The first American city to nurture a thriving community of African bands wasn’t New York, Miami, or Chicago—it was the San Francisco Bay Area. In the 1970s, Hugh Masekela brought Hedzoleh Soundz from Ghana, settling in Santa Cruz. Nigerian maestros O.J. Ekemode and Joni Haastrup made their home in Oakland. South African performers from the touring stage show Ipi Tombi stayed behind in the Bay, forming the trailblazing band Zulu Spear.
By the early ’80s, the Bay Area’s worldbeat scene was roaring to life. Bands like Kotoja, Mapenzi, Big City, and the Nigerian Allstars transformed clubs and community halls into incubators of rhythm and resistance. This episode takes you on a tour through the sounds, stories, and spirit of the Bay Area’s catalytic African music movement.
Produced by: Banning Eyre
APWW #713
SAN FRANCISCO: AFROPOP BY THE BAY, BACK IN THE DAY…
