Rita Ray
October 2005 - African Connection, WOMEX, Remember Saro-Wiwa
Greetings, Salaama. Here we are nearing the end of Africa '05 and there is so much to tell that I'm just going to dive in and blurt it all out.
African Connection
In my last column I told you about BBC New Talent's African Connection competition, which is really bubbling now. They have gone through the call back where the final 12 bands were whittled down to the four winners. It was tough - they had a day of gruelling workshops and performance under the eagle eyes of the judges from Radio 1, 3, and 1Xtra (yes, DJ Edu was there and he is such a lovely guy) and the executive producer of the project, the eminent UK/Nigerian rapper TY.
The standard of musicianship was impressive and the musical spectrum they covered was huge. So what happens now? The four winners get together with four African Artists for three days of writing and recording. The results will be played on BBC radio.
The four African artists are - rapper Ade from Bantu, Seikou Kouyate , one of the kora players from Ba Cissoko, Thandiswa and Cheikh Lo , whose new album is just about to be released. I've got it and it is lovely - listen to 'Senegal - Bresil' to get a taste of what he is all about these days. All the musicians will be writing and recording up at the Sage Centre in Gateshead.
Womex
It's all going off up North then, because from the 26-30 October The Sage Centre again plays host, to Womex , the biggest and probably best annual world music expo for its first visit to the UK.
Womex's mission is to highlight the best in music from around the world, drawing from roots, nu roots, classical, popular and electronic music. There will be 37 showcases as well as numerous conferences, seminars and film screenings. This year's focus is on the Commonwealth and with so many African countries making up the Commonwealth; you lovers of African music know that we are in for very good time. Here is a little taster of what's to come:
UK based Sarr + Soul are innovative and stylish Afro fusionists with no boundaries. I am talking about DJ Dudu Sarr of Afrotronics who co-compiled the glorious jukebox, soundtrack and CD for the Africa Remix exhibition at the beginning of 2005 and DJ Eric Soul, of Afrogroov, Groov'n'Bass and countless other projects. Hard working? You bet! Eric is, by the way, the son of Rwanda's legendry songstress, Cecile Kayirebwa. Sarr + Soul will be laying down the beats at the Womex launch night on the 26 October. To get you in to the mood you should check out 'Fanya Tena' from Dudu's excellent Africa ReMix compilation, 'Ah Freak Iya'.
Vusi Mahlasela, much loved and known simply as 'The Voice' in his native South Africa, stunned British audiences last year with his abundant talents, great voice, stirring lyrics and traditional South African rhythms - a sound he honed during the struggle against apartheid. Vusi performs on the 27 Oct.
Later that night, the charismatic 21st Century troubadour Atongo Zimba takes to the stage. From the grasslands of Bolgatanga in the North of Ghana, he sings and plays the molo, a 2-string calabash lute. Atongo is rooted in the sounds of the sahel which is a very different musical tradition to hi life, Ghana 's popular and best known music form. However, his new album 'Savannah' has an adventurous edge exploring jazz and funk as well as hi life.
Representing Senegal is a giant of mbalax - singer, dancer and percussionist Alioune Mbaye Nder who breezes in with his young group Nder & Le Setsima. He has an immaculate pedigree, cutting his teeth with the legendary Lemzo Diamono where his reputation as a powerful expressive voice began. His inclusive nu roots style and topical lyrics are a big hit with the youth of Senegal and some of his hardcore fans call him the 'king of mbalax'.
Already in place because of the African Connection competition is Thandiswa, the sparkling lead singer and songwriter of South Africa 's foremost Kwaito band, Bongo Maffin. She hand picked her 10-piece band from hundreds of applicants and they are now are widely recognised as the voice of South Africa 's conscious youth. Thandiswa's debut release Zabalaza was nominated for the Awards for World Music last year.
Tanzania's Jagwa Music is a 12-strong group totally unknown outside of their home in the suburbs of Dar es Salaam where they are very big with the urban youth. They play mchiriku, a souped up version of the traditional music called chakacha. It is the music of the poor and is frowned on by the establishment. Jagwa's instrumentation is minimal, drums, a keyboard, whistles and a battered old stool, which they beat with sticks as they sing witty and humourous observations about their daily struggles in a world of poverty and injustice. They put on an explosive show combining theatrics, acrobatics and non-stop gymnastics in a skillfully choreographed workout. Don't miss this lot - they are bound to be the most talked-about group at Womex.
Then we get the throbbing Afrobeat of UK-based Dele Sosimi . The gifted keyboardist, one time protégé of Fela Kuti and co-founder of Femi Kuti's Positive Force is taking his vision of Afrobeat into the 21st century through his band, solo projects and numerous collaborations. If you missed him at last year's Black President Festival where he absolutely shone, then get yourself to the Sage.
Because of my sniffy attitude to most African reggae, I must confess I didn't know Tiken Jah Fakoly and have I been missing out. This is some artist and hugely popular, too. Now living in exile in Mali, Tikan Jah Fakoly is a gifted, articulate, angry artist from the Ivory Coast who uses his reggae driven lyrics to challenge the devastating condition of his country and gives the global status quo a verbal kicking too. His latest album 'Coup De Gueule' is getting rave reviews.
Julien Jacob comes to us from Benin out of France with his distinctive modern African sound captured so beautifully on his latest highly praised release 'Cotonou'.
North Africa is represented through the soulful poetic music of Cherifa Kersit , the Moroccan Berber from the Middle Atlas. Her strong vocals depict the joy and misery of everyday Berber life. Les Boukakes whose line up includes Algerians and Tunisians based in France are a perfect contrast with their full-on energetic melange of rock'n'rai.
Ever heard of Bi Kidude , the 93-year-old (and still kicking) Taarab singer and Unyago drumming specialist from Zanzibar? Tiny but mesmerising, she bosses a rhythm from the huge ngoma drum tied around her waist and bawls out instructions in a call and response form with her all-female group of drummers and singers. They evoke traditional rites of passage of adolescent females.
So compelling is she, that a new film - 'As Old As My Tongue - The Life and Myth of Bi Kidude' and an album of her music to date - 'Zanzibara 4: Bi Kidude' are coming out soon. Bi is the winner of this year's prestigious Womex prize. Thanks to the kind assistance of the British Council she will be receiving her award in person and will be the subject of a meet Bi Kidude session that I will be hosting.
The Womex prize is presented on the morning of the 30 October, followed by a concert in Bi's honour by Maurice El Medioni , the charming piano playing exponent of oriental music and one of the innovators of Algeria 's popular music, rai. The 'Ruben Gonzales' of the Maghreb is going strong and compared to Bi, still a spring chicken at 77 years.
You probably heard him add the nostalgic notes of his oriental piano to the opening track of Khaled's latest, much celebrated 'Ya Rayi' release. His inimitable piano style always delights, with his left hand hammering out the rhythms of the New World and his right picking out the exotic licks and melodies of the Old - a lovely way to say goodbye to a Womex that promises to be so exciting.
Remember Saro-Wiwa
November 10 is the tenth anniversary of the execution of eight leaders of the Ogoni peoples of Nigeria and playright and social activist Ken Saro-Wiwa. All were executed for campaigning against the brutal suppression of their people.
The Remember Saro-Wiwa season takes place across London in a series of events including, film, debate, literature and theatre and culminates on the 10 th at Jamm in Brixton with Dance the Guns To Silence , a special night of poetry, spoken word, live music and DJs. This event boasts a fantastic line-up that includes Radio 3's writer in residence for the Africa season, Rommi Smith, broadcaster Henry Bonsu and on the music front - rappers Ty and BREIS, the funky Soothsayers featuring Adesose Wallace, and DJs Saar + Soul, DJ A4 and...me! Check the website www.remembersarowiwa.com for the full line-up and information on the whole Remember Saro - Wiwa season. As the great man said: 'Dance your anger and your joys, dance the guns to silence, dance, dance, dance."
Enjoy all the great events going on out there and give us some feedback .
Until the next time,
Rita
Rita Ray's recommended CDs
Tikan Jah Fakoly
Doreen Thobekile - London Zulu
Thandiswa - Zabalaza Remix
Juliany/Johnny-Boy/K-Swiss/Agano - Africa ReMix Ah Freek Iya
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.