KFAI's MinneCulture Presents

Ep. 15: Faith and Dalmar from the MinneCulture Podcast Somalia is known as a nation of poets. In this episode, we explore Somali spoken word poetry with Nimo Farah, Ahmed Assad, Ayan Mahamud and Ladan Osman. We also listen to the music of Dalmar Yare , a popular Somali musician. The MinneCulture podcast is hosted by Jumondeh Tweh and produced by Xan Holston , Todd Melby , and Nancy Rosenbaum . Theme music by Javier Santiago. Support is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund . Ep. 16: Winter Special from the MinneCulture Podcast It wouldn’t be a Minnesota podcast if we didn’t take you outside -- and into the cold! We'll meet rabid Minnesota Wild fans and anglers who don’t let a little ice get in their way. The MinneCulture crew bundles up and hits the ice to tell the unfrozen stories of the cold, bold North. Find the MinneCulture Podcast on  iTunes ,  Stitcher , and  Soundcloud .

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

Episode 9: Love Stories   from The MinneCulture Podcast When is love an art form in and of itself? Like art, true love comes in many forms. A Congolese couple, separated by the ocean, sing to each other over the phone to stay connected. An all-grrrl punk band sing through a telephone (repurposed as a microphone) to the community that supports them. Corrie Harrigan, Laura Larson, and Liz Elton comprise  Kitten Forever . The three-piece punk band  blazes minimalist dance punk  in their underwear, swap instrument duties, and love each other. Episode 10: Dress Code s   from The MinneCulture Podcast Why do people dress a certain way? What does dress say about who we are, and what connects us? People pick their uniforms for various reasons, but often it’s to fit in. For the  Minnesota Dandies  - a group of sharply dressed black men - it means dressing for success and respect. For one Minnesotan woman during the Civil War, it meant disguising herself as men in order to serve her country.

Aby Wolf  Live from Minnesota Although sometimes called Dessa's "secret weapon of harmony,"  Aby Wolf  is a powerhouse in her own right. In this performance at the historic  Sheldon Theatre  in Red Wing, Wolf explores her rich back catalog alongside more recent work to create a powerful and tightly packaged electro-pop mix. This show was part of the Minnesota Music Coalition's  Caravan du Nord . Produced, recorded and mixed by KFAI's Tom Garneau for  MinneCulture . Maria Isa  and  Los Nativos   Live from Minnesota Born and raised in the Twin Cities to NuyoRican parents, singer-songwriter  Maria Isa  (pictured) celebrates her cultural diversity through music alongside political activism.  Los Nativos  formed in 1996 and was one of the original groups in Rhymesayers Entertainment. The St. Paul duo produce music with a conscious message, integrating hip-hop, jazz, and funk with tejano, mariachi, and salsa to deliver a style all their own. Producer  Daniel Zam