Abstract: The Malaika Nsoroma Lett Radio Archive contains mainly reel-to-reel and cassette tape recordings of Lett’s radio shows on WDET. Malaika Lett first took over the program “Seminar in Black” from host Nubia Kai in the mid-to-late 1970s. The program covered Black, African-American, and African history, and covered a wide range of topics. In the collection are shows on nationally prominent individuals such as Frederick Douglass, Kwame Toure, Malcolm X, and Emma Henderson; subjects such as Black mental health, the Civil Rights movement, apartheid in South Africa, memories of school desegregation, and gospel preaching; and a number of programs specifically highlighting Black and African-American influence on music. Lett transitioned the show to “Griot Connection” in the early 1980s, and produced multi-part episodes on both local and national figures such as Stevie Wonder, Martin Luther King Jr., Betty Carter, Kim Weston, Count Basie, and others. This collection is stored on fragile audio formats and digital copies are not currently available. Please contact info@detroitsound.org if you wish to access a recording.
Donor(s): Ron Kwame Lett and Susan Ife Lett
Dates: 1974-1987
Extent: 35 LF
Collection Type: Physical
Subjects: Civil Rights, Black history, African history, jazz, Detroit radio
Related Collections and Artifacts:
- Harold McKinney Music and Manuscripts
- Michelle Jahra McKinney Papers and Library
- WDET Vista Recordings
- Women in Jazz Oral History Project
- Graystone International Jazz Museum Collection