|
Independence Arts Festival
18th to 27th October will see the Independence Arts Festival, with
the theme Looking back, thinking forward, take place.
The Festival comprises an extensive programme of films, music and
performing arts, exhibitions, literature, poetry and interactive
workshops. It also aims to create an informal space for creative
people and lovers of art to interact and enjoy the artistic
offerings of nations far and wide, while providing education and
learning opportunities. The Independence Arts festival is a joint
collaboration between Kulture Consult, Alliance Francaise, National
Arts Council (NAC) and Cultural Sector Support Program (CSSP). The
programme is as follows:
Mahube Featuring Oliver Mtukudzi
Saturday 23 October, 7 pm, International School of Lusaka Admission:
K65,000,
Sunday 24 October, 7 pm, Pamodzi Hotel (dinner dance) Admission:
K200,000
'Mahube'
is the name given to this collection of top Southern African
musicians and vocalists who combined to record and release various
albums that will be performed live in Zambia. Twelve prominent
artists combined under the direction of Steve Dyer to create this
vibrant blend of contemporary and celebratory Southern African
styles including Oliver Mtukudzi, George Phiri, Steve Dyer, and
Maureen Lilanda. The name 'Mahube' means 'New Dawn' in Tswana and
reflects these musicians desire to participate in South Africa's
reintegration into the cultural life of the African subcontinent.
The music is a rich and seamless blend of infectious rhythms,
soaring vocals and harmonies... The intricate and evocative
harmonies are under-pinned by a wonderful brass section and
surrounded by a clear and sympathetic arrangement. The band's
enthusiasm spills out over their albums and I'm sure 'Mahube' will
gain the recognition it deserves as a result of the upcoming
concerts.
Oliver Mtukudzi is the best-selling artist in his home country of
Zimbabwe, Africa. Lovingly called "Tuku" for short, Oliver began
recording in the mid-1970s as a member of Wagon Wheels, a band that
also featured Thomas Mapfumo. After Wagon Wheels rolled to fame in
Southern Africa, Tuku formed Black Spirits, the band that has backed
him throughout his career. Tuku has been heavily influenced by
chimurenga, the genre pioneered by Mapfumo that is inspired by the
hypnotic rhythms of the mbira (thumb piano). However chimurenga is
just one of many styles performed by Tuku, as his music also
incorporates pop influences, South African mbaqanga, the energetic
Zimbabwean pop style JIT, or the traditional kateke drumming of his
clan, the Korekore. While Tuku’s music is undeniably contagious, it
is his lyrics that have captured the hearts of his people. The words
to his songs, performed in the Shona language of Zimbabwe as well as
English, invariably deal with social and economic issues...
Steve was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa in 1960. He
attended Pelham primary school, and continued his studies at Michael
house, where he took music as a school subject. He left South Africa
in 1982, as he was not willing to serve in the SADF. He lived from
1982 to 1986 in Botswana, and after a year living in the UK, in
1997, returned to live in Zimbabwe, where he stayed until returning
to South Africa in 1993.
He
has been composing and performing music since the age of 10. His
main instruments are saxophone and flute. He also plays and
composes on guitar and piano.
Steve released a solo album entitled “Son of the soil” in April of
2002. It represents a milestone in his career, being his first
specifically acoustic and instrumental album to date. The work has
been acknowledged as groundbreaking in its compositional and
conceptual strength. It has received wide critical acclaim since
its release. “Son of the soil” has been performed at the 2003 North
Sea jazz festival in Cape Town, main Harare int. festival of the
arts stage, and at the main Graham’s town festival as a multi media
show, and Macufe arts festival in Bloemfontein.
In
July 2002, Steve contributed a rearranged version of his song “the
3rd world cries everyday” to a project initiated by Francois Mauger
of Lus Africa records in France calling for the cancellation of
third world debt. The c.d. has been released world wide in 2003.
The “3rd world” was chosen as the plug track for the South Korean
release.
Maureen Lilanda is a popular Zambian singer with a sweet captivating
voice which flows without restrain. She sings in her native Zambian
languages and English blending rhythms with western influences
thereby producing a very unique sound pleasant to many people who
listen to her music.
As
a hard working musician, Maureen has seen herself winning the local
prestigious Ngoma Award presented by the National Arts Council of
Zambia, three times in the Best female performer category. She has
toured the United States of America doing the club circuits in
Washington, DC and later performed in Zimbabwe “JENAGURU” festival.
The present and future are looking bright. In April 2004 she
curtain-raised for the legendary Jonathan Butler at Sun
International in Livingstone. Earlier, in March, she performed
together with Magic System (Ivory Coast) and last year in Les
Banquets Nomades from Belgium. We have also had successful concerts
in Lusaka featuring Maureen Lilanda.
During the last set of concerts from Oliver Mtukudzi in Zambia, Tuku
was introduced to Maureen’s music and he was impressed. Tuku invited
Maureen and the guitar player for a recording session in Zimbabwe.
This material will feature on both: Tuku’s and Maureen’s future CD.
A quality recording, with quality producer is the next step to
enhance Maureen’s career. Later this year she will finalize the
recording in Europe and have some concerts there.
Trio Tany Manga
Wednesday 20 October, 8 pm, Alliance Francaise, Admisison K30,000
Tany Manga is a result of a project that was started by Tao Ravao
and Vincent Boucher with percussionist Karim Toure. The new rhythm
is forever changing with new collaborations which always bring new
sounds and spirits. The group Tany Manga comprises of Toa Ravao
(vocals), Vincent Bucher (harmonica), and Karim Toure
(percussionist). They are all French nationals. The name of the
group is made up of two Malagasy words which have a double meaning.
Tany means “the earth”, the globe but also the land. “Manga” means
“beautiful” or “scared” or “blue”, the color of the blues, but also
the devil’s color in Africam belief…
Thierry’ Titi’ Robin & Gulabi Sapera
Wednesday 27 October, 8 pm, Hindu Hall
Thierry Titi Robin is part of a generation of musicians who believe
in their autodidactic creative audacity. This virtuous
multi-instrumentalist, writer and composer has also a strong passion
for improvisation. Born in 1957, in Brittany, north-western France,
he plays since young age with the gypsy’s musical heritage. The
string instruments he uses, Arabic and from Andalusia, and the
eloquent touches of flamenco (vocals and clapping) are all part of
his vibrant personal universe, tainted by exotic sounds.
Thierry sees the gipsy music as a bridge between the musical
heritage of the Far East and the West. His work mixes the sensuality
of the Arabic rhythms and the flamenco dramatic soul, as well as the
power and energy of the gypsy music. His influences range from
traditional Breton music to rumba and to Celtic and Arabic musical
traditions: a stunning result that transforms his performances into
a magical moment. Performing on the stage together with Robin will
be dancer and singer Gulabi Sapera from Rajasthan desert region in
the Northwest of India. Gulabi comes from the Saper caste. It is a
nomadic tribe - musicians and snake charmers, their status in India
resembles that of Gypsies in Europe. Gulabi herself has not only
snake's grace and talent to dance hours on end without stopping, but
also a charming voice. The artists met in France and now for ten
years have been involved in various joint projects. Their
performance is like a magic trip in a thousand years' old past of
the Gypsy nation.
|
October 2004