VOA’s Heather Maxwell Travels to Rwanda and Cameroon
Dr. Heather Maxwell, host of VOA’s Music Time in Africa, traveled to Central Africa this summer as an arts envoy of the United States on a trip sponsored by the State Department. During the trip the she visited Cameroon and Rwanda and appeared on radio and television programs in both countries, giving interviews as well as musical performances – including one at an Independence Day celebration in Cameroon, where she sang the national anthems of Cameroon and the United States.
She also held music classes for professional and aspiring musicians in both countries. In Rwanda, she taught at the School of Arts and Music in Nyundo and the Oakdale Music School in Kigali. In Cameroon, she conducted two master classes, including one at the University of Yaounde in the capital. While the students were impressed by her musical performances, she said they were more impressed that she had a PhD as it was a credit to her dedication to and knowledge of music. Maxwell is an ethnomusicologist and experienced music professional in West Africa and the United States. Music Time in Africa is VOA’s longest running English language program. Since 1965, this award-winning program has featured pan African music that spans all genres and generations.