(headline image: Badenya les Freres Coulibaly – Photo by Atelier images) The jembe is a rope-tuned, skin-headed goblet drum associated above all with Mandé cultural…
The Jembe: West Africa’s Famed Goblet Drum
Category: Articles
The English Renaissance in the Tudor Period
ENGLAND was undergoing great changes during the 16th century. The country’s seafarers were setting out across the oceans bound for distant lands, the language was…
Revival of the Ancient Greek Kithara: How a 2,000-Year-Old Instrument Entered God of War
The sound of adventure video game God of War now includes an instrument that has not been heard for over 2,000 years. When Emmy Award-winning…
Don Partridge, the uncrowned King of the English Buskers
(headline image: Photograph by A. Vente or A & F. van Geelen – Don Partridge. Dutch TV program Fenklup, recorded 8 March 1968, broadcast 15…
Chachachá, the Alluring Cuban Rhythm
Chachachá, a spirited dance style with Cuban roots, has captivated enthusiasts globally with its lively movements, syncopated steps, and infectious rhythm. The genre was born…
Rural Music Saved from Extinction
British writer and musician John Phillpott examines the work of ‘the collectors’ who helped to ensure the survival of a rural tradition… The main reason…
APAP & globalFEST 2026: Renewal, Resilience, Resistance
The performing arts have endured crisis, change, and upheaval—and we’re still here. But here’s the shift: we’re done being humble. We’re done asking for permission.…
Bullerengue: History, Instruments, and Variations of an Afro-Colombian Tradition
Bullerengue is a traditional Afro-Colombian musical genre and dance from Colombia’s Caribbean coast. It is notable for its powerful matriarchal legacy. The genre stands out…
The Persian Setar, An Ancient and Influential Long-Necked Lute
(headline image: professional walnut setar MOS-4) The Persian setar (سهتار) occupies a distinctive place in Iranian classical music and in adjacent musical cultures influenced by…
The Legacy of Blues Icon Lead Belly
British writer and musician John Phillpott looks at the life and times of Huddie Ledbetter – the legendary Lead Belly – examining his legacy and…