Afropean.com’s Editor on CBC’s ‘Commotion’ Radio – Honouring Sade’s 40+ Year Legacy
Earlier this summer, I was approached by a member of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)’s Commotion radio team to appear on a special episode discussing the musical legacy of the legendary Helen Folasade Adu, in anticipation of Sade (the band)’s inauguration into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame later this year. I was tracked down via a tribute piece I wrote for Afropean.com in honour of Sade’s 60th birthday, back in 2019. Alongside North American academics, Prof. Mark Neal and Lynnée Denise, I was invited to contribute a Nigerian-British perspective on Sade’s broader cultural impact, as well as to share some personal favourites from Sade’s back catalogue. It was a buoyant exchange to say the least. Alas, with a mere 25 minutes to reflect on a career spanning more than four decades, there simply wasn’t enough time. Lynnée, Mark and I would have gladly spent all day waxing lyrical about Sade. Thanks to Tyrone and the CBC/Commotion team for inviting me. Here’s hoping we’ll reunite for a Part II (III, IV…) if that elusive seventh Sade album ever sees the light of day. Until then, enjoy the conversation:
…And for those itching for some Sade nostalgia – or to discover the music anew – here’s something I made earlier:
I’d love to hear that full conversation – 25 minutes really isn’t enough time to do Sade’s catalog justice. Fingers crossed for that seventh album too, because honestly we could all use more Sade right now.
Lovely to see Sade get this kind of airtime. I picked up Love Deluxe again last month and was struck by how little her catalogue has aged — there’s barely a song I’d describe as a product of its time.