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On Air Now 04:00 – 06:00

Last updated: Wednesday 16 Apr 2008
1XTRA NEWS: THE REAL TALK OF THE STREETS
Sounds of slavery
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When you hear Michael Jackson's Bad can you hear the African drums?
African slaves may have been ripped from their homelands over 200 years ago but their music travelled with them and it still shapes today's music.

From the 'call & response' heard in Lethal B's Bizzle Bizzle to James Brown cuts which can be traced back to ancient African community leaders who sang the news to villagers who would respond in unison.

1Xtra traces the roots of today's R&B, Hip Hop in the drums and chants of African slaves.
What tunes have you heard an African infleunce in? What genre of music reflects African sounds most? Can all music be traced back to Africa?
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