My City January 2022

MYMUSIC

MAXWELL MET WITH LOCALS IN ZIMBABWE AS AN AMBASSADOR FOR VOA.

e program continues today as a form of cultural diplomacy and a show of respect between our country and the peoples of Africa.”Maxwell acts as show host and disc jockey, bringing news of new artist album releases, playing past and present African hits, and interviewing current artists. She has traveled extensive- ly throughout Africa, meeting its people, promoting the message of the U.S. and VOA, and collaborat- ing with professional musicians. In Africa, her persona and likability are akin to the late Casey Kasem of “American Top 40”. “I’ve heard that comparison before,”Maxwell laughs. Music has always been a large part of Maxwell’s life. It began when she was a child living on the outskirts of Flint, singing with her family’s gospel band, e Maxwells. “We used to sing throughout the state and even

MAXWELL WITH A UNIVERSITY OF GHANA REPRESENTATIVE

performed on the Jerry Lewis Tele- thon,” she remembers. She studied opera at Interlochen Arts Academy and after graduation, continued her voice training at the University of Michigan. It was there that her fasci- nation with African music began after taking a variety of world music courses.

“I left Michigan in my junior year to attend the University of Ghana in Africa to study music and dance,” she recalls. “I was fascinated.” After graduating, she joined the Peace Corps and was placed in Mali where she learned to speak French and Bambara, the local language.

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