Beyond the Blue Wall: World Music Festival

03/19/24 • 34 min

Launched in 1978, The World Music Festival has its roots in CalArts’ World Music program in the Herb Alpert School of Music. As we prepare for the The 2024 World Music Festival in April, we are joined by the co-directors of the World Music Program specialization, Yeko Ladzekpo-Cole and Andrew Grueschow, who talk about the history of the World Music Festival, how it has evolved, and what we can expect for 2024.

Watch to learn more about the 2024 World Music Festival, April 26 - 28.

The intro music used in this episode is titled “Bamaya”
The outro music used in this episode is titled "Jera”
These live performances were recorded in Accra, Ghana. Produced by retired CalArts faculty, Kobla Ladzekpo, under his record label Zadonu Records (copyright 2001) Co-produced by Andrew Grueschow.

"Bamaya" is danced by men dressed as women. This tradition began as a way to please the gods so they would bring rain.

"Jera" is music that is sometimes performed at large funerals. The dance that accompanies it is not very common.

Beyond the Blue Wall is a production of the CalArts Office of Advancement. You can find all of the episodes at https://calarts.edu/about-calarts/newsroom/podcast.

Watch to learn more about the 2024 World Music Festival, April 26 - 28.

"Bamaya" is danced by men dressed as women. This tradition began as a way to please the gods so they would bring rain.

"Jera" is music that is sometimes performed at large funerals. The dance that accompanies it is not very common.

Beyond the Blue Wall is a production of the CalArts Office of Advancement. You can find all of the episodes at https://calarts.edu/about-calarts/newsroom/podcast.

Previous Episode

Beyond the Blue Wall: Jinal Sangoi

Jinal Sangoi (Art MFA 18) is an artist and educator, currently living in Mumbai, who weaves art, design, pedagogy, and community through her participatory and collaborative practice, designing creative methodologies for experiential learning with a particular interest in the ideas of care, home, nature, gender, and resistance.
While at CalArts, Jinal was the recipient of the Tim Disney Prize for the Storytelling Arts, among other awards and scholarships. After receiving her MFA, Jinal participated in a program for recent CalArts graduate students known as the REEF Residency, where she received a stipend and free studio space for one year in downtown Los Angeles.

The Beyond the Blue Wall Season 3 theme music (the intro“Lima” and the outro “Salta”) was created and performed by 2018 graduate, Nicolas Savignano. You can learn more about Nico by visiting him on Instagram at @_oknico.

Beyond the Blue Wall is a production of the CalArts Office of Advancement. You can find all of the episodes at https://calarts.edu/about-calarts/newsroom/podcast.

Next Episode

Beyond the Blue Wall: Kataneh Vahdani

Kataneh Vahdani (BFA Character Animation 05; MFA Experimental Animation 08) grew up in Iran. She is a director, animation creator, story artist, and educator, and came to the US with her mother and brother when she was a teenager, beginning her journey at CalArts when she was just 16 years old.
You can learn more about Kataneh on her website.Please note this episode contains a discussion about suicide. Please listen with care.
If you are thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the 988 Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States.

Beyond the Blue Wall is a production of the CalArts Office of Advancement. You can find all of the episodes at https://calarts.edu/about-calarts/newsroom/podcast.