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music
EXPERIENCE THE REBIRTH OF THE GRIOT ON FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2023
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Eventbrite - Rebirth of the Griot presents Rebirth Of Griot - Friday, October 27, 2023 at Tottenham Community Sports Centre2, London, England. Find event and ticket information.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rebirth-of-griot-tickets-737844190837
Marvin, the most versatile and popular Zouk Artist
We were delighted to meet Marvin, an accomplished artist who incidentally grew a passion for Zouk music, a hugely popular Caribbean sound from Guadeloupe and Martinique, for close to two decades now and made it his own. Over his 16 years career span, he had the opportunity to tour the world and collaborate with many international artists such as Priscilla, Phylissia Ross from Haiti and Yasmine from Portugal. If you have ever listened or danced to Zouk music, then you are familiar with Marvin's music. That's how popular he is.
However, it's with great humility and simplicity that he converses in the lobby of his hotel in Farringdon on Sunday 2nd July whilst talking to two Caribbean bloggers asking him a wide range of questions on Zouk music. His manager is equally as humble. That night, Marvin will be performing at a Zouk Love event in a nearby venue called The Piano Works amongst the London Caribbean community. It's a huge night for the London Caribbean community since it is the first time in over 10 years that Marvin will perform in London and he is eager to reconnect with his fanbase and public over here.
Marvin has got a very interesting background. It was really interesting for us to discover that he actually is of mixed heritage, his dad being Ivorian and his mother from Brittany, France; which means that unlike most Zouk artists, he is not of Caribbean descent. Yet, from the day Marvin toured for the very first time in the French West Indies in 2006, he was warmly welcome and his music appreciated by all. His first album was called "Corps et Âme" which means Body and Soul. Followed 4 albums and hits, one of the most recent being 'Je serais là', in 2018 with Yasmine. Click below to watch the clip.
However, for the last couple of years, Marvin took some time out during the lockdown, spending time with his loved ones and recharging for what is to come. In 2022, Marvin resumed touring and is back in the studio working on some fresh sounds and diverse collaborations. From the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Sea across to the Atlantic and the Channel for those of us in the UK, Marvin tirelessly shares his passion of music, gives love and receive it from his fanbase all over the world.
So without further ado, make sure to check Marvin's music on all different platforms.
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Marvin was interviewed by Caro Sika, our cultural mediator.
June Zouk and Kompa Events by Zouk Love London
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Zouk Love London is back with a Special KOMPA Edition, on Friday 17th of June 2022 from 10PM to 3AM at the Adulis Lounge, 44 Brixton Road, London SW9 6BT.
Join the KOMPA Class before the party from 8.30pm to 10pm with the now well known Joyce-Lee for those who would like to learn how to dance it !
On the Deck for you:
DJ SKETY from PARIS is ready to give you an avalanche of KOMPA & GOUYAD to celebrate KOMPA. This Haitian native DJ will make this night memorable. The traditional DJ GATRESS will also be bringing to you a touch of Zouk, Zouk love, Retro Zouk and more. Last but not least, DJ REDSTAR from the UK will play the best of Dancehall, Afrobeats, Kuduro & Soucous
For more info and to book your tickets, click the link below:
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We are back with a Special KOMPA Edition, on the FRIDAY the 17th of June 2022 from 10PM to 3AM !!! So come enjoy yourself and dance the whole night with us to enjoy and celebrate our common Love : ...
http://www.afromoya.com/event/view/zouklovelondon-Kompa-Edition
You can also join Tuesday classes. Next one will be tomorrow. Click below for more info.
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Come learn the fundamental of Kompa & Zouk with Joyce-Lee & Stanley and be ready to hit the dance floor the next Zouk Love London special KOMPA EDITION ! Whether that you are a beginner or not you ...
Joyful Noise Presents THE AFROCENTRICS
These mesmerising sounds of pure dance floor euphoria build around African rhythms that takes in jazz, salsa, reggae while adding modern twists.
The 7-piece Afrocentrics create progressive dance music played by musicians rather than computers. Their forward-thinking music is driven by sharp songwriting skills powered by their tight musicianship.
Click on the link below to book your ticket.
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The Afrocentrics make a strong musical statement with their spellbinding afrobeat-funk-groves hybrid that create their mesmerising sounds of pure dance floor euphoria build around African rhythms ...
Joyful Noise Productions are taking us into a festive and unforgettable 2022 celebrating African Music
5 shows in the first 3 months of 2022 - sounds promising, doesn't it?
Continue to read on to find out more about the artists and to book your tickets.
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The Yoruba Women Choir will be at the Jazz Cafe on 7th January 2021
Described as Africa’s greatest vocal ensemble and renowned as one of Nigeria’s biggest musical exports, The Yoruba Women Choir always delivers a spectacular show bursting with passion and astounding power. Boasting eleven joyful singers who together create exquisite harmonies, the group is also backed by a six piece band playing traditional Yoruba rhythms and melodies that will keep you dancing all night long.
Yoruba Music was highly influential in the development of Afrobeat, Highlife and Afro-Cuban styles, making this an unmissable show for fans of Fela Kuti, Ebo Taylor or Buena Vista Social Club. Click below to book your ticket and get a feel of who they are.
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The Yoruba Women Choir - The Jazz Cafe
This show is a rescheduled show. All tickets from the previous date remain valid. Described as Africa's greatest vocal ensemble and renowned as one of Nigeria's biggest musical exports, The Yoruba ...
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Joyful Noise presents The Yoruba Women Choir on Sat 26 May 2018
Africa's greatest choir THE YORUBA WOMEN CHOIR live on Saturday 26 May in Brewhouse Arts Centre Taunton TA1 1JL.
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Afrocentrics will be a the Richmix on 25th January 2022, more info to come in the New Year.
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The Hi-Life orchestra will be at the Richmix on Tuesday 22nd February 2022, more info to come in the New Year.
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Osibisa will be at the RichMix on Tuesday 15th March 2022, more info to come in the New Year.
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Horns Unlimited will be at the RichMix on Wednesday 23rd March 2022, more info to come in the New Year.
Stay connected for more.
A cosy chat with Noel McKoy about the origins of Black British Music
Flashback to a special interview with Soul singer, songwriter and musician Noel McKoy where he shares with Caro Sika his earliest memories of Black British Music talking about Lovers Rock, Reggae, Soul artists and more.
Click below to watch the interview.
Noel McKoy is a British-based soul music singer. His music is a collection of soul, R&B, gospel, funk and Northern soul. Born in South London, he fronted the James Taylor Quartet in the early 1990s and has worked and duetted with several artists such as Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Cliff Richard, Lenny Henry, Jessie J, Mica Paris, Beverley Knight and his favourite - Stevie Wonder, as well as being known as the Dutch Pot owner, a nightclub located in London. He is currently part of the British Collective and also continues to tour and collaborate on a number of musical projects, one of the most recent being an international production with EEDB in collaboration with artists from Brazil and the US called "What are we gonna do? "
Click below to watch the video clip
Click below for more info on Noel McKoy
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Mi-Soul Soulful Sundays Season presents Noel McKoy with DJs Ronnie Herel & Gordon Mac Noel McKoy is an internationally renowned singer, songwriter and producer. With over forty years in the ...
The origins of the Kora
Tiramagan Traoré was a general of the great Soundjata Keïta, founder of the Mandinka empire, also referred to as the Mali Empire at the end of the twelfth century through to the sixteenth century.
The story goes that Tiramagan Traoré went to the heights of Kabul (present-day Guinea-Bissau which was formerly a territory of Gambia) with his griot Djelimadou Woulen Diabate and two hunters. During this expedition, Tiramagan spotted a Jinn, in front of a cave, which is a spirit in a form of a woman, living in the mountains. When she saw the expedition, the Jinn became frightened and took refuge in the cave.
Back home, Tiramagan told Waligelenjan, a descendant of Kamisoko, about his adventure. All decided to leave the next morning with a fishing net in order to catch this famous Jinn. When they arrived on the scene, the spirit woman was sitting in front of the cave. Immediately, the hunters launched the net on her to capture her. She, once more, took refuge in the cave and came out with a Kora. Tiramagan married this very beautiful woman and gave the Kora to his griot since he was a nobleman and wasn't permitted to play it. Djelimadou Woulen then exclaimed: "Nobleman, that's an instrument of ours, which belongs to the Mandika people".
It is from this story that the Kora, a stringed instrument of twenty-two strings with crystal sounds, draws its feminine gender. The first person to play it was this griot. When he died, in his honour, a string was removed. Since this time, the Kora has twenty-one leather strings. From the time of the first griot Djélimadou Woulen Diabaté, the Kora has been transmitted from Father to Son and has known more than 70 generations of griots.
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Here is below an interview that took place at the Jazz Cafe couple of years back with a griot from the Cissokho family "Diabel Cissokho" by Caro Sika. Enjoy :)
Meet musician and entrepreneur MIC ASSASSIN
"Music is my first love, the first thing I actually fell in love with" - Mic Assassin.
Following a 6-month Caribbean holiday which turned into an 8-year hiatus from music, Mic Assassin returns once again with more hunger, focus, and renewed vision.
Musician, Entrepreneur, Director, and Lover of life are the words, which most astutely describe this street-savvy South Londoner. Being disheartened and disillusioned with the politics of the music industry, his time away from music was productively spent setting up entrepreneurial ventures including a visual production company ‘FWD360’ under which Mic directed & edited over 100 projects for global brands, charities, and many grassroots organisations and independent artists.
But what is a man to do when his childhood dream and passion for creating music just won’t go away?
“I thought about it all the time, envisioning myself performing to massive concert venues. I wrote down everything even the thoughts I'm scared to say out loud. I’d hum melodies into voice recorders then start piecing the tracks together. Inspiration can come at any time of the day, I just have to stop everything and be on it when it does”.
From the tender age of 9 rapping in school assemblies to a 16-year-old appearing in magazines like The Face and The Fader, to an 18-year-old setting up his own record label selling CD’s hand to hand, Mic knows the true meaning of dream chasing.
Inspired by the hustle and grind of US / UK Indie labels such as Roc-a-fella, No Limit, So Solid and 57th Dynasty, Mic and his team learned and perfected the art of hand to hand selling moving units of CDs around their Lewisham college campus and outside popular music venues.
In love with the art of freestyling and eruptive crowd energy, Mic entered many "open mic" and Mc Battle competitions winning many of them and eventually being crowned Jump Off’s 2005 UK Street Battle Champion. This journey of gladiatorial words took Mic around the UK and USA where he would cross paths in combat with the likes of Professor Green, Lowkey and Iron Solomon.
The buzz around Mic Assassin grew and lead on to great coverage with live performances and Interviews on Kiss 100 FM (Shortee Blitz & Big Ted), BBC Radio (Ace & Vis, Twin B, Ras Kwame) and Dan Greenpeace (Xfm / Capital radio). His witty off the head freestyles lead Mic to feature on MTV’s Barrio 19 and host a part-time Hip Hop show “Mic Check With Mic Assassin” on BBC’s Asian Network.
Returning back with renewed focus and love for music-making, combining the visual and business skills learned within the 8-year gap period he is funnelling this new artillery into his new music.
With a more mature sound and reflective disposition Mic is open to all possibilities that may come his way.
“The most important thing this time around is having fun, travelling, connecting with people and making the best music I can. I’m legacy-building right now, building a foundation that can outlive me. I have many creative visuals, films, business ideas it’s all one, it’s all me and they intertwine with each other, but music is my first love and I’ve missed it. I am a better person when I'm making music, I feel like me again”.
Click below to download and listen to the new single release:
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Home page of Mic Assassin, a hip hop artist from London. Musician + Entrepreneur + Director
Click below to watch the video
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"Mother Nature," Angelique Kidjo's newest album out now!
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New album Mother Nature out now!
The album "Mother Nature" is a love letter to Mother Earth and all the values that humanity holds dear: truth, trust, love, connection. 'If there's anything the pandemic has taught us, it's that we are all a part of the same ecosystem—this planet is all we have' says Angelique Kidjo.
The song 'Mother Nature' features artist Sting and many other artists guests joined Angelique Kidjo on the album such as: Yemi Alade, Burna Boy, Mr Eazi, Salif Keita, Shungudzo, Sampa The Great, GhettoBoy, EarthGang, ZEYNAB, Matthieu, Chedid, - M - Lionel Loueke, and many more!
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South African singer songwriter Nomfusi releases her single “IQAQA”on 25th June 2021
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IQAQA is the first single from Nomfusi’s forthcoming album which will be released later in August 2021. It is a song about a love relationship. The Xhosa idiom “Iqaqa aliziva kunuka” means “the skunk does not smell itself” which refers to the fact that people often are unable to recognize their own faults. The song highlights this in a playful way. IQAQA is driven by danceable Afro Pop sounds with a strong vocal performance, melodic guitar riffs and groovy drums. Nomfusi ́s songs are mostly inspired by stories from her life.
IQAQA was written during an European tour in the mountains of Austria, when she was going through an argument and conflict with her partner. Away from her relationship frustration, she created a fictional story line of a woman leaving her relationship because of a man being too much of “Iqaqa". Also Nomfusi loves using Xhosa clicks as much as possible in her writing as part of preserving the Xhosa language.
Together with the single release, here is the official music video for IQAQA, which was shot in Brixton, a historically rich district in the heart of Johannesburg and at the legendary Roving Bantu venue. A social media campaign is also launched with IQAQA dance challenges, as well as IQAQA merchandise range and radio promotion in South Africa and Germany. The song was recorded in Johannesburg within the album recording process.
Click below to save or buy IQAQA by Nomfusi.
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