American rock has been cribbing African sounds for years. Now a South African band is poised to make a big splash on our shores. BLK JKS, from Johannesburg, blends African sounds with MTV-inspired art rock. They just released their first album in the U.S., Mystery. Band members Lindani Buthelezi and Mpumi Mcata perform live, and tell Kurt about witnessing the end of apartheid and discovering Nirvana.
Without federal support, local stations, especially in rural and underserved areas, face deep cuts or even closure. Vital public service alerts, news, storytelling, and programming like The World will be impacted. The World has weathered many storms, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to being your trusted source for human-centered international news, shared with integrity and care. We believe public media is about truth and access for all. As an independent, nonprofit newsroom, we aren’t controlled by billionaire owners or corporations. We are sustained by listeners like you.
Now more than ever, we need your help to support our global reporting work and power the future of The World.