THE MINNECULTURE PODCAST
Ep. 12: Siama and Charanga by MinneCulture
How has immigration, migration, and connection to the rest of the world shaped the sights and sounds of Minnesota? Meet Siama Matuzungidi, a Congolese soukous musician. He moved to Minnesota in the late 90s after having a prosperous career in Congo, Uganda, and Kenya. His life and music flow like his native Congo River, and today, the Mighty Mississippi. Doug Little and his band Charanga Tropical bring the traditional music of Cuba to Minnesota. Charanga orchestras are mainly popular in Florida, New York, and California — but Minnesota is home to one of the only Charanga orchestras in country.
Ep. 13: Breaking the Mold by MinneCulture
A hard-boiled lesbian detective breaks through the lavender ceiling, a Sudanese model refuses to conform her complexion to fit in, and an Ojibwe rapper wants to be the spark that ignites the fire in his people. Nyakim Gatwech is the “queen of dark,” a Sudanese model and Instagram star in Minnesota with unapologetically dark skin. We’ll also meet Ellen Hart the author of a series of mystery novels about lesbian detective Jane Lawless. And Baby Shel, from the Red Lake Reservation, doesn’t care if he becomes the most popular rapper in the world — he just wants to open the door for people like him.
Ep. 14: Twin Cities Landmarks by MinneCulture
Forget the Spoonbridge and Cherry — these are landmarks that have secrets to tell, even when they’re gone. In this episode, we explore one that fell to the forces of urban renewal; one that closed because of the owner’s health issues; and one that is stuck between a rock and a hard place of history and gentrification. Host Jumondeh Tweh checks out Minneapolis’ nearly forgotten Skid Row, the recent loss of Arnellia’s, and Al’s Breakfast, a Twin Cities landmark withstanding the test of time.
You can hear more stories from Minneculture at their Soundcloud page and download the Minneculture podcast in iTunes and Stitcher.