Chino Odimba
September 2005 - Macire Sylla, Lura
Hello and welcome! I'm back from my travels and ready to share more music news.
Festival Du Bout du Monde
It's been a busy summer where I've been doing everything from presenting for our very own dedicated Africa on Your Street day at WOMAD, to travelling across the world - well, actually to Brittany in France for the 'Festival du Bout du Monde'. WOMAD - was WOW WOW!!! Festival Du Bout du Monde is still very young, only in its 6th year, but Brittany's homage to African music was worth seeing. The impressive line-up included Youssou N'Dour, Boubocar Traore and Julien Jacob. But whatever you do, don't expect anything but music at this festival - there are no nice stalls to buy African music, food, cloth or trinkets. Just music... And after all it is the music that really matters.
Macire Sylla
The music that matters to me right now is Macire Sylla. A Guinea-born vocalist, Macire is a little known name internationally, but that is all about to change. A griot by tradition, Macire combines their storytelling nature with Western musical styles. Still a young and upcoming singer, Macire has already established herself with stunning albums such as 'Maya Irafama' released in 2001, and her most recent album with her band Djembe-Fare, 'Mariama' which was released earlier this year.
Her sound is eclectic, and brings in influences from reggae to electric pop music. Traditional instruments such as the Fulani flute and Mande guitar, combine with Macire's soulful voice and mix beautifully. Many compare her to the legendary voice of Angelique Kidjo, but ultimately she creates and stays true to her undeniably smooth style.
Her sound is eclectic, and brings in influences from reggae to electric pop music. Traditional instruments such as the Fulani flute and Mande guitar, combine with Macire's soulful voice and mix beautifully. Many compare her to the legendary voice of Angelique Kidjo, but ultimately she creates and stays true to her undeniably smooth style.
Lura
Onto another soulful and inspiring young singer, this time from Cape Verde: the delightful Lura. Her sound is related to the Cape Verdian island of Santiago (drawing on West African and Portuguese styles) and she plays a very unique instrument from that region - the 'tchabeta'. It looks like a cushion and is played like a drum but is placed on the lap of the musician.
Traditionally the instrument is and was played by the women of Cape Verde. It would be very easy to describe Lura as another singer from these islands but in fact, there is plenty about her that is surprising and infectious. Her music is very upbeat and she blends her wonderous voice with a sensual dancing known as 'morna'. She represents a new generation of Cape Verdian music that uses the 'longing' and mournful styles that the region is known for, but takes it to new rhythmic heights. Lura will be playing at St George's Bristol on the 20th November, and if you haven't seen her live before, you will not be disappointed!
Karamu
On 24 September, AOYS and BBC Radio Bristol will be hosting an all-day free event called 'Karamu' (meaning 'a place of joyful gathering') at the L-Shed, Bristol Docks. The event will feature musicians from both Bristol, and across the African continent. Amongst the highlights are Zimbabwean Dance group Imbongi and Albert Nythali; mbira legend Chartwell Dutiro, workshops by the talented Pinise Saul, and fusion band SUUF.
There are also local showcases from the Somerset Youth choir, dance workshops with Issa Sawane and performances by Mankala. The day will be a treat for the ears as well as your stomach! A specially created Cultural cafe will be dishing up food from across the continent. Meanwhile, the BBC Natural History Unit will be serving up a selection of the best African wildlife films made in the last few years, and if that wasn't enough, local African artists will be exhibiting their work through out the day.
Traders and organisations from across the South West and beyond, will be selling African textiles, Moroccan lamps, maps, books and jewelry. There are also workshops for children and many many other features on the day. As your Africa on Your Street host, and key organiser of this event, I promise it will be a chance to see some of the best Arts and Culture from Africa - and celebrate the links that Bristol has with Africa. - I will be there - see you among the crowds!
New music releases this month include the awesome Emmanuel Jal collaboration with Abdel Gadir Salim called 'Ceasefire'. Also Mondo Music have released a series of CDs called 'ZNBC presents Zambian legends' - worth checking out for Serenje Kalindula.
Wherever you go, and whatever you're doing, if there's African music involved, please let me know. And if you take any nice pictures then send those for our gallery - Africa on Your Street is a place for sharing and celebrating the magic of African music together.
Don't forget that you can leave us all your comments .
Bye for now,
Chino
Chino Odimba's Recommended CDs
Lura - Di Korpu Ku Alma
Macire Sylla - 'Mariama'
Vusi Mahlasela - 'The Voice'
Check out my recommended CDs this month in the CD Reviews section or go to Music Search to look at our archive of recommended CDs