Afro Picks  

Produced in Red Bull Studio, Cape Town, the 'Afro Picks' show is the South African edition of RBMA Radio's 'Inside Out' program. It's aiming to explore the influences of African music in a global context - such as the impact of Nigerian music on the world or the influence of reggae on the East African music scene. Well respected and multi-talented South African presenter Lee Kasumba hosts the show and guides though it, while DJ Kenzhero is in charge of the music selection and production. In 2010 the 'Afro Picks' concept will be brought to life in various live events under the same name, hosted and curated by Lee & Kenny in some of the hottest venues around South Africa. Lee Kasumba on the idea behind 'Afro Picks': "The rest of the world has always been the ones to tell Africa's musical stories and whenever its been told or explored in general it has been called 'development music' which is kind of intense because its like 'oh yes, we need to develop African music so it can get to our standard'. Truth is, it has impacted and continues to impact even mainstream music in so many ways and I would like the show to capture that - that's the essence you know, but before you can go forward it's important to understand the background. The 'Afro Picks' show is just documenting it in sound and some interviews of the people who make the music. Showing different trends in African music as young people are kind of looking back to their roots, merging western influences with Africa and how those two worlds meet.” HOSTS: LEE KASUMBA Born Leslie Nabunya Theresa Kasumba in Uganda, and proudly moulded in South Africa, Lee has been labelled many things: DJ, TV presenter, magazine editor and songwriter to name but a few. Although the labels ‘The Mother of Hip Hop’ and ‘Queen of Joburg’ fit quite uncomfortably with her unpretentious nature, they are indeed the most appropriate, as Lee has fought for the inclusion, and education, of real hip hop in commercial radio, staying true to the spirit of the genre. DJ KENZHERO Somewhere on a third rock from the sun, everybody has his or her own ideas of the day when hip hop died. Lately, many a head will blame it on auto-tune dominating the airwaves, you personally blamed it on * fill in the blanks *. Enter Kenny Nzama, an unassuming, humble superhero, DJ, producer and events promoter living in the outskirts of Northern Johannesburg, South Africa. Kenneth Nzama takes to the streets by night as DJ Kenzhero, relieving party people of all walks of life from bad music types. No cape, no costumes, just some funky, soulful beats for that ass. Morale of the story, kids - hip hop died when DJ Kenzhero billed a whack act for Party People. Never!