In 2019, I had the opportunity to live in South Africa. I worked for a community radio station based in Paarl, a rural city outside of Cape Town.
I dedicated my weekly radio program to exploring the legacy and impact of aparhtied on South Africa’s music and Paarl culture. “Behind The Curtain” blended journalism with audio documentary storytelling to open the curtain on those who have made a difference in their community through music, the arts, and more, but whose stories have remained suppressed until now.
The name was inspired by the story of South African jazz saxophonist Winston Mankunku, who in 1964 was forced to play concerts from behind a curtain due to apartheid regulations. BTC will honor Mankunku's legacy by opening the curtain covering those who have made a difference in their community through music, the arts, and more, but whose stories have remained suppressed until now. Mixes will blend classic and contemporary South African sounds with jazz, soul, R&B, and more, looking to unify SA sounds the music soundtracking the world.
Check out all 8 episodes, on Mixcloud here