UKNY for June 19
Oumou Sangaré (photo by Holly Whittaker, PR)
Today is Juneteenth — the anniversary of the day in 1865 when the last of enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas learned of their freedom— although the federal holiday falls on Monday (FUV has scheduled special Juneteenth programming from 6 a.m. to midnight tomorrow). The spirit, soul, and ongoing lessons of Juneteenth infuse tonight's "UKNY" at 11pm.
Mali's Oumou Sangaré's career has arched over 30 years, including Grammy wins and West African superstardom for the Wassoulou vocalist. Her new album, Timbuktu, is a breezy and uplifting fusion of Sangaré's evocative storytelling savvy, Mamdou Sidibe's kamele ngoni mastery, and an unexpected longterm stay in Baltimore, where she landed during the Covid lockdown.
Songs by Cleo Sol, Sounds of Blackness, and Mr. Jukes and Barney Artist bookend a 1971 gospel classic, and Paris's Ibeyi hook up with Trinidad-born, London-based Berwyn for a reconfiguration of a punk 1981 anthem. And Neneh Cherry's daughter, Tyson, revisits one of her mother's 30-year-old songs for a new Cherry tribute album, The Versions.
Late night British and international releases on "UKNY," Sundays from 11 p.m.-midnight, on 90.7 FM, streaming at WFUV.org, and on demand in the Weekend Archives after broadcast.
Songs played:
1. (Cincinnati-Los Angeles, US) Sudan Archives, “Selfish Soul,” single
2. SAULT feat. Michael Kiwanuka, “Bow,” Untitled (Black Is)
3. (Bamako, ML) Oumou Sangaré, “Sira,” Timbuktu
4. Mr. Jukes and Barney Artist, “Gratitude,” The Locket
5. (NYC-Chicago, US) Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir, “Like a Ship,” Like a Ship (Without a Sail)
6. Cleo Sol, “Promises,” Mother
7. (Minneapolis/St. Paul, US) Sounds of Blackness, “Optimistic,” The Evolution of Gospel
8. Rachel Chinouriri, “Happy Ending,” Better Off Without EP
9. (Paris, FR) Ibeyi feat. Berwyn, “Rise Above (Black Flag cover),” Spell 31
10. (Milwaukee, US) Speech, “Like Marvin Gaye Said,” Speech
11. Fold, “Concrete Things,” Aphelion: A Tribute to Lorraine Hansberry
12. Poppy Ajudha, “Fall Together,” The Power in Us
13. Tyson, “Sassy (Neneh Cherry cover)” The Versions
14. Theon Cross feat. Remi Graves, “Intro,” Intra-I
