After a 10 year break, I was asked as a DJ for a music festival this summer. This was in Holland. I agreed under the condition that I could play whatever I wanted. So I played stricktly classic African music, no remixes, just original rumba, soukous, mbalax, highlife and afrobeat. As the guy who engaged me explained: there is a new generation that has never heard of this music. They think that dance music is about 2 / 4 boom-boom beats, so let's give them something completely different. To make a long story short, it worked. It was a delight to watch young boys and girls dancing to Sam Mangwana, Mbilia Bel and Fela Kuti. And just like them, I had a terrific time too!
Now I realise I am a white DJ playing music for a generally white European audience. But am I right in assuming that, given the opportunity, young people will enjoy good music, whatever generation it is from?
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