The Mindful Bard by Wanda Waterman The Voice Magazine, Volume 22 Issue 28 2014-07-18 Album: Maître d’école(link) Artist: Papa Wemba “I said to myself, I don’t want to play music only for Zaireans anymore. I am going to play music for all humanity.” – Papa Wemba Papa Wemba (born Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba) is a Tetela tribe member from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire). He says that his mother, a professional mourner who sang at funerals, was his greatest musical influence. The oldest boy in his family, he was obliged to care for his siblings after … Continue reading Papa Wemba: The Son of a Professional Mourner Brings Joyful Affirmation to a Broken World

Sam Baker is a Texan singer-songwriter whose first CD, Mercy, in 2004 brought him an ardent and extensive following in North America and Europe. Two decades ago Sam survived a bomb blast perpetrated by Peru’s Shining Path rebels. For the Mindful Bard review of his latest CD, Pretty World, go here. Train to Machu Picchu It was 1986, and I was in Peru with some friends. We went to Lima and from there to Cuzco to catch the train to Machu Picchu. We were going there for the Inti Rami, which is a pretty big celebration there. The bomb was … Continue reading A Million Shining Things: The Sam Baker Interview