Calabar-Cuba Radio with Ene Ita and Ivor Miller

In 2010, Mr. Ene Ita, a professional Master of Ceremonies with Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC), created a series 30 minute programs with Ivor Miller to review highlights of the Abakuá content in Cuban popular music, which had been recorded since the 1910s in Havana, and in U.S. jazz music since the 1940s in New York City. During the programs, Miller introduces the recordings chronologically, decade by decade, and Ita responds in recognition of obvious terms in the Efik language, as well as in the initiation dialect of the Ékpè 'leopard' society of the Calabar region. This exercise was meant to introduce the people of Calabar city, as well as the Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, to their ancestral heritage in the Caribbean region (which extends into New York City through Caribbean migration). The programs were broadcast on CRBC every Wednesday at 5pm for about two years, with a tremendous response from the people. The programs were later discontinued by a new administration that seemed to privilege Christian and foreign popular music over the rich musical heritage of Calabar. Thanks to Ben Miller for Sound Engineering.

#3 Calabar Radio Program with Abakuá tracks (late 1930s - early 40s) (audio file)

1. “Abakwa Song.” 1949. Cult Music of Cuba. Recorded in 1940 by Harold
     Courlander in Guanabacoa.

2. “Yo Soy Morua.” 1937 by Miguelito Valdés con Orquesta Casino De La Playa.

3. “Sanseribo.” 1940. Alberto Aroche, composer. Performed by Orq. Cheo Belen
      Puig.

4. “Muna Sanganfimba,” recorded in 1940 by Miguelito Valdés con la Orquesta
     Havana-Riverside.

5. “Ñaña Sere.” 1943 by Arsenio Rodriguez.

#4 Calabar Radio Program with Abakuá tracks (1940s) (audio file)

1. “Abasi,” 1947. ‘Chano' Pozo.

2. “Tanga”, 1949. Machito and his Afro-Cuban Orchestra.

3. ”Afro-Cuban Suite," 1948. Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo.

4. "Manteca," 1948. Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo.

#5 Calabar Radio Program with Abakuá tracks (1940-50s) (audio file)
1. “Abasi Abakuá,” 1945. Conjunto Niagra.
2. “Me boté de guanyo,” 1948. Arsenio Rodriguez.
3. “Los Sitios Asére,” Arsenio Rodriguez.
4. “El rincón caliente,” 1948. Arsenio Rodriguez.
5. “Asere krukoro,” 1951. Conjunto Jóvenes del Cayo. La Habana.

#6 Calabar Radio Program with Abakuá tracks (1950s) (audio file)
1. “Acere,” 1950. Alberto Zayas, Afrofrenetic, Havana.
2. “Dolor Carabalí,” Beny Moré, Havana.
3. “Habanecue,” Tito Rodriguez, New York City.
4. “Abacua Eku Sagaré,” 1953, Mongo Santamaria, New York City.

#10 Calabar Radio Program with Abakuá tracks (1950-60s) (audio file)
1. “Ñáñigo,” 1956. Katherine Dunham Ensemble, New York City.
2. “Canto Abakua,” 1963, Arsenio Rodríguez, New York City.
3. “Wemba,” Victor Herrera. Havana.
4. “Nkame,” Victor Herrera. Havana.
5. “Ekue Ekue,” 1956. Combo Siboney, Tata Guines, Guillermo Barreto, ‘Cachaíto’.

#11 Calabar Radio Program with Abakuá tracks (1960s) (audio file)
1. “Yo soy Abakuá," 1968. Willie Rosario.

2. “Descarga Panamá," 1969. Francisco Bastar ‘Kako’.

3. “Elephant Dance,” 1965. Afro-Soul Drum Orgy, with Yusef Latif
     and 'Julito' Collazo. New York City.

4. “Canto Abacua," 1969. Arsenio Rodriguez. Smithsonian Institution.

#12 Calabar Radio Program with Abakuá tracks (late 1960s - early 1970s) (audio file)

1. “Rezo Abacua,” 1967. Patato y Totico, New York City.

2. “Yayo eee,” 1967. Patato y Totico, New York City.

3. “Te canta mi tambor," 1973. Los Papines, La Habana.

4. “La protesta Carabalí," 1975. Rumboleros, La Habana.

5. “Capricho," 1977. Los Papines, La Habana.