When it comes to protest singers perhaps no one had a more powerful voice than Mariem Hassan.

Hassan was born in what was then known as the Spanish Sahara on the west coast of Africa, but left for southwest Algeria like so many others when Morocco took over her homeland. She began singing about he plight of her people: the Sahrawi, in the refugee camps. Later she would tour Europe singing those same songs. Her sound recalls the desert blues of bands like Tiniarwen and Terkaft. Hassan died in late August at the age of 57 from bone cancer. We’ll hear some of her music.

Also on tap — new music from Norwegian singer Farao, Jamaican dub, a beautiful mix of kora and cello and a fun take on one of Sonny & Cher’s biggest hits.

Playlist

9PM

Joe Loco & His Orchestra- Tenderly- Make Mine Mambo

Machito & His All Stars- Asia Minor- The Original Mambo Kings

Mariem Hassan- Magat Milkitna Dulaa- Arabesque Arba’a 4

Terakaft- Wahouche Natareh (Lions) - Alone (Tenere)

Angkanang Kunchai with Ubon Pattana Band- Lam Plearn Koi Rai- Isan Lam Plearn

Tanya Tagaq- Growl- Auk/Blood

Mariem Hassan- Haiyu- Haiyu

9:30PM

Las Rubias Del Norte- Porque Te Vas- Ziguala

Ava Rocha- Transeunte Coracao- Ava Patrya Yndia Yracema

Horace Andy- Money Money- Dance Hall Style EP

Ballake Sissoko & Vincent Segal- Samba Tomoro- Musique de Nuit

10PM

Farao- Tiaf- Til It’s All Forgotten

Mbongwana Star- Kimpala Pala- From Kinshasa

Antibalas- I.C.E. - Security

Mariem Hassan- Hinwani- Shouka

Linda Yamamoto- Furi Furi 5- Nippon Girls 2: Japanese Pop Beat and Rock & Roll 1965-70

Inga- The Beat Goes On- The In-Kraut Vol. 3: Hip Shaking Grooves Made in Germany 1967-74

10:30PM

Chicha Libre- Alone Again Or…: The Guide to Psychedelic Cumbia

The Semi Colon- Nekwaha Semi Colon- Nigerian Special: Modern Highlife, AfroSounds & Nigerian Blues 1970-76

La Yegroes- Trocitos de Madera- Viene de Mi

Omar Khorshid- Guitar El Chark- Guitar El Chark

Taraf de Haidouks- Carolina- Gypsy Caravan/ When the Road Bends

The Afro Soultet- Afro Riot- Afrodesia

Here’s a clip of Mbongwana Star in concert.