A Transatlantic Journey Home

Mimy’s composition traces the history of Afro music as it accompanied its people, who were enslaved and transported to the Caribbean  

Rimbognala: Echoes of Eden

“Rimbognala,” a Malagasy term, translates as “the leftover remnants of the forest.” This title serves as lament etched into the soul of the song and its composer, Mimy.  

Lomalilay: A Melody of Deepest Thanks

“Lomalilay” is a response to the welcome given in the first piece, banaike. The piano takes the spotlight, conveying the heartfelt response of the guests. 

Welcoming Week: Romila

This composition is an ode to an envisioned Romila, a love letter steeped in jazzy melodies and set to the captivating rhythm of Afro-Cuban grooves. 

A Song for My Mother’s Journey

Composed by Mimy in the wake of his mother’s funeral, “Any Ankoatra Any” loosely translated, means “Into the Unknown, On the Other Side.”

Beko: a Memory of Resistance

In the dusty heart of southern Madagascar, the beko is a revered storytelling tradition. The singer, known as a sairy, dedicates his life to mastering this art form.

Banaike: Let the Beat Welcome You

“Banaike” is a style of music where rhythm transforms into ritual and everyone is invited to join in. It is played in the south of Madagascar to begin a party.

Sankar Raman

Getting Down to Business

For Abiba Magba Magba, running a business was a means of survival.  Her mother taught her this while Magba was growing up in Bangui,  

Karen Weliky

Flavors From Home In A Suitcase

Ask almost any refugee from war-torn countries how they arrived on these shores, and at this specific place, and you will inevitably hear of radical choices  

Sankar Raman

I Had to Earn my Way

Dr. Rahel Nardos’ credentials as an M.D. from Yale are not enough for some people, who question her status as a medical professional