This piece aired in the May 23, 2023 episode of Crosscurrents.
Fremont’s Salma Elassal is a renowned singer and percussionist from Sudan. She’s says that when she holds her drum on her lap and sings, the ecstatic joy she feels is undescribable. Salma’s getting ready for a Berkeley show this weekend. And the show comes at a difficult time — a war broke out in Sudan just last month with hundreds dead and hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee.
KALW's Hana Baba went to the rehearsal to get a taste of the set. Accompanying Salma is musician and art therapist Mazin Jamal- who will be on bongos. Hana talked with Mazin in between songs.
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