Shoulder dance

You might know it as the Harlem shake.  But like a lot of American dance crazes, it actually started in Africa.  The characteristic shoulder popping of the Harlem shake looks a whole lot like the traditional Ethiopian dance called esketsa (literally "dancing shoulders").  On this episode of Global A Go-Go, you'll hear the "chic-chic-ka" rhythm, the one you do the esketsa to, as performed by artists from Ethiopia, Djibouti and the USA.

Also this week (Monday June 22, 3:00-5:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): British electric folk with a psychedelic haze; modern highlife from 1980 and 2020; four new reggae singles; a set of vintage Brazilian samba-soul; and the rhythms of Cote D'Ivoire's coupe decale.

Podcast: radio4all.net/index.php/program/105995
All the podcasts: radio4all.net/index.php/series/Global+A+Go-Go


Artist | Country | Song | Recording | Label | Year

Oliver Lake | USA | Separation | Matador Of 1st & 1st | Passin' Thru | 1997
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros | England UK | Global A Go-Go | Global A Go-Go | Hellcat | 2001

Trimdon Grange Explosion | England UK | Poor Wayfairing Stranger | Trimdon Grange Explosion | Cardinal Fuzz / Feeding Tube | 2018
Sandy Denny | England UK | Blackwaterside | The North Star Grassman And The Ravens | Island | 1971
Offa Rex | USA-England UK | Bonny May | The Queen Of Hearts | Nonesuch | 2017

Santrofi | Ghana | Alewa | Alewa | Out Here | 2020
Ebo Taylor & Uhuru Yenzu | Ghana | Love And Death | Conflict | Mr Bongo | 1980

Groupe RTD | Djibouti | Buuraha U Dheer | The Dancing Devils Of Djibouti | Ostinato | 2020
Mahmoud Ahmed | Ethiopia | Anchi Bale Gamme | Tizita, Volume 1 | AIT | 2003
Meklit | Ethiopia-USA | You Are My Luck | When The People Move, The Music Moves Too | Six Degrees | 2017

Alborosie | Italy-Jamaica | Unprecedented Time | Unprecedented Time - single | VP | 2020
Bella Blair | Jamaica | Gimmie A Light | Gimmie A Light - single | Frankie Music | 2020
Michael Mendez | Jamaica-England UK | Love T.K.O. | Love T.K.O. - single | Purple Lion Entertainment | 2020
Inna De Yard | France-Jamaica | Skylarking (feat Horace Andy) | Skylarking (feat Horace Andy) - single | Chapter Two / Wagram | 2020

Os Incriveis | Brazil | Paz E Amor | 1910 | RCA Victor | 1971
The Silvery Boys | Brazil | Voce Balanca Meu Coracao | The Silvery Boys | Vampisoul | 1968
Juca Chaves | Brazil | Take Me Back To Piaui | Take Me Back To Piaui - single | RGE | 1970
Jorge Ben | Brazil | Bebete Vaobora | Jorge Ben | Philips | 1969
Paula Lima | Brazil | E Isso Ai! | E Isso Ai! | Universal Music Brazil | 2003

Poirier | Canada | Sim Bombei (feat Samito) | Soft Power | Wonderwheel | 2020
David Walters | France | Manye | Soleil Kreyol | Heavenly Sweetness | 2020
Magic System | Cote D'Ivoire | Bouger Bouger | Cessa Kie La Verite | Showbiz | 2005
Douk Saga | Cote D'Ivoire | Saga Cite | Heros National Bouche Bee | DM / Obouo Music / Atoll | 2005
Jey Liba | Togo-France | Ambiancement | Odyssee | Lusafrica | 2012