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Every week for Black History Month, World Cafe correspondent John Morrison is highlighting a different maverick of Black music history.

Stradivarius violins often sell for millions. There’s a long history behind them, and violinists who swear they sound better than modern ones.

Morgiane, perhaps the oldest opera by a Black American, finally receives its full public performance, shedding light on the forgotten heyday of opera in New Orleans.

Arson Fahim remembers leaving for Boston to study music just days before the Taliban took over Afghanistan.

Professor Adrian Anantawan co-founded the Music Inclusion Ensemble at the Boston college.

In his album Amours Interdites (Forbidden Love) French pianist David Kadouch explores music by gay composers who concealed their sexuality in societies that wouldn’t otherwise accept them.

On his new album, the British keyboardist offers both engaging and entertaining contemporary works for the misunderstood instrument.

In celebration of what would have been Martin Luther King Jr.’s 96th birthday, pianist Lara Downes examines how musicians have followed in his footsteps, and faced the cost of taking a stand.