Trevor Noah's musical tribute to Soweto, South Africa

The comedian gives us a playlist of songs that remind him of Soweto, a neighbourhood southwest of Johannesburg in South Africa.

CBC Radio · Posted: Dec 09, 2016 8:45 AM EST | Last Updated: July 20, 2021

Comedian and host of The Daily Show Trevor Noah. (Kwaku Alston)

Originally published on Dec. 9, 2016

In a segment we call the q Block Party, we invite guests to pay musical tribute to the neighbourhoods they hold dear to their hearts.

Today, comedian Trevor Noah takes listeners on a guided musical tour through Soweto, a neighbourhood southwest of Johannesburg known for its role in the struggle against apartheid and vibrant street culture.

Below are Noah's song picks and his reasons behind them.

Brenda Fassie, Weekend Special

"Brenda Fassie was one of South Africa's most successful artists. One of the few artists that actually transcended not just race, but also the country's borders. Brenda Fassie's song was on the charts in the U.S. and it's a song about a woman who is frustrated by the fact that there's a man who only seems to be able to see her on the weekend and constantly makes excuses."

Lionel Richie, All Night Long

"This song I picked because it reminds me of my myself and my mom growing up. My mom loved Lionel Richie. Before my mom became a Born again Christian she listened to a lot of pop music and Lionel Richie was the soundtrack of my home. Lionel Richie was the voice that I woke up to in the morning and the voice that I went to bed to at night."

Wu-Tang Clan, Triumph

"The next song I've got is the anthem of my teenage years. I grew up as a nerd. I loved playing chess, I was not good at sports. But the one thing I knew how to do was rap and the song that got me into hip-hop music was a song called Triumph by the Wu-Tang Clan"