African Music Concerts Week of Jul 16 - Jul 22

The Grammy-winning group which hit the world tour after Paul Simon's Graceland album exposed them, is back for another romp featuring their new album Long Walk to Freedom.

This is the story of refugees from the war torn nation of Sierra Leone. They suffered individual atrocities and moved to Guinea to escape. There they developed a musical sound which they used to spread messages of forgiveness to other refugees.

This film won the Best Documentary award at the AFI Film Festival in November 2005. Tonight and tomorrow night are the highest recommended nights of the summer.

This will probably be the most fascinating concert of the summer, IF you go to the movie the night before as well. The refugees are all displaced people who left Sierra Leone during the war. They made their music while living in camps in Guinea. If you know the story, you can't help but react to their sound emotionally. They have their own soulful harmony which they created to try to help themselves and others to heal the trauma they've experienced.

That's not the only reason, however. There music is very happy and danceable, showing that characteristic West African rhythm. The songs are in pidgin English and have influences of calypso and reggae. Check out their hit "Soda Soap" on NPR.

The African weekly series in Hollywood continues with North African Arabic Electronica. They do studio work as well as live performances. Expect a global mix of DJ-style music with backbeats and dub.