World Routes - 27/09/2008

Benny and Maria Wenda are members of the Lani ethnic group, many of whom still follow traditional ways of life that are said to have changed little since the Stone Age. But as a musician, and as leader of the Koteka Tribal Assembly, Benny became involved in the separtist movement in West Papua: the region has been internationally recognised as a provice of Indonesia since the 1960s, but the movement claims that traditional Papuan cultue is being supressed. Benny escaped from prison by the Indonesian authorities five years ago, and he and Maria now live in exile in the UK. Their songs reflect traditional Lani values, and the struggle to assert the culture of West Papua. Besides this studio session, Senegalese DJ Dudu Sarr and UK music critic Nigel Williamson review new CD releases. The Lani Singers: Ap Aike (Benny and Maria Wenda) (3:30) BBC Studio recording http://www.thelanisingers.com Rokia Traore: Kounandi (5:25) Album: Tchamantché Universal/Nonesuch 7559799345, track 5 http://www.rokiatraore.net Comrade Fatso and Chabvondoka: Mahara (4:35) Album: House of Hunger Private release http://www.myspace.com/comradefatsoandchabvondoka http://www.comradefatso.com Mariza: Já me Deixou (Artur Ribeiro, Max) (3:44) Album: Terra EMI 50999 2 29423 2 6, track 1 http://www.mariza.com Renata Rosa: Cacador (Trad. arr. Renata Rosa) (4:09) Album: Manto dos Sonhos, track 4 http://www.renatarosa.com Terakaft: Akh Issudar (Kedou Ag Ossad, Terakaft) (4:35) Album: Akh Issudar IRL IRL039, track 1 http://www.myspace.com/terakaft Lani Singers: Mutok (Benny and Maria Wenda) (3:20) BBC Studio recording Lani Singers: Way-ya-o-yia (Benny and Maria Wenda) (3:15) BBC Studio recording