Madagascar – Sylvestre Randafison, a key figure in the development of Madagascar’s most famous instrument, the valiha, passed away July 12.
Born Randafison Benjamin Sylvestre, Sylvestre Randafison was a major
influence on numerous younger musicians including Justin Vali, Rajery, Ratovo, and Doné Andriambaliha. Sylvestre Randafison was more than a musician. He was also a musical instrument maker and an ethnomusicologist at the National Academy of Madagascar. In the early ’90s he was an artist in residence at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
