Things were happening as normal: a enlightening weekly conversation (this time on the state of hip hop) with dear brother Tony Muhammad...  and then Africa Baby Bam of legendary group the Jungle Brothers phones in and drops some knowledge; making this an even more enlightening experience!  Much respect to Baby Bam, and to Tony.

TONY MUHAMMAD:  www.myspace.com/tonymuhammad  

AFRICA BABY BAM:  www.myspace.com/babybam1

An edited version of our membership drive program. Liz Rogers caught up with Margaret Cho on tour with her new show Beautiful; Executive Director Jason Mak talks about the 2008 DisOrient Film Festival taking place in Eugene; Patti Duncan interviews Chom Nimol and Ethan Holtzman from the Cambodian pop band Dengue Fever and Sarita See shares her Angry APA Minute.

Please note: The KBOO broadcast of this episode has been postponed until May 29, but you can listen right here whenever you'd like! There will also be a listening and tasting party Thursday, May 15 @ 7pm at the Waypost (3120 N. Williams Ave.)

 This program features music by the Rice Workers Choir of Novi Di Modena, songs sung by women workers who organized to achieve the first 8-hour day. Also discussed are the rising costs of food, Mothers' Day as part of the Peace Movement, and Christian fundmentalism in the  US military.  Hear the whole show, hosted by Bill Resnick, by clicking the arrow above.  Or hear  individual pieces going to their links below.

In these first four segments, you can hear the music  of  Novi Di Modena and a discussion of their music by Italian scholar  Clarissa  Clo.

1. Music in the Rice Fields 1

 Music and labor history: women rice workers and their songs.  In this conversation with the Old Mole's Bill Resnick, Clarissa Clo relates the history of women's labor in the rice fields of Italy, their contribution to the rights of labor, and compares their songs with the music made by slaves in the South of the US.  

 Music and labor history: women rice workers and their songs.  Part  3

 Music and labor history: women rice workers and their songs.  Part  2

 Music and labor history: women rice workers and their songs.  Part  1  

See The Rice Workers Choir of Novi Di Modena on You Tube.