Yve Ngoo
April 2006 - Newcastle's only African Night and Daniel Habtey
Welcome! Spring has arrived, and there's a phenomenal line-up of African music coming our way.
- Can you believe it ?
- African Sage
- A voice from Eritrea
- La Pro Dada
- Musicport 2006
- Freebie!
- Yve's recommended CD's
Can you believe it ?
I've been hosting the northern edition of Africa on Your Street for 2 years! Doesn't time fly?
It's April 2006 and at last it seems that spring has finally arrived, but it's not just the sunshine and daffodils that have put a spring in my step, it's a fantastic line-up of African music coming our way.
African Sage
he Sage Gateshead is onto winner with its spring-summer line up of African music, kicking off with Orchestre Baka de Gbine: 'Embrace the Spirit of the Forest', Sunday 7 May. The Afro-Celt super group consists of UK-based Baka Beyond together with seven musicians from the Baka tribe (Pygmies) who live in the rainforests of Cameroon.
Just before their trip to The Sage though, Baka Gbine visit the Andy Kershaw studio on Sunday 30th April at 10.15 pm on BBC Radio 3 - well worth a listen to get you in the mood ready for the gig!
Just seven days later, Monday 15 May, Guinean Kora masters Ba Cissoko , take the stage to blend together the ancient and delicately entrancing sound of the kora with a well built reggae rock foundation.
Sure to be a sell-out is the ever popular Ladysmith Black Mambazo and special guests, Mahotella Queens , Monday 22 May. With nearly 40 CD releases Mambazo's captivating Zulu harmonies are a proud, strong homage to the jubilance, power and beauty of indigenous music, whilst the Mohotella Queens represent so much of what is best in the music of South Africa: the finely honed art of passionate singing, the lattice of funky rhythms, and the breathtaking art of spectacular live performance' won them the world music artist of the year 2000.
Toumani Diabate , The undisputed Prince of the kora, is accompanied by a whole host of wonderful musicians who hail from all over West Africa to form the Symmetric Orchestra ; a living breathing band who play weekly at Diabaté's club, the Hogon, in Mali's capital Bamako. Ok, so you can't pop down to the Hogan, but you can make the Sage Gateshead on Wednesday 24 May. Also, watch out for the new CD, Toumani Diabate's Symmetric Orchestra - Boulevard de l'Independence. Toumani Diabate is supported by an electric set from Cheik Lo .
Finally - if you have the energy (and the means!) be enchanted by Sidi Goma (The Black Sidi's of Gujarat) when they weave their mystical, rootsie Afro-Indian music across the stage of the Sage on Thursday 1 June.
A voice from Eritrea
In my last edition of Africa on Your Street, I mentioned the north east's 'African Gospel' community, which sparked a lot of interest from people wishing to participate in joyous musical worship.
Thankfully, as if by divine intervention, a local Pastor, Daniel Habtey sent me his debut UK release, 'The Secret of the Victory', a CD of inspirational Gospel music.
Daniel Habtey came to the UK in 2005 after a dramatic exile from his homeland of Eritrea, fleeing through Sudan. One of the purposes of this recording is to support the political/religious prisoners left in Eritrea, to make sure their names, families, cause and lives are not forgotten.
Currently, the people of Eritrea are passing through hard times and trials because of the war in their nation. The vision and dream for the Eritrea families, orphans and victims of the war is to see their nation restored to peace once again.
The persecution for Christians is severe. There are reports of Pastors with families being beaten to death. 'The Secret of the Victory' is a testimony of their epic escape where Daniel, in an attempt to safeguard the lives of his wife and two children, led over thirty other families to escape Eritrea with their lives.
Daniel, an orphan since 5 years of age, grew up in a Swiss run Christian Orphanage. Now settled in the East-End of Newcastle, Daniel and his family start a new life here in the UK, thankful to God for all that they have lived through, and enthusiastic about the future challenges that lie ahead!
La Pro Dada
Fancy a dance? The mighty Manoute Seri, the man behind L'Afrique a Newcastle launches La Pro Dada, an all new Afro Caribbean Night, every Friday from 8pm, at The Charles Grey, Grey's Monument. That's bang in the heart of the city! With special guest DJ's every week playing as many rhythms as Zook, Kizomba, Coupe Decalle, Tarrachos, Makossa, Mapouka, N'Domolo, Soukous, Kuduro, Reggae, Hip-Hop, Sambae, Rai and all those in between.
Call 07956 172 099 or 07947 219 625 for more info.
Musicport 2006
Great friends of Africa on Your Street, Jim and the team at Musicport have released the names of some of the big acts appearing at Musicport 2006. As usual, tickets are going fast, and it's still 6 months away. For more info:www.musicport.fsnet.co.uk
Freebie!
Don't forget to claim your free, exclusive 'African Soul Rebels 2006' sampler CD. I have twenty sampler CD's of the 2006 tour to give away; featuring Souad Massi, Amadou & Miriam and Emmanuel Jal . Email your name and address to yve.ngoo@bbc.co.uk and 20 lucky people will receive one of these exclusive CD's. Good Luck!
Don't forget to post your comments
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Yve's recommended CD's
Daniel Habtey -The Secret of the Victory
Orchestre Baka de Gbine - Gati Bongo
Mahotella Queens - Reign & Shine