Between the Ears: Songs of the Mojave Desert

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Songs of the Mojave Desert

BBC Radio 3 - Between the Ears, Songs of the Mojave Desert

A collaboration with Natalie Diaz, celebrated Mojave American poet and language activist.

A collaboration between celebrated Mojave American poet and language activist, Natalie Diaz, and Hubert McCord, the last fluent Mojave singer.

A collaboration with Natalie Diaz, celebrated Mojave American poet and language activist. Her award-winning poetry collection, When My Brother Was An Aztec, draws on her experiences growing up on the Fort Mojave Indian reservation, a 40,000 acre stretch of desert spanning California, Arizona and Nevada. Her hotly anticipated second collection, Post Colonial Love Poem, will be released in June.

Natalie brings us to Mojave Valley, to the home of her uncle Hubert McCord. At 91, Hubert is the last fluent Mojave speaker who is also a singer. Together they have been working on a language recovery program for young people, whilst also recording ancient bird and clan songs for future generations.  

Immersing us in Mojave language and culture, we hear stories of the Colorado river. For Mojaves, there is an inseparable relationship between the body and the land which they have inherited from the creator, Matevil, who Hubert simply calls the great man.

Mojaves call themselves Aha’Macav - which means the river runs through their bodies and through their land. Today this is the most endangered river in the United States - so how will Natalie say "I am am carrying the Colorado river in my body, I am the river" when this river is gone? 

The valley is surrounded by a ring of mountains including Avi kwame (Spirit Mountain) where Mojaves were created, the rock who cried, and the sand dunes where Mojaves go on to the next life. Despite brutal attempts to silence Mojave language and culture in the 20th century, Mojave ancient songs, with their stories of animals, the river, and ancient beings, still resonate with life today on the reservation. Although many traditions are at risk of dying out.

Produced by Victoria Ferran
A Just Radio production for BBC Radio 3

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

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