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Savannah Music Festival: Bela Fleck Africa Project, Episode One

Bela Fleck and Vusi Mahlasela on stage at Savannah Music Festival
Savannah Music Festival
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Savannah Music Festival/PRX
Bela Fleck and Vusi Mahlasela on stage at Savannah Music Festival

Airs Friday, February 14, 2020, at 10:00 p.m. Part One of Two: Banjoist Bela Fleck performs alongside exceptional African musicians such as Toumani Diabate, Vusi Mahlasela, D'Gary, Anania Ngoliga and others. Recorded at the Trustees Theater during the Savannah Music Festival. Though the banjo is commonly associated with American musical styles such as country, folk and bluegrass, the stringed instrument was actually adapted from several African musicians before it developed into the modern banjo during the 20th century. One of the most renowned banjoists in the world today is Bela Fleck, who in early 2005, embarked on a trip to Africa in which he collaborated musically with some of the top musicians there. Four years later he assembled some of his favorite musicians from across the African continent and brought them over for a short tour in the United States. During this two-hour program we listen to performances by Toumani Diabate, Vusi Mahlasela, D'Gary, and Anania Ngoliga with their musical partners, and with Bela Fleck and fiddler Casey Driessen.