Saïs Kamalidiin

Host, Jam Session ~ Life Music

Saïs Kamalidiin is a musician for life and educator who brings a deep, global perspective to the WPFW airwaves as the host of Jam Session ~ Life Music. A veteran of the station family, Saïs first joined the WPFW team in 1984 at the age of 34. He fondly remembers being greeted at the original H Street studio by Mr. Fish Middleton, whose warm welcome led to a six-year tenure as an on-air programmer.

After a hiatus to earn his doctorate in ethnomusicology, Saïs was invited back to the station in 2019. In his professional life beyond the booth, he has served as an Associate Professor of Music at Howard University for 27 years. He views independent community radio as an indispensable tool for navigating the complexities of modern life, drawn to the platform by the diverse range of opinions and viewpoints it allows.

On his program, Saïs provides a 360-degree exposure to the most potent musical traditions in existence, blending genres such as Jazz, Latin, Classical, and Folk. Guided by the mantra "Music is the healing force of the universe," he views WPFW programmers as "Scientists of Sound" who are mathematically laying it down on behalf of the community. He purposefully keeps his broadcasts unpredictable, never informing listeners what to expect next week to ensure each show is something completely different and of the highest quality.

Saïs is a firm advocate for intellectual autonomy and cultural freedom, especially as he observes the increasing gentrification of the District. He believes it is essential for the community to be knowledgeable about the full spectrum of global musical contributions. His advice to the WPFW family, and particularly to younger listeners, is to never stop seeking greater levels of wisdom and understanding, and to find like-minded companions to join them on that journey.