Expresso Africa

On the 8th of October 2006, the first broadcast of Expreso África was launched through Favela FM Educational Radio. This programme is presented by the Senegalese cultural producer and DJ Ibrahima Gaye, founder of the Casa África Cultural Center. The intention has been to create a mean to introduce and to spread the African and Afro-Brasilian cultures. This premise, without precedents in the state of Minas, gave voice to these cultures and it’s heirs in front of the entire metropolitan population. Given the increasing reach that Radio Favela is obtaining within the most diverse social layers, the Expreso África is seizing an opportunity to promote plurality and dialogue between contemporary and traditional cultures. The programme is on air Sundays at 4:00 pm on 106,7 FM and through the internet at www.radiofavelafm.com.br

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With a one hour duration, the Expreso África consists of two segments. During the first one the listeners are introduced to one specific country of the African continent, featuring related socio.economic and cultural information: Interesting facts as city names, local currency, economic activities, cultural aspects and general references to the day to day life of the chosen country. The goal is to stimulate the listener’s interest for each and every one of the African regions and, goes without saying, introduce him to the corresponding local musicians. This segment is called Suñu Keur, meaning “homeland” in wolof, the native Senegalese tongue.

The second segment is divided in up to four different sub-segments, depending on how each programme develops. These are the following:

Kad du, kad du gui (Word, the word)

A text is read, first in an original African tongue, and then in Portuguese. In this way, is expected that the listener begins to experience certain closeness with the African literature. Understanding that we take as an “original African tongue” any tongue spoken in the continent before the arrival of the Europeans, and as an “Official tongue” that one adopted in the African countries after the European colonization.

Bamba

The name of this segment makes reference to the Senegalese intelectual Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, one of the twentieth century´s main African personalities. At this point the programme features the condensed biography of an African or an afro-diasporic personality. National heroes and their deeds, artists, politicians, spiritual leaders. People whose stories and achievements have become a reference to the African societies.

Togu Yaye (mom´s food)

Gastronomy is one of the main popular cultural manifestations. The feeding habits are evidence of other day to day habits as, for example, the kinds of crops and also of the biodiversity and some meteorological facts. During this segment, the programme informs the listener about this additional aspect of the African culture.

Doxandéem (“wanderer”)

As a free-subject segment, this is the most democratic space in the Expreso África. It can present interviews, cultural programmation and music and the audience’s participation. The public can make musical requests, comments and criticize the programme, and also suggest subjects and interviews by e-mail.