Category Archives: Africa

Do you believe? Believe in love?

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Josh - Hugh

Give me something to work with
‘Cause I, I’m gonna need a little more DIRECTION
Give me something to work with
‘Cause I, I’m gonna need a little more DIRECTION
Give me something to work with
‘Cause I, I’m gonna need a little more DIRECTION

Somewhere, in a fox hole
Trying to remember your name
Standing on sixty, the chapel
Reaching out to touch your hand
‘Cause I, I
‘Cause I, I

Do you believe? Believe in love?
In all the kinds of love, or just the ones you understand?
Do you believe? Believe in love?
In all kinds of love?
In all kinds of love?

In all the kinds of love, or just the ones you understand?
Do you believe? Believe in love?
In all kinds of love?
In all kinds of love?

Give me something to work with

These are the lyrics to Direction, the brilliant song, by London-based band, Hugh. “The song stopped me in my tracks on first listen, then I focused in on the lyrics”, says Life Elsewhere host, Norman B. The inspiration and background story to Direction is explained with surprising and candid detail by Joshua Idehen of Hugh in the next edition of Life Elsewhere. Hailing from Benin City in Southern Nigeria, poet, and spoken word artist, Idehen is a bubbling source of cultural references from obscure movies to classic literature. The story he tells of how the song Direction came to be will surprise you almost as much as the unlikely reason for the band’s name, Hugh. Make sure you do not miss Josh from Hugh on the next edition of Life Elsewhere. The broadcast times are below.

Life Elsewhere airs:
Sundays 12 noon ET at The Source WMNF HD3  
Mondays 7.00pm ET at WROM Radio
Mondays 5.00pm PT & Thursdays 7.00pm PT at NWCZ Radio

Life Elsewhere can be heard on CMG Global Media
If you miss any editions of Life Elsewhere, go here then go to the Listen On Demand panel, choose the date of a show and click play.

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Cecil The Lion. Donald The Caricature. Mama Africa.

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Gareth Patterson
Trump by Steve Brodner for Time
Miriam Makeba

The death of Cecil the lion resulted in headlines around the world, filled with outpourings of concern for the welfare of African wildlife. Gareth Patterson has dedicated his life to caring for and understanding African wildlife. From his home in a remote location on the edge of the Knysna forest, in South Africa, Gareth joins the program for an informative chat about Cecil, African lions, the elusive Knysna elephants and the truth about big game hunting. If you are curious to know the full story about hunting lions like Cecil and the fate of African wildlife, you won’t want to miss this exclusive interview with Gareth Patterson on the next edition of Life Elsewhere.

“Donald Trump is the ultimate caricature”, says esteemed satirical illustrator, Steve Brodner, who has been putting pen to paper for a long time to craft memorable political caricatures. Steve is a master of the editorial idiom, his work has appeared in most major magazines and newspapers in the United States, such as Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The New Yorker, Esquire, Time, Playboy, Mother Jones, Harper’s, Mother Jones, The Atlantic. To help us understand why political illustration has become so popular recently, and the fascination with Trump, Brodner, a man who adroitly articulates his insights and opinions, will join the next edition of Life Elsewhere.

For this week’s Hit That Never Was, we could not resist playing a request that came as the news of Cecil the lion was breaking: Mbube* by Miriam Makeba. The revered South African singer and civil rights activist, who died in 2008, was nicknamed Mama Africa, was the first artist from Africa to popularize African music around the world. She recorded and toured with many popular artists, such as Harry Belafonte, Paul Simon and her former husband Hugh Masekela. She was a fervent campaigner against apartheid, which resulted in the South African government revoking her passport in 1960 and her citizenship and right of return in 1963. As the apartheid system crumbled she returned home for the first time in 1990. Makeba died of a heart attack on 9 November 2008.
*Mbube  means lion..it has been sung for centuries in South Africa. In the West, it is better known as The Lion Sleeps Tonight.

The illustration of Donald Trump by Steve Brodner, was created for the latest edition of Time, used by kind permission of the artist. 

Life Elsewhere airs:
Sundays at 12 noon ET at The Source WMNF HD3  
Mondays at 7.00pm ET at WROM Radio
Mondays at 5.00pm PT at NWCZ Radio

Recent editions of Life Elsewhere can be heard at our Soundcloud page

 

Cecil & The Man Who Loves Lions

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Gareth Patterson

We had been alerted to Gareth Patterson’s incredible, dedicated work with African wildlife, a few months ago. Finally an interview was scheduled, allowing for the time difference and Gareth‘s remote location on the edge of the Knysna forest, in South Africa. We were all set to chat with the well-known environmentalist, it was just after sunrise our time, and late afternoon in Knysna. But, the connection was not made, due to one of the frequent power outages where Patterson lives. As we were desperately trying to reach Gareth, news was coming in of the death of Cecil, a free roaming lion, lured out of the safety of the Hwange National Park. Shot by an American dentist, for a trophy on his wall. It was hard to believe, here we were, about to talk with one of the world’s leading authorities on lions, as a major news story was breaking, centered around the very animals Gareth Patterson has spent most of his life living with and caring for. Our frustration would be an understatement. After numerous emails and attempts via Skype, contact was reestablished with Gareth. Again, allowing for the time-difference, a new interview time was scheduled. Then the rains came where Life Elsewhere is produced. Norman B was trapped in his home unable to leave because he was surrounded by flooded streets. Once again, our scheduled interview with Gareth Patterson had to be cancelled. The good news is, the death of Cecil the lion, has not been forgotten, even though the GOP-Trump-Circus has dominated the headlines for days. Finally, we coordinated with Gareth Patterson for an informative chat about Cecil, African Lions, the elusive Knysna elephants and the truth about big game hunting. If you are curious to know the full story about hunting lions like Cecil and the fate of African wildlife, you won’t want to miss this exclusive interview with Gareth Patterson on the next edition of Life Elsewhere.

Life Elsewhere airs:
Sundays at 12 noon ET at The Source WMNF HD3  
Mondays at 7.00pm ET at WROM Radio
Mondays at 5.00pm PT at NWCZ Radio