Hip Deep Angola: 4-part radio series exploring music in southern Africa

Ned Sublette shares word of a new Afropop Worldwide radio series premiering this month, and continuing in four episodes through November: HIP DEEP ANGOLA, "an unprecedented exploration of the history and contemporary reality of this southern African nation — a story told in music."

Angola is not an easy place to report from even now, but until recently, it was almost impossible. From 1961 to 2002, it was at war on its own territory, emerging with little in the way of infrastructure. Now, fueled by oil revenues, it's undergoing a massive national construction project unlike anything else in the world. Produced by HIP DEEP co-founder Ned Sublette, who traveled to Angola in July, and featuring commentary by leading musicians and distinguished scholars, HIP DEEP ANGOLA will air on public radio stations around the country via Public Radio International.

The first episode goes up today and will be available at afropop.org. It will air on WNYE 91.5 FM in New York Saturday at 11 p.m. and Monday at noon. You can also hear it (right now) at SoundCloud.