WORLD BEAT MEETS BUFFALO BILL
I had a great conversation with Mapumba the other week. Putumayo Records are trotting him out as their latest discovery and have put him on a whistle stop tour around North America in celebration of their 15th anniversary, along with their two new global music compilations, African Party and African Dreamland.
There was an enlightening quote from Youssou N'Dour I read recently. He reasoned, "Africa wants a modern sound from us and you want a traditional sound. For us in the middle it's crazy!" I told Mapumba that it's only the opinion of a few North American festival promoters and critics, that we need to put African culture on parade like Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. You know; with tribal robes, warrior dances and the more djembes the better. It's no less cultural stereo-typing than America's exploitation of the First Nations peoples and it's no less unflattering. Let me interject by saying that Mapumba is
well spoken, well dressed and well representing the sound of today’s Africa. I told him that I want to hear what modern Africa wants to hear, because western artists aren't doing justice anymore to pop culture. He heaved a sigh of relief and said, "You know, you're the first person in North America to tell me this."
We have to stop looking at world music through starry altruistic eyes. Yes, it's important to preserve the ancient cultural touch stones from far off lands but, frankly my concerns are a little more practical and lay a little closer to home. Left to light-weight talents like Rhianna, egomaniacs like Kanye West and knuckleheads like Nickleback, the future of our own popular music culture is at risk and its salvation may very well be in the hands of global musicians. Let's hear it for the innovative sounds of Brazil's CSS, Japan's Love Psychedelico, America's DeVotchKa and Mapumba from the Democratic Republic of The Congo for helping to salvage some credibility and dignity for today's popular music. We're already seeing the emergence of Passport Rock. It won't be long before international artists dictate the future of western pop music as well as preserving their own traditions.
