcheka and he’s making his music known well beyond his homeland.

Tcheka

By The World ⋅ July 27, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Download MP3Madeleine Bair reports on a young guitarist from the West African archipelago of Cape Verde. His name is Tcheka and he’s making his music known well beyond his homeland.

Senegal’s traditional healers

By The World ⋅ July 24, 2009 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

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healer75

Jori Lewis reports that traditional medicine is big business in the West African nation of Senegal. Critics say regulation is needed, while others say traditional healers are their only hope. >>>Click here to view the audio slideshow

Ghanaians Await President Obama

By Clark Boyd ⋅ July 9, 2009 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅ Transcript

President Barack Obama arrives in Ghana on Friday. The World’s Laura Lynch is already in the capital, Accra, getting a sense of how Obama-mania has gripped the West African nation.