London African Music Festival 2007
Don't miss the fifth London African Music Festival (18 - 30 May 2007).
The fifth London African Music Festival will take place from Friday, 18 May to Wednesday, 30 May 2007. Unlike in previous years when all events took place at London's South Bank Centre, this year the concerts will take place at the Coronet Theatre, Cargo and the ICA as well as the Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room making it a truly London-wide affair.
The festival has also grown in size again - there will be a staggering 25 concerts. You can find details of all of these in our Africa Beyond Gigs and Events Guide .
With so many great concerts, it's hard to decide which ones to go to. Rest assured, going by the standards of previous years, whichever concert(s) you pick, be it a name you are familiar with or not, will be great. Here we have chosen a few of our favourites:
The Egyptian diva Natacha Atlas (Wednesday, 23 May, Southbank Centre) is one of the most original artists blending international cultures into a common musical language. With a sharp musical mind Natacha Atlas delivers exotic world beat music that is full of exuberance and energy. She has brilliantly combined her Arabic roots and Egyptian culture with her club experiences with the likes of Transglobal Underground. Singing in Arabic, English and French has opened her music to the wider world.
Nuru Kane (Wednesday 23 May, Cargo) is a great new interpreter of Senegalese music, blending Mbalax rhythms with Sufi Trance reminiscent of Gnawa from Morocco. On his current CD 'Sigil' Nuru explores the connections between the music of North and West Africa – a musical journey across the Sahara. Nuru Kane’s blues-led solo songs and the driving gnawa trance from Morocco form the backbone of his pulsating live performances that are unhindered, unrestricted and full of musical surprises.
London-born and Zimbabwe-raised Netsayi Chigwendere (Thursday, 24 May, Southbank Centre) draws on soul, African folk, gospel and reggae to create a remarkable album, 'Chimurenga Soul', that is so varied and dynamic and yet has such a simplicity and beauty to it. Netsayi's music is powerful and intelligent, with a real sense of groove. Singing in a sinuous and soulful voice in both English and her native Shona tongue, she flits effortlessly between pop, jazz, folk, nu-soul and reggae, intermingled with a healthy dose of the chimurenga rhythms of Zimbabwe.
Hi-Life Classics is a brand new project that allows vocalist Paulina Oduro and guitarist Kari Bannerman (Saturday, 26 May, Southbank Centre) to take a trip to the heart of hi-life music that dominated West African music in the 60s and 70s. This is a major rework of classic songs that captured the heart and soul of generations of Ghanaians. New musicians are using the chiming guitar lines, bubbling bass lines and rocking brass section of classic hi-life to create something new with modern grooves. Vocalist Paulina Oduro and guitarist Kari Bannerman are joined by a 7-piece band and some surprise guests for a night that celebrates one of Africa’s greatest musical styles. Check out our Paulina Oduro feature .
Guinea's remarkable Ba Cissoko (Tuesday, 29 May, Institute of Contemporary Arts) and his group combine an acoustic kora and re-enforced kora with a rack of special effects to create a dazzling power music that earned them the adoration of their country. Young people love them for their tradition-breaking approach to the kora and old people love them for keeping the art of kora alive. The emblematic 20-stringed West African instrument kora becomes a cool and urban instrument that is capable of a razor sharp sound. Ba Cissoko, Sekou Kouyaté, Kourou Kouyaté and Ibrahima Bah, the four griots of Conakry, play from their latest CD 'Electric Griot Land'. read our exclusive interview with Ba Cissoko interview to find out more.
Have a great time exploring African music at the festival and make sure you tell us your thoughts. Who did you go to see? What were the highlights? Leave us a comment .