Last updated: Tuesday, May 29, 2007
JAZZ STAR CALLS TO ACKNOWLEDGE AFRICAN INFLUENCE
Veteran jazz pianist RANDY WESTON has hit out at the lack of knowledge about Africa and the continent's influence on contemporary culture in his U.S. homeland.
The 81-year-old, who performed at a jazz festival in Saint-Louis, Senegal on Sunday (27May07) and has released albums including Blues To Africa and The Spirit Of Our Ancestors, wishes Africa's role in shaping the modern western world was better acknowledged.
He says, "What's my sadness... is how little is known about Africa and her people. It's very important to understand that the traditional music of Africa is our foundation.
"We'll never get away from that foundation. I am an African born in America. My first composition for Africa was in 1954. It was called Zulu. We play music of the black people of Morocco, blues music of Nigeria, of Egypt, of Congo."
However, Weston has reason to be optimistic as things were completely different when he began performing 50 years ago.
He adds, "This continent was little mentioned elsewhere in the world, particularly in the United States. Today... things have changed a lot. You see African culture everywhere now - you hear it in the music, in the sculpture, in fashion. You see Africa everywhere."
Source: WENN
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