Meet African Music’s U.S. Ambassador, Tuma Basa

Tuma Basa says that it was the late Andre Harrell who encouraged him to become a conduit between Africa’s music business and the West. “Andre would always say, ‘Tuma, you’re the African ambassador,’” Basa recalls of the Uptown Records founder, who died May 7. “I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m from Africa, but…’ and Andre would say, ‘No, you take care of that.’” Basa, in a hoodie, ball cap and bushy beard, smiles at th