Pan-African Rhythms: Uniting the Continent Through Music
by Katherine McVicker, Founder of Arts Connect Africa and Director of Music Works International
In a few short months, it will be 38 years since Paul Simon’s seventh studio album, "Graceland,” was released. The album won the album of the year Grammy in 1987 and became (and still remains) Simon’s bestselling album of all time. This success was not just because of its eclectic mix of genres such as pop, rock, acapella, Zydeco and South African music genres like isicathamiya and mbaqanga, but also because it was a political statement, particularly because it came at a period when western musical artists and organizations had decided to impose a boycott of South African art and music because of the country’s apartheid policy.
But more importantly, the album launched the international career...