RC 261114SAfm
Saturday, 14 November 2026
Music of Africa marked Angola's 11 November 1975 independence in depth, then profiled Splash, Anniflor Bachelilis and Fanta Damba while taking listener song requests on a Saturday morning.
- 03:42
Angola became independent on 11 November 1975 after Portuguese rule, with Agostinho Neto declaring the country free as MPLA, FNLA and UNITA rivalry continued.
- 03:42
Independence came at a devastating price: a shattered economy, deep political divisions, and a civil war that continued for decades after 1975.
- 04:22
Splash, led by the late Dan Chanda, started as Flying Squad before finding success blending disco, pop and traditional South African rhythms.
- 04:53
Fanta Damba, born in Segu in 1938 into a griot family, became one of the first Malian female jeli singers to tour Europe solo in 1975.
- 04:37
Gabonese singer-songwriter Anniflor Bachelilis blends traditional Gabonese music with blues, jazz and Afro folk, released her debut album in 1997 and founded a festival.