More than nine and one half million slaves were taken to the Americas from Africa during the colonial period, roughly from the sixteenth century until the mid-1800; it is estimated that over 90% of the slaves were taken to the Caribbean Mexico and Latin America. The slaves represented a wide range of ethnic groups from various regions in west and central Africa and they brought with then a rich cultural legacy, part of which can be clearly seen in many music played today throughout the Americas. Echoes of Africa is a gateway to Africa music in the bay area. Broadcasting nothing but African music from the continent and music from the African Diaspora. It is a vital source of information and entertainment radio program highlighting traditional and contemporary music from Africa and its Diaspora. Africa is a continent with many different ways of life a continent which combines traditional and modern ways of life. In the past decade the growth of our global society, the rising dependence of nations upon each other for trade and security has made the study of countries more important than ever. With its geographical expanse Africa shouldn’t be viewed as a region of the world. It is a continent with 55 countries and knowing them will help understand its people and their culture. Each week Echoes Of Africa brings Africa to you. Africa from A to Z is a journey into the continent each. Monday this segment spotlights a country, dissecting its geographical and social history from the colonization era to its present day political conflicts with commentaries from Yaya fanusie and Joe Kappia.

Singing Songs of Freedom ''Africa's musicians carry a sacred burden they're the griots, the historians of Africa's rich, varied, and infinitely complex pas. They're our social critics and agony aunts. Their songs resonate with the unfilfilled longings of Africa's 900 million voices''. Ken Wiwa Son of Ken Sara Wiwa

''I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself. I dream of the realization of the unity of Africa, whereby its leaders combine their efforts to solve the problems of this continent''

''How good and pleasant it will be before God and men To see the unification of all Africans As it has already been said Let it be done right now... Emancipate yourself from mental slavery. None but yourselves can free your mind... I love the development of our music, that’s what I really dig about the whole thing. How we’ve tried to develop, y’know? It grows. That’s why every day people come forward with new songs. Music goes on forever.''

''I basically play African music; Ricky Martin plays African music; Jennifer Lopez plays African music; and Gloria Estefan plays African music. They can call us whatever they want, Spanish or Latin, but all of us really play African music. To me, it’s important that I say that, because it’s the truth.''