Aloha Azucar Agogo Afro America

Aloha Azucar Agogo Afro America:
A Cross-Cultural View of Four Women in American Music


I chose four women in music for my music guides:

1. Queen Lili'uokalani
2. Celia Cruz
3. Bebel Gilberto (and Towa Tei)
4. Nneka

 These women embody strength of character, courage to be self-expressed, and the adoration of people beyond their own respective communities.  However, these women all come from very different times and settings.  I chose four very different genres:  Hawaiian, Cuban ballad, modern bossa nova/electronica, and reggae/pop.

Each woman brings a different experience of the United States:  

• Queen Lili'uokalani is a Native Hawaiian bidding farewell to visitors; 
• Celia Cruz expresses the Cuban refugee experience; 
• Bebel Gilberto updates Brazil's batucada with Japanese turntablist Towa Tei's help;
• Nneka preaches to Africans all over the world with a reggae rhythm and without makeup