A World In London 27 Nov 2010 - Guests:Syriana

Catch this weeks show on iPlayer if you haven't heard it already!

Great interview with Syriana aka Nick Page and Bernard O'Neil 

8-9pm
DEOLINDA um contra o outro WORLD CONNECTION promo
HANGGAI zhang dan WORLD CONNECTION promo
PLEARN PROMDAN wan maha sanook SOUNDWAY SNDWCD 027
MARIACHI FEMENIL NUEVO TECALITLAN pedire PROMO
RAHAT FATEH ALI KHAN ajj din EROS 82897001682
???? rapa nui PROMO
SAFARI SOUND BAND ahsante sana TAMASHA CDTAM 543
MARIO LUCIO petit son LUSAFRICA 3567250240824
VICTOR HUGO salsa donde estabas ARC 5019396230927
EYLEM 2010 istanbul DOKUZ SEKIZ MUZIK 8697741640835
ZOHREH JOOYA & USTAD HOSEEIN ARMAN jama narenji ARC 5019396231023
AHMED DICKINSON CARDENAS elias malogrado genio FLORIDITA FLORCD 7

9pm - 10pm
In the Guest Room: SYRIANA (NICK PAGE & BERNARD O'NEILL)
SYRIANA the road to damascus REAL WORLD 88410800001
' ' gharibb ' '
' ' al araby ' '
' ' syriana ' '
' ' black zil ' '

FORTHCOMING IN THE GUEST ROOM:
DEC 4th FARI BRADLEY Iranian music master-class
DEC 11th fRoots CRITICS POLL
DEC 18th Greek Kreesmas with Eve Polycarpou & Martha Dimitri Lewis
DEC 25th LE TRIO JOUBRAN (Palestine)
JAN 1st tbc


GOIN’ GLOBAL IN LONDON:
EVERY THURSDAY-Kizombo afro-beats night@ Zoo Bar WC2H
EVERY SUNDAY - Afro Matinee@Third Space SW9
3rd Fridays El Grande@Colosseum SW9
1st Fridays Retro-Chic@Sway WC2B
1st Friday Monthly Rumba Caribe@Volupte

Nov 28 Ahmed Dickinson Cardenas@Union Chapel
Nov 29 Painted Water Turkish music fest@O2 Islington Academy
Nov 29 Trio Manouche@Le Quecumber
Nov 30 Susheela Raman: OuterIndia@RichMix
Dec 3 The Shrine@Passing Clouds
Dec 3 SAWCC Asian Women In Music@Rich Mix
Dec 4 Music Beyond Borders@Tabernacle
Dec 4 Jardares Por Fuera@The Basement N1
Dec 10 Raha International@Sapphire Lounge HA8
Dec 12 Los Desterrados@Artsdepot
Dec 17 Emanuel Jal@ULU
Dec 23 WOM@TT Xmas + 3rd Birthday with Mosi Conde &Keith Waite@Tabernacle
Dec 31 NYE Kuch Kuch@The Livery EC3
Batmacumba NYE Carnival@Life EC1

Messages of support from all quarters

Angélique Kidjo: "I love Dj Ritu's show! She is so knowledgeable about all kinds of music. She made me discover a few great bands I didn't know." 

Max Reinhardt: "What is going on? I'd like to see more shows like Ritu's on the BBC station for London....why not let London hear the music of its communities? Wake up 94.9 and smell the coffee...its not even a new idea, just an overwhelmingly popular one." 

Songlines Mag: "DJ Ritu is doing a fantastic job with her show and BBC London should be reflecting the diversity of its listenership and London's vibrant world music scene." 

ARC Music: "BBC London has announced plans to axe DJ Ritu's "A World in London". This very important show does a lot to promote world music and establish cultural understanding in and around London." 

Howard Male: "I don’t believe the powers that be can have considered the domino effect that this will cause. London’s live music scene is already struggling, and without Ritu playing the music that no one else plays - and letting Londoner’s know what great gigs are coming up – they’d be a huge gap in our cultural landscape. Sometimes it’s hard to appreciate what you’ve got until it’s gone. So please, BBC – don’t deprive us of this show."

Factfile 2

DJ Ritu through A World In London is the only UK representative on the influential European World Music Charts. Losing this show will mean that the UK will no longer be represented on the panel!

SaveAWIL now on Twitter...

Follow the developments on Twitter too... Start spreading the word... @saveAWIL

A-Z list of AWIL artists & guests

Read below the list of names who artists and guests who have featured on DJ Ritu's A world In London show since 2007. (apologies for any omissions!)

Many of these artists are London based - where other than A World In London would they have had the opportunity to appear on the BBC?

How would these artists be represented in the future?

Looking forward to your comments...

Alcazaba (UK/India)

Amira & Merima Kljuco (Bosnia)

Andreas Koumi (UK/ Grkcypriot)

Angelique Kidjo (Benin)

AR Rahman (India)

Armenian Music Master Class With Hasmik Movsisian

Arun Ghosh (India/UK)

Astillero (Argentina)

Atongo Zimba(Ghana)

Ballake Sissoko & Vincent Segal (Mali/France)

Baluji Shrivastav (India/UK)

Bassekou Kouyate (Mali)

Beuna Vista Social Club/David Flower (Cuba)

Bhangra Legends:Alaap + Mona (India/UK)

Bishwo Shahi (Nepal)

Biyi Adepegba(London African Music Fest)

Blue Blokes 3 (UK)

Bob Brozman, John Mcsherry, Donal O’connor, Daniel Thomas (Eire)

Bosnian Folk Master Class With Ognjen Tvrtkovic + Mirza Basic

Carmen Souza (Cape Verde)

Carnaval Del Pueblo Live From Rich Mix (Carlos Paul, Movimiento, Chico Perrico, Shakirita, La Chica Latina, Sami-Salsa-Dancer, Nuala Riddell-Morales

Chango Spasiuk (Argentina)

Chi2 (Uk/China)

Clara Sanabras (Spain/UK)

Cypriot Academy Peter Christianson + Olympia

D’archtypes (UK)

Daby Balde (Senegal)

Daby Toure (Mali)

Dam (Palestine)

Dan Storper (Putumayo Music-Us)

Daphna Sadeh (Israel/Uk)

Daphna Sadeh (UK/Israel)

Debashish Bhattacharya (India)

Debbie Golt (Wom@tt, Outerglobe)

Dele Sosimi (Nigeria)

Dj Dunkelbunt (Austria)

Dj Robert Soko (Bosnia/Germany)

Dj Shantel (Germany)

Dj Wala

Djanan Turan (Turkey)

Dub Colossus/Nick Page (UK/Ethiopia)

El Tanbura (Egypt)

Eleftheria Arvanataki (Greece)

Esma Redzapova (Macedonia) + Mahala Rai Banda (Romania)
Eve Polycarpou

Femi Kuti (Nigeria)

Francis Falceto (Ethiopiques)

Freshly Ground (South Africa)

Gilad Atzmon (Israel/UK)

Gokhan _Athena (Turkey/UK)

Greek Kreesmas With Martha & Eve

Grupo Lokito (Uk/Congo/Cuba)

Gurinder Chadha (It’s A Wonderful Afterlife)

Hanggai (China)

Havana Rumba (Cuba)

Honey Kalaria (Uk/India - Bbc Proms)

Hortensia Celis + Catalina (Mexico/UK)

Hossam Ramzy (Egypt/UK)

Ian Anderson (Froots)

Idan Raichel (Israel)

Int Women’s Day Special (Karen David, Mayra Andrade, Netsayi, Chi2)

Ivo Papasov (Bulgaria)

Jah Wobble (UK)

Jardares Por Fuera (Spain)

Justin Adams (UK/Gambia - Juldeh Camara)

Kapa Productions Re: Making Tracks

Karen David (Canada/UK/India)

Kasai Masai (Congo/UK)

Katerina Mina (Cyprus/UK)

Khan Brothers (UK/Pakistan)

Khyam Allami (Iraq)

Koby Israelite Band (UK/Israel)

Kuljit Bhamra (UK /India)

Lani Singers (West Papua)

Laxula (Spain/UK)

Lokkhi Terra (UK/Bangladesh)

Los Desterrados (UK/Sephardic Jewish)

Lt Chi Soundsytem (China/UK)

Machaca (Mexico/UK)

Mariza (Portugal)

Martha Lewis (Uk/Greece/Cyprus)

Massukos (Mozambique)

Mayra Andrade (Cape Verde)

Miguel Santos (Atlantic Waves Fest) Portugal

Mosi Conde

Musa M’boob + Xam Xam  (Gambia)

N’faly Kouyate (Guinee)

Nahrein Mirza + James Burrell (Shot In Bombay)

Najma Akhtar (India/UK)

Natacha Atlas (UK/Morocco)

Necmi Cavli (Oojami) -(UK/Turkey)

Netsayi (Zimbabawe/UK)

Nil Karaibrahimgil (Turkey)

Niraj Chag (UK/India)

Novalima (Peru)

Oi Va Voi (UK)

Ojos De Brujo (Spain)

Omar Faruk Tekbilek(Turkey/Us)

Omara Portuondo (Cuba)

Orchestre Poly-Rythmo (Benin)

Paco Pena (Spain)

Papa Yera (Colombia)

Paula Darwish (UK/Jordan/Turkey)

Perunika Trio (Bulgaria)

Peyoti Fror President (UK/Italy)

Phil Stanton (World Music Network)

Pink Martini (Us)

Poetic Pilgrimage (UK)

Priti Paintal (UK/India)

Rango (Sudan/Egypt)

Razia Said (Madagascar)

Reem Kelani (UK/Palestine)

Richard Bona (Cameroon)

Rita Ray

Rupa + The April Fishes (Us/India)

Sa Ding Ding (China)

Sabrina Malheiros (Brazil)

Samy Ben Redgeb (Germany/Tunisia) 

Say’un Popular Arts Group (Yemen)

Sebastian Merrick (Kazum! - UK)

Shahram Nazeri (Iran)

Shane Solanki (UK/India)

Sierra Leone Refugee All-Stars (Sierra Leone)

Sierra Maestra (Cuba)

Simon Broughton (Songlines Mag)

Simphiwe Dana (South Africa)

Soname(Tibet)

Souad Massi (Algeria)

Taksim Trio (Turkey)

Tamikrest (Sahara/Mali)

Tanguera – Rainier Tominski

Tanvi Shah (India)

Taran Wilkhu

Tarkan (Turkey)

Tashi Lhunpo Monks (Tibet)

Tatcho Drom (UK)

Tea Hodzik (Former Yugoslavia)

The Creole Choir Of Cuba (Cuba)

The Lani Singers (West Papua/Oxford)

Think Of One + Dj Dolores (Belgium + Brazil Foners)

Tiris (Sahara/Algeria, Saharawi People)

Transglobal Underground (UK)

Tribali (Malta)

Trickbaby (UK/India)

Vieux Farka Toure (Mali)

Vusi Mahlasela (South Africa)

Wasis Diop

Watcha Clan (France)

World Of Sevdah (Mirza Basic) – Bosnia

Yaaba Funk (UK/Ghana)

Yak-Attack (Nepal)

Yasmin Levy (Israel)

Zeep (UK)

Zoe Rahman (UK)

Does Mr Robey listen to the show?

In reply to the official response from the BBC we have even more reason to keep this show alive. There are many flaws in his email. See below.

"BBC London 94.9 is a speech-based service for London with news, sport, information and conversation at the core of our BBC local service commitment."

• Does AWIL not include speech? Most of the second hour is conversations with guests. 
• Is education and culture not part of the core of the BBC local service commitment?

"More than 90 per cent of our output each week is speech-led, with six hours each morning and five hours each evening devoted to all-speech news, debate and sport."

• Do we need MORE speech, sport and debate shows when they are already well catered for across the whole BBC?

"The overwhelming majority of our listeners tune to BBC London 94.9 for news, information and conversation."

• Of course Mr Robey if you do not supply music for them to listen to then they are going to be tuning into listen to news, information and conversation.
• And does AWIL not give news (about local artists & events across London) information (about the different cultures of London) and conversation (with the many guests each and every week)?
• With the listener figures quite high and supposedly rising are you not doing a disservice to the many listeners who tune in to listen to this show specifically?

"We also have speech-led programmes which cover London's culture, entertainment and music, notably Robert Elms, Danny Baker and Gary Crowley who are renowned for their knowledge of music and London music in particular."

• From our knowledge the presenters above do not cover the many of the issues/areas that DJ Ritu's AWIL covers. 
• Is DJ Ritu not renowned?
• Does DJ Ritu not have a very good knowledge of London and does she not reach out to Londoners?
• Oh and where are the women in the list above?
  

"DJ Ritu's programme will be replaced by a programme presented by two London Asian presenters, Sunny and Shay Grewel, who will cover the diversity of life in London, including its music. This programme will reflect our remit for London."

• Sunny & Shay are the young couple from Channel 4’a reality tv doc ‘The Family’.
• Our licence fee is going towards training them when we already have very well trained and more than qualified presenter. We are sure they are nice people but are they really presenters even after they have been trained? And what extra element will they bring to the station that isn’t already on the menu? More celeb gossip?
• Saturday nights at BBC London will become:  Sunny & Shay, Nikki Bedi, Ray Khan – is this an Asian Network takeover?
• Previous schedule was: Gary Crowley, DJ Ritu, Jonathan Lampon, Ray Khan. 
• And before that: Gary, Ritu, Jazzy B, Dotun Adebayo.
• In which way is BBC London diverse especially on a Saturday night?
• And why hasn’t another slot been created for AWIL?
• Is the BBC dumbing down?
  

"Music will continue to be part of our programme output; our music will continue to be drawn from a wide range of genres and cultures; our presenters already reflect the vast range of music in London. However, we believe it is vital to make those programmes as accessible as possible and our programmes and choices reflect that."

• Accessible to whom?
• 52% of London’s community is ethnic – HOW are any of the other shows going to cater for many/all of them in the way DJ Ritu’s AWIL does?
• How is the BBC fulfilling its remit?
  

"World music is just one aspect of cultural life in London and is already well catered for by the BBC through programmes on Radio 3 and the World Service."

• Mark Coles 29mins show on BBC World Service is going to be cut from March 2011
• Radio 3 World Music programmes DO NOT cater for a London audience.
• Radio 3 programmes are pre recorded many weeks in advance. They cannot respond to the needs to a local audience
• Has there ever been a London artist featured on any of the Radio 3 shows?
• Where on the BBC will London based artists go to get their music/art/event publicised?
• AWIL is the ONLY two hour show across the whole of the BBC which plays world music interspersed with conversations with guests.

"I know as a supporter of Ritu's programme you are disappointed that it is to end, but I hope that you will take the opportunity to enjoy the BBC's other world music programmes which I list below."

• This is not just about DJ Ritu, it’s the principle. The BBC brand has helped untold London based artists get a foot in the door by raising their profile.
• Its not just about world music. AWIL is educational, by teaching world history, culture, traditions, values and issues. Londoners have come to understand more about the world at large and their neighbours through this show.
• This show is about bringing the communities of London together and understanding each other through sharing and enjoying each other’s music.
• Just 18 months before the Olympics come to London – the only show that caters for a truly diverse audience is being cut. How does this fit in with the Chairmans speech?

It’s about keeping a slot there at the BBC station for London and the station fulfilling it’s remit. This is the ONLY FM station in London with a world music show, and therefore, it is required to continue to do so.

Please respond to David Robey with your opinions as to their decision to cut the show!

Official Response from the BBC

Thank you for contacting us about the decision to end the world music programme presented by DJ Ritu on BBC London 94.9.

This was a difficult decision and was made after many months of careful consideration.

BBC London 94.9 is a speech-based service for London with news, sport, information and conversation at the core of our BBC local service commitment.

More than 90 per cent of our output each week is speech-led, with six hours each morning and five hours each evening devoted to all-speech news, debate and sport.

The overwhelming majority of our listeners tune to BBC London 94.9 for news, information and conversation.

We also have speech-led programmes which cover London's culture, entertainment and music, notably Robert Elms, Danny Baker and Gary Crowley who are renowned for their knowledge of music and London music in particular.

DJ Ritu's programme will be replaced by a programme presented by two London Asian presenters, Sunny and Shay Grewel, who will cover the diversity of life in London, including its music. This programme will reflect our remit for London.

Music will continue to be part of our programme output; our music will continue to be drawn from a wide range of genres and cultures; our presenters already reflect the vast range of music in London. However, we believe it is vital to make those programmes as accessible as possible and our programmes and choices reflect that.

World music is just one aspect of cultural life in London and is already well catered for by the BBC through programmes on Radio 3 and the World Service.

I know as a supporter of Ritu's programme you are disappointed that it is to end, but I hope that you will take the opportunity to enjoy the BBC's other world music programmes which I list below.

Best regards,

David Robey
Managing Editor
BBC London 94.9


BBC Radio 3
A major new world music series presented by Andy Kershaw called Music Planet begins Thursday 13 January and runs for 8 weeks.

World Routes presented by Lucy Duran every Saturday at 15.00

World On 3 at 23.15 every Friday night.

Discover more about our World Music programmes including extensive archive here http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/worldmusic/

BBC Radio 3 also has a stage at WOMAD every year and is the exclusive national broadcaster at WOMAD.

BBC World Service
World of Music, presented by Mark Coles.  In the UK: Sat 2332;  rpt Sun 1332 (unless we run a debate); Mon 0332 GMT.  See link below for more details.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0086vxp

BBC 6 Music
World music is often featured in the Cerys Matthews show (Sunday, 10am-12pm).

Facebook campaign

Read some of the messages of support on our facebook page from all quarters!

Thanks you everyone for your support so far - we wont let this show go without a fight... so keep those messages going to the BBC.

Extract of speech by Sir Michael Lyons, BBC Chairman

Speech by Sir Michael Lyons, BBC Chairman, to the Manchester Statistical Society

"Now, let me say here that in my mind there is absolutely no
contradiction between reaching all UK audiences, and providing all the
audiences the BBC reaches with high quality output.

The BBC HAS to reach all audiences.

"Firstly because everyone pays for the BBC so everyone must get something they really value from the BBC in return. And secondly, the BBC is tasked with informing, educating and entertaining the British public."

Read the full speech here 

Factfile 1

FACT: AWIL is the ONLY weekly 2 hour programme dedicated to world music across the whole BBC.

Ways to make your voices and opinions heard...

Please show your support by writing a personal email to David.Robey@bbc.co.uk   (cc'd to the Director General Mark.Thompson@bbc.co.uk & saveawil@gmail.com)

OR you can raise a complaint through the official BBC Complaints page

OR by calling or writing 

Phone: 03700 100 222*
Textphone: 03700 100 212*
Email:Send your complaint
Cymru:Cwyno
Write: BBC Complaints
PO Box 1922
Darlington
DL3 0UT

*UK-wide rate charged at no more than 01/02 geographic numbers; calls may be recorded for training.

 

Apparently some emails are getting through - so please keep sending them.

A World in London (AWIL) Artists

Lani Singers from West Papua. Benny, Ritu, Maria

Amira Medunjanin (Bosnia) with Ritu

9 year old singer Catalina Bustos, Hortensia Celis (Mexico/Chile/UK) with DJ Ritu representing London's Mexican community and mariachi music

Kamel El Harachi with Yassine (Algeria) and DJ Ritu

Cypriot soprano and international star Katerina Mina in the studio with DJ Ritu

Perunika Trio with Ritu at BBC LDN Studios

Perunika Trio (Bulgaria), with Ritu at BBC LDN Studios

Tarkan with DJ Ritu

A WORLD IN LDN 20 Nov 2010 - Guest:Katerina Pavlakis & Ahmed Dickinson Cardenas

If you haven't heard it already listen again to this weeks show on BBC iPlayer

This weeks playlist:

8-9pm
LURA amori LUSAFRICA
ZE DA LUE ulungu wami ANALOG AFRICA
DIASPORA a ride on the orient xpress GREEN QUEEN MUSIC
JAVED ALI ek din TIPS
ALEX WILSON bomba bambara ALEX WILSON RECS
NICHOLAS SIMION GROUP doina & girls dance PROMO
ONUMA SINGSIRI mae kha som tam SOUNDWAY
LUISA MAITA fulaninha CUMBANCHA
DEOLINDA se uma onda WORLD CONNECTION
ZOHREH JOOYA & USTAD HOSEEIN ARMAN mikham beram koh ARC
HANGGAI yuan ding caf WORLD CONNECTION
CATALINA BUSTOS ? promo
 

9pm - 10pm
In the Guest Room:
AHMED DICKINSON CARDENAS + KATERINA PAVLAKIS (Making Tracks) LE COR DE LA PLANA tant deman BUDA
LE TRIO JOUBRAN laytana WORLD VILLAGE
AHMED DC inevitable CUBAFILIN RECORDS
AHMED DC chacumbele CUBAFILIN RECORDS
GRUPO LOKITO essengo ya ko bina CAVENDISH
AHMED DC june CUBAFILIN RECORDS

FORTHCOMING IN THE GUEST ROOM: NOV 27th SYRIANA (UK + various)
DEC 4th FARI BRADLEY Iranian music master-class
DEC 11th fRoots CRITICS POLL
DEC 18th Greek Kreesmas with Eve Polycarpou & Martha Dimitri Lewis
DEC 25th LE TRIO JOUBRAN (Palestine)
JAN 1st tbc

GOIN’ GLOBAL IN LONDON:
EVERY THURSDAY-Kizombo afro-beats night@ Zoo Bar WC2H
EVERY SUNDAY - Sunday Afro Matinee@Third Space SW9
3rd Fridays El Grande@Colosseum SW9
1st Fridays Retro-Chic@Sway WC2B, Rumba Caribe@Volupte 1st Friday Monthly

Nov 23 Terrakota@Momos
Nov 24 Nicholas Simion Group@Jazz Cafe
Nov 26 Leandra Varanda@St Ethelburgas
Nov 26 WOM@TT Mama Africa@Tabernacle
Nov 27 Dele Sosimi + Afrobeat Viabration@ New Empowering Church
Nov 27 Shout Collective DJs@The Blues Kitchen NW1
Nov 27 Kuch Kuch@Apt
Nov 27 Hackney Globetrotter@Passing Clouds
Nov 28 Ahmed Dickinson Cardenas@Union Chapel
Nov 29 Painted Water Turkish music fest@O2 Islington Academy
Nov 29 Trio Manouche@Le Quecumber
Dec 4 Jardares Por Fuera@The Basement N1
Dec 17 Emanuel Jal@ULU
Dec 23 WOM@TT Xmas + 3rd Birthday with Mosi Conde &Keith Waite@Tabernacle
Dec 31 NYE Kuch Kuch@The Livery..

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!! xxR

ALERT! BBC Radio London 94.9 are planning to axe DJ Ritu's "A World In London"!

ALERT! BBC Radio London 94.9 are planning to axe DJ Ritu's "A World In London"!

For many years, BBC London 94.9FM's Saturday evenings have included a programme which in simple terms might be described as 'a world music show'. Yet it is so much more! From community notice board, to a catalyst and meeting place for music made by all cultures in one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world.

DJ Ritu inherited the show from the late great Charlie Gillett, who retired due to ill-health. She relaunched it as "A World In London" and this weekly show has become essential listening with its unique mix of interviews with artists from around the world, as well as a chance to hear the latest world music releases, and a diary of upcoming world music & cultural events.

A World In London is a unique institution, not only fulfilling a role that is simply not being addressed anywhere else on the airwaves, but doing so in a truly excellent and entertaining manner. There are few better examples of programmes that so perfectly fit the BBC's public service broadcasting remit**, and at the same time it does so on a virtually negligible budget.

BBC London are to axe the show at the end of December!

If you would like to register your objection to and disappointment with this decision and show your support for A World In London, please join this group. Unity is Power! Let's try to keep A World In London on the air.

You can show your support by writing a personal email to David.Robey@bbc.co.uk
(cc'd to the Director General Mark.Thompson@bbc.co.uk ) or add your comments to the BBC message boards on Facebook

**Reshaping the BBC, Speech by Sir Michael Lyons, BBC Chairman, to the Manchester Statistical Society: "And let me remind you of what those public purposes, as set out in the Charter are:
· To sustain citizenship and civil society
· To promote education and learning
· To stimulate creativity and cultural excellence
· To represent the UK, its nations, regions and communities
· To bring the UK to the world and the world to the UK"