Firefly hosts the Africa O-Ye! program from 2 PM to 4 PM every Thursday. The program has broadcast a range of music from the African continent for the last 13 years.
Firefly, also known as Tony Alabi, came to the US from Nigeria where his parents were from ethnic groups with significantly different cultures. His father is Yoruba and his mother Ibo. He spent much of his childhood in the predominantly Muslim Northern Nigeria, where his parents lived and worked, and vacationed with his maternal grandfather, a tribal Chief in the Christian/Animist Eastern Nigeria. As a teenager, Firefly attended school in Christian/Muslim Yorubaland in Western Nigeria. Perhaps this diverse background predestined Firefly to create the bridge between KBOO listeners and the wealth of African musical styles.
Firefly explains that it is the transformational power of music that inspires him. This power is reflected in the ability of music to nurture the spirit and transcend physical, temporal and cultural barriers. He notes that life in Africa is deeply imbued with music, and that the key characteristics of African Music are that it is rarely delivered with anger and that it can be enjoyed by listeners of all ages and all walks of life. He also notes music's influence on social justice movements in Africa such as Fela Kuti’s description of corruption and injustice in his native Nigeria, and how music offered a vehicle for the ”expression of oppression” in apartheid South Africa.
The nickname “Firefly” originates from a childhood experience where soon after an uncle's death, Tony saw a shooting star and imagined it as a farewell from his deceased relative. Since that experience, Tony was drawn to the firefly for its non-aggressive creature, and its ability to generate its own light.
Firefly's involvement with music and the music industry started in Nigeria where as a teenager he was involved with nightclub management and more importantly the acquisition of recorded music from England. This put him at the leading edge of popular music in Nigeria and developed his awareness and appreciation for music. About 16 years ago, Firefly was publishing a local music paper, The Talking Drum, and he recognized the need for an African music program and decided to get behind the microphone.
Firefly keeps up to date with the latest music coming out of Africa through his contacts in the music business, and he recommends Georges Collinet's “Afropop Worldwide” website (http://www.afropop.org/) to listeners who want up-to-date news on what is happening musically in Africa.
When not spinning tunes on KBOO, Firefly enjoys playing soccer, hiking, reading and of course, listening to music.